Real Weddings: Jared and Eden’s French Blue Wedding With A View

October 23, 2019

Simple, classic and elegant – all perfectly describe this day of love and romance. With a fresh, modern take on a traditional style, this backyard bash combined outdoor florals with detailed French décor to create the perfect summer wedding.

THE COUPLE

Jared and Eden originally met in junior high. The two were friends throughout high school, but never dated until they reconnected a few years later through mutual friends. “We knew each other for almost 10 years but never dated,” Eden says. They were together for a year before Jared popped the question at the Grand America Hotel courtyard in Salt Lake City. “He had it completely covered in rose petals with candles lit. There he was in the middle of a rose circle waiting to propose. My friend had me tricked that we were going to a conference at the hotel so I was taken by surprise to see him there,” Eden recalls. The couple were engaged for four months before officially tying the knot.

THE WEDDING

When it came time to plan the reception, Jared and Eden knew they wanted an outdoor summer wedding. For their venue, they settled on a backyard in the hill of Bountiful. “We chose it because of the beautiful mountain views and large layout. It felt perfect for a summer wedding,” Eden explains. The decor highlights of the wedding were French floral accents with modern twists throughout, with the couple using French blue, white, tans and just a hint of gold in some of their décor. “We tried to incorporate as much of the blue florals into the layout as we could (linens, bridesmaids dresses, vases.) We loved the French toile print,” Eden says.

THE MENU

In terms of cuisine, the newlyweds decided on wood fire pizza as the main course along with soft serve ice cream for dessert. The pizza was catered by FIORE pizza and included three options — Pepperoni, Bianco, and a sweet corn and bacon pizza — along with individual Caesar salads prepared for the guests. To sweeten things up, the couple brought in soft serve ice cream machines equipped with chocolate, vanilla and twist flavors. The grand finale was a two-layer white cake with raspberry filling and white buttercream.

THE PARTY

It takes a great wedding party to put on a party worth remembering. For Eden and Jared, it was important to be surrounded by friends and family on their big day. “I had the world’s best bridesmaids. I could not have asked for a more helpful and loving group of girls that went completely above and beyond to make my day perfect,” Eden exclaims. One particular bridesmaid, Hailey Beesley, even went so far as to design a customized cake stand for the couple. “I loved the unique cake stand she designed for me. It was a crowd favorite,” Eden recalls.

THE DETAILS

VENDORS

Cake: Natalie Twogood | @twogoodcakes
Linens: RSVP Party Rentals | @rsvppartyrentals
Gown: Customized and created personally by Amber Pratt at ALP Bridal | @ALPbridalsalon
Photo: Jordynn Christensen | @jordybphoto
Video: Kassidee Geurts | @kassideemariefilms
Floral: Aleesha Emery | @alittleflowerfloraldesign
All other rentals (tables, chairs, equipment, dance floor, etc.): Diamond Party and Event Rental
Pizza: FIORE Wood Fired Pizza
Cake Stand: Customized by Hailey Beesley

Anthuriums: Bring Tropical Heart to Your Bouquet

October 22, 2019

Want to put some tropical heat into classic white bridal florals? Heres what to do: add heart-shaped anthuriums. They’re not just for tiki parties. These shapely, tropical blooms are transforming traditional wedding bouquets from blah to ahhh, as designer Kelly Jackstien of Artisan Bloom proves with this freshly-fashioned arrangement. She chose the sleek waxy bloom for the contrast it provides when paired with the frills and spills of more classic flowers including fluffy hydrangea, fragrant hyacinths and arching tulips. What’s more, anthurium are long-lasting and, for those who crave more color on their wedding day, anthurium also offer more vibrant shades, including pretty pinks and riotous reds.

On the hunt for more floral inspo? See our favorite arrangements here.

Utah Menswear for a Dapper Groom

October 16, 2019

Game On! For gents, the hunt for a dapper head-to-toe look is easier than ever, thanks to the number of men’s clothiers in Utah. No matter your style or budget, here’s where to find the best of Utah’s men’s fashion.

True Gentlemen Supply

Groom Sam Stacie (with bride Annika) wears a jacket and pant, $1,699, made with Tessilstrona fabric, which is 90-percent wool and 10-percent silk. The composition of this long-lasting material offers a luxurious look and texture.

1270 S. 1100 East #101, SLC

truegentlemensupply.com

Who they are: True Gentleman is a bespoke suit shop that fashions suits and blazers for the whole wedding party, tailored to your specific style.

Their mission: provide the most unique and exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences for wedding parties. Grooms, get on their appointment list as soon as she says, “Yes,” because they book up quickly.

2019 predictions: “The retro-inspired suit offers lots of textures, patterns, color and wider lapels compared to more recent years,” says TGS founder Trapper Roderick.

Beckett & Robb

Co-founder Jason Yeats doesn’t shy away from the cold. A Loro Piana wool/cashmere blend topcoat ($1,995) and a 100% flannel wool Vitale Barberis Canonico three-piece suit ($1,145) top a cotton shirt ($175) and silk tie ($98).

150 Main St., SLC

beckettandrobb.com

Who they are: Beckett & Robb is a men’s custom clothing-maker, specializing in tailored suits, shirts and sports coats.

Their mission: For 10 years, the clothier has become the preeminent suit maker in Utah. With more than 10,000 cloth options to choose from, and an award-winning measurement and design process, B&R can create the perfect suit or tuxedo for your wedding day.

2019 predictions: “Men’s tailored clothing trends will begin to swing back toward classic styling,” says Beckett & Robb’s co-founder Jason Yeats. “We’re moving away from the skinny suit of the past six or seven years and toward a more timeless fit with classic details and proportions.”

Tailor Cooperative

335 Pierpont Ave. #2, SLC

tailorcooperative.com

Who they are: Tailor Cooperative is a custom clothier that opened in early 2016 on Pierpont Avenue in downtown Salt Lake City.

Their mission: crafting no-nonsense, custom-tailored suits for all men who want to dress with a bold and unique purpose in the boardroom, the ballroom or at the altar.

2019 prediction: “We see the suit taking on daring colors, classically-inspired silhouettes, gender-fluidity (i.e. women’s suiting) and just as much scene-stealing, center-of-attention attitude as any great wedding gown,” says Tailor Cooperative’s Joe Wise.

Utah Woolen Mills

“High blue (a brilliant navy) continues to be the dominant color in the suit world and we can’t get enough of it,” says Hawkins. “We love the way it can be elegant and casual all at the same time. It brings life to your entire outfit.”

59 S. Temple, SLC

utahwoolenmills.com

Who they are: Since 1905 (that’s 114 years, folks), Utah Woolen Mills has been Salt Lake’s premium place for making and keeping men dapper.

Their mission: to offer renowned luxury brands like Kiton, Brioni, Isaia, Canali Givocci and Eton, paired with phenomenal in-house tailoring.

2019 prediction: “Every year it seems like the surge of popularity for menswear continues to grow,” says Taylor Hawkins. “Lately, we’ve seen a big trend in performance fabrics, like clothing blended with stretch making suits, slacks, jeans and sport coats comfier and more casual. You won’t be looking for a way out of your suit, you’ll be looking for an excuse to wear one.”

Got the men dressed? Time for a GNO, guys night out, we’ve got you covered here.

Wedding Day Beauty Prep from Utah Beauty Pros

October 4, 2019

Every gal wants to look her best on wedding day. Brides, moms and maids rely on Got Beauty’s Jenni Holmstead to help customize their big-day beauty plan. For a head-to-toe glow, here’s what Holmstead recommends:

White Sands Liquid Texture Spray, $19, A stylist’s dream, the spray protects from humidity and is not stiff or sticky, allowing for brushing and styling after application.

Emergency Stain Removal Spray, $9, Red-wine spill, be gone!

Supergoop SPF Setting Mist, $12 (1 oz.), A light spray for setting and protection that won’t be shiny and can cover your entire body.

Bumble & Bumble Translucent Dry Shampoo, $14 (.85 oz.), Day-two hair is best for styling, so dry shampoo can help ensure hair that is shiny and full.

Pre-Heels Silicone Spray, $15, Invisible blister protection for that high-heeled, late-night dancing.

Sugarbear Hair Vitamins, $30, Gives you longer, thicker, wedding-ready hair and nails.

Hollywood Emergency Style Kit, $15, Everything you need for a wardrobe malfunction (minus the seamstress) including fashion tape, needle and thread, safety pin and stain remover.

Damsel in Distress Emergency Kit, $17, Like the Hollywood Emergency kit, but for beauty: lashes, earring backs, cotton pads, compact mirror and makeup sponges.

Eminence Under-eye Cream, $96, Prevents dark, puffy under-eye bags for flawless photos.

Golden Hour Bridals by Branson Maxwell

October 3, 2019

Pink tones join gold accessories (including vintage earrings from the bride’s grandmother) and rich sunlight to bring out the beauty of these romantic souls. Nicole and Taylor met in a bar in North Carolina, and from the first “love at first sight” moment, they say it’s like time has stopped.

Tunnel Springs Park, with it’s subtle greenery and lush fields, proved to be the perfect location to let Nicole and her soon-to-be husband’s love blossom.

Utah became the pair’s ideal destination to make their magical moments forever, and they travelled to our majestic peaks for their rustic wedding celebrations. Before the big day, of course, the couple wanted to capture those special moments, to look back on throughout their marriage. Frozen in time, this vintage inspired shoot by Branson Maxwell captures all the rustic romance of a stunning couple in a perfectly timeless gallery.

Scroll on for more golden-hour goodness!

Real Weddings: Utah Is For Lovers

October 2, 2019

Mikki Ekfelt & Zach Clayton

Sundance Mountain Resort, Sundance

October 23

Photographs by Nhiya Kaye

Virginia meets New Hampshire meets Utah. This couple brought their New England favorites to the mountains of Utah in a wedding fit for a film.

THE COUPLE

They met at the University of New Hampshire, where She played lacrosse and he competitively skied. After eight years of dating— including a move to Park City— Zach proposed to Mikki during her first backcountry ski run in Jackson Hole’s Teton Pass. “After I got used to skinning (climbing uphill on skis with adhesive grippy skins attached to ski bottoms), we toured around Mount Elly, and our dog Angus romped in the snow around us,” Mikki says. “When we got there, I plopped down because I was tired, but Zach kept forcing me up to look at the views of Jackson in the distance. He snuck around behind me, and all of the sudden I heard, ‘Mikki?’ When I turned around, Zach was down on one knee and proposing.”

THE WEDDING

Mikki and Zach knew from the start that a fall wedding was in the cards. “We thought we wanted to get married in Jackson Hole after getting engaged there, but after site visits, nothing really struck a chord for us. Sundance had so many elements we wanted: activities for our guests, everyone staying in one location, an intimate, mountain setting and it is stunningly beautiful. Sundance checked all of our boxes.”

THE MOOD

Mikki and Zach included elements from their favorite places. Maple candies from New Hampshire, Virginia peanuts, Polar Seltzer (a New England cult favorite) and Salt Lake saltwater taffy all filled goodie bags. Place cards and floral arrangements featured copper and gold magnolia leaves that the bride’s mother spray-painted, “I grew up in Virginia with a beautiful and huge magnolia tree in my front yard,” Mikki explains the symbolism.

THE CUISINE

The couple chose a buffet filled with local dishes including steak and trout served with autumnal side dishes. “All the food at Sundance is to die for,” Mikki says. Flour & Flourish baked a sweet potato caramel cake with whiskey caramel buttercream filling and toasted candied pecans. “The cake!” she exclaims, “It was literally the best cake I’ve ever tasted.”

THE TUNES

Mikki and Zach served up an “epic dance party” filled with music from their college days. Their wedding weekend coincided with University of New Hampshire’s homecoming weekend, “so we told everyone to party like we were at UNH,” Mikki says. The newlyweds chose Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change this Love” for their first dance.

THE DETAILS

VENDORS

Photography: Nhiya Kaye, Orem | @nkayephoto

Planner: Leslie Dawn Events | @lesliedawnevents

Florals: Sax Romney | @saxromney

Venue and catering: Sundance Mountain Resort | @sundanceresort

Entertainment: Life of the Party | @lifeofthepartydj

Gown: Romona Keveza, Carine’s Bridal Washington, DC| @carinesbridal @romonakeveza

Suit: Urbana Custom Clothier, Washington, DC | @urbanacustom

Cake: Flour & Flourish | @flourandflourish

Hair and makeup: Brynn Thomas Makeup | @brynnthomasmakeup

Rentals: Diamond Event & Tent | @diamondeventandtent

Invitations: Minted.com | @mintedweddings

Signs and calligraphy: Meg Snyder, Santa Rosa, California | @megsnyderdesign

Videography: David Perry Films | @davidperryfilms

Welcome dinner: Owl Bar, Sundance | @sundanceresort

Drama-Packed Bridals at Spiral Jetty

September 27, 2019

If drama, epic landscapes and perfect outfits are all in your “dream wedding” category, get your Pinning fingers ready, because this shoot is simply dripping with each element.

Real couple (and our newest #couplegoals forever) Parker and Courtney met on their missions in Copenhagen, where they learned how much they have in common. From their family background to their interests, the pair knew it was love at first sight. Courtney told photographer Kristi Price that she wanted something epic for her bridal shoot, Kristi immediately knew to take her to the Spiral Jetty.

Robert Smithson’s Earthwork art installation on the Great Salt Lake has been there for over 30 years, but we have never seen it captured quite this magnificently. And this couple’s stunning faces certainly add to the allure.

We are loving Courtney’s fiery updo, and how the delicate beading on her gown captures every sparkle of light across this epic landscape. Parker’s suit and tie perfectly match the bridal bouquet, which in turn highlights the blue hued backdrop of Utah.

Scroll on through this epic natural gallery stroll for more bridal inspiration and true love!

VENDORS

Photography: Kristi Alyse Photography | @kristi_alyse_photo

Makeup: Jessica Nelson | @jessicanelsonmakeupartistry

Flowers: Lees Grocery Store Floral Department

Gown: Mary’s Bridal | @marysbridalslc

Gin Mixer: Bring the Booze to Your Rehearsal Dinner

September 24, 2019

Celebrate with an Alpine Distilling Gin Experience during a fabulous four-course dinner at 350 Main in historic Old Town Park City.

Of all the gin joints in all the world, I’m glad I walked into this one. So too, I believe, would rehearsal dinner guests or members of a bachelor or bachelorette party. After all, very few can say they’ve been walked through the gin-making experience.

Alpine Distilling makes this possible at 350 Main in Park City where distillery founder Rob Sergent explains gin and—party favor!—helps you select botanicals to flavor your own take-home bottle of gin. They distill it while you enjoy a four-course dinner by 350 Main’s chef Matt Safranek.

The dinner is limited to eight to twelve guests, because that’s all the stovetop distillery equipment Alpine owns. The set-ups are, to put it in girly terms for such gents apparatus—adorable. Each little copper alembic produces a bottle of gin. Kind of like a Mr. Coffee for gin.

Meanwhile, guests are given four shot glasses of different gins, taste the differences (if they can) and compare them to ‘aroma sticks,’ each one a different pure smell. It’s like a dinner-party guessing game—you try to identify the pure aromas as you sip each gin.

Not surprisingly, this gets harder and harder.

Of course, the main flavoring in gin is—and by regulation must be—juniper. But anyone who’s tasted gins as different as Ransom’s Old Tom and Tanqueray knows there’s more to it than one evergreen bush.

We chose flavorings from maybe a dozen jars filled with juniper berries, cardamom, anise and other botanicals, mixed it up, stuck our noses in it, adjusted for balance and turned it over with our bottle to the distiller equipped with a nifty countertop still.

At different steps during the process, we were served a thimbleful of our gin so we could taste the different stages along the way to the final product. The evening, the experience and the food were unforgettable. Who knew making gin could be as much fun as celebrating with it?

“At the end of the evening, we seal the bottles and label them with the names, date, and ingredients for guests to take home,” explains 350 Main’s owner, Cortney Johansen.

Dreamy Autumn Wedding at Brighton

September 23, 2019

Nothing makes a wedding more beautiful than one with elements of the bride and groom intertwined into every detail, and that’s exactly the kind of beauty that we get with this moody, gorgeous and hippie-chic wedding in Brighton.

“Every wedding I do has elements of personality, but this one was so completely personalized to Taylor and Ramie,” said Ashley Hawkes, the photographer of the big day. “The venue was in one of their favorite places in Utah, and was filled with all of the hippie elements and kitchsy decor that is ‘them.’ The bride even made her own cakes!”

Turquoise jewelry, mountain views and dogs of course! These are the things that makeup Taylor & Ramie’s quintessential mountain-lovers celebration.

THE COUPLE

Taylor and Ramie met, fittingly, at a celebration. The pair caught each other’s eye on St. Patricks Day weekend, and haven’t stopped the flirting since.

The couple dated for three years before Ramie popped the big question in Thailand, on the beach while “looking for seashells.” Taylor was taken entirely by surprise, but she said yes (of course!) and they were married 7 months later on September 8, 2018.

THE WEDDING

Taylor and Ramie fell in love on the slopes of Brighton, so a venue up Big Cottonwood Canyon was the only possible location to exchange vows with this much magic. The bohemian vibes were the perfect backdrop for Taylor’s palette of natural greens, gold and gray.

The vows were officiated by a close friend of the couple, Lucky Tuck, who is Irish, hence the somehow perfectly-fitted to the mood kilt.

“He’s our most respectable friend we could decide on: He’s eccentric, and was perfect for the job.”

THE MOOD

In true mountain-lover fashion, Taylor opted for a bohemian forest theme, and matched up all of her (and our) Pinterest goals marvelously. She made exquisite dream catchers to hang from every tree leading to their macrame-covered backdrop, created by the owners of the venue and the mother of the bride. Taylor emerged in a heart-fluttering illusion gown from The Bride’s Shop, complete with a flower crown and a train worthy of a forest queen.

THE MENU

“Since I wanted a September wedding ever since I could remember, I had to have all of the must-have fall goodies for our treat table,” Taylor says.

Those goodies included doughnut holes, peanut butter bars, cinnamon + white chocolate apple pie bites (drooling, already), and more! For the main course, Mo’ Bettah’s truly delivered. Chicken, cornbread and salad made up the ultimate fall barbecue – just what the couple wanted.

Proving herself quite the Jack-of-All-Trades, Taylor also baked her own wedding cakes. All three of them! The largest cake was butter pecan, the next lemon and the smallest top layer banana. Each were topped with cream cheese frosting, gold icing and floral accents by Blooms to Bouquets.

THE CELEBRATION

Though they almost forgot, Taylor and Ramie celebrated their union with a first dance to “Harvest Love” by Tash Sultana under the string lights by the quaint tipi fields of the venue. All of their dance-loving guests joined them and danced the night away under the stars! Scroll to see more of this whimsical mood of a celebration:

VENDORS

Photography: Hawkeye Photography | @hawkeyephotobyashley
Floral: Blooms to Bouquets | @bloomstobouquets
Gown: The Bride’s Shop | @thebridesshop
Shoes: Betsey Johnson | @betseyjohnson
Suits: H&M | @hm
Groom’s Tie: DAZI USA | @daziusa
Rings: White Diamonds | @_whitediamonds_
HMUA: Mariah Gera | @mua_mariah
Venue: Utah Cabin Vacations | @utahcabinvacations
Bridesmaids: Lulu’s | @lulus
Catering: Mo’ Bettah’s | @mobettahs
Planner: Jackie Bryan |

Tanna in Tuscany: Italian Countryside Wedding

September 20, 2019

If you could have your dream wedding anywhere on the planet, where would you escape to? After seeing this beauty of a shoot from Jadie Jo Photography, we are packing our bags for Italy, pronto.

For her bridals session, real bride Tanna Hood wanted something timelessly beautiful, yet unique enough to remain powerfully memorable to commemorate her wedding look for generations.

In this shoot, Jadie Jo and stylist Isabel Kinikini of Fox Heron Collective delivery nothing less than the perfect vision for Tanna, in the form of a Tuscany-meadow-inspired picnic shoot in the rolling fields of Young Living’s lavender farm in Mona, Utah.

Fox Heron Collective brought her signature style to the details of the shoot, creating a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind scene to complement Tanna’s flawless bridal glow.

The icing atop this cake comes with daring, dazzling florals, tailored expertly by Shiann Chambers at Wilde Honey Blooms. It has to be a challenge to create a bouquet to compete with an entire meadow of blooms, but Shiann is undeniably up for the task.

Fringed, massive petals and pale greens contrast with the clean, classic lines of the gown’s silhouette, and that rainbow of bright hues are the perfect complement to the lavender backdrop.

And as for that bridal look, we can’t imagine a more picturesque bride. This Allure Bridals gown looks like it was sewn right onto Tanna’s figure, ready to follow her every move, and the effortlessly stunning beauty by Katie Adair makes us want to follow in her path, wherever she takes us.

So what do you say? Are you tagging along on our newly-inspired Italy adventure? Scroll on for more majestic moments – maybe we can convince you.

Photography: Jadie Jo Photography | @jadiejophotography
Bride: Tanna Hood | @tannahood
Styling: @foxheroncollective
Dress Shop: Off White Bride | @offwhitebride
Dress Designer: Allure Bridals | @allurebridals
Shoes: Badgley Mischka | @badgleymischka
Hair: Ali North | @north_slc
Makeup: Katie Adair | @katieadairmakeup
Location: Young Living Lavender Farm | @youngliving
Florals: Wilde Honey Blooms | @wildehoneyblooms