Annabelle and Brenden met about four years ago through a mutual friend, and hit it off right away. They dated on and off until April, when Brenden proposed on a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge!
The couple was married on July 20th, 2018 in the Provo City Center LDS temple, with a reception and ceremony at Stone Gate Weddings and Events. It was a gorgeous event, but what we really want to focus on is their breathtaking bridals!
All elements of the wedding incorporated the couple’s heritage, in any way possible.
“I wanted to incorporate as much culture into it as I could, which was really fun for everyone involved,” says bride Annabelle. “The bridesmaids had leis because my nana is from Samoa, and we had a fun-filled casual reception to honor her traditions as well. For [Brenden’s] side of the family, they have very traditional wedding dresses.”
They incorporated those traditional textiles in their bridal shoot. Annabelle shared that the grey outfit is the Khmer or Cambodian traditional attire.
“I wasn’t told a whole lot about Cambodian symbolism, but it was fun for me because they go all out with jewels,” says Annabelle. “It’s not something I’m used to, and it was fun to experience something new! I also liked Brenden’s look — he looked like a prince!”
The red dress is the traditional Chinese wedding gown. Annabelle was told to find a gown with either a dragon or a phoenix, because both symbolize eternity and lasting love. She settled on a stunningly embroidered Cheongsam with a phoenix climbing up the front.
Annabelle got married in a breathtaking Allure ballgown from The Bride’s Shop, the layers of lace bringing a delightfully vintage touch to the modern gown.
Chelsea (a strategy consultant originally from Ohio) and Tim (an IT director hailing from Massachusetts) met shortly after they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. “We were introduced by mutual friends at a rooftop party on a beautiful September day,” Chelsea recalls. Two years later, Tim proposed one “magical” October day. “He got down on one knee during a walk on Russian Hill at the spot of our first kiss,” she says. “He had arrived just an hour earlier on a cross-country flight from Boston, which included a secret Ohio layover to ask my parents for my hand in marriage.” Currently, Chelsea and Tim are planning to move to Park City. 
The skiers and mountain adventurers set their sights on Utah. “Living in California and having families and friends spread across the country, we wanted someplace unique that our guests could get to easily by plane.” Park City offered a centrally-located town for guests to explore, enjoy and savor. “Many of our guests had never been to Utah before and now many of them can’t wait to come back,” Chelsea says. “When we saw Blue Sky, we knew it was exactly the mountain wedding venue we were looking for.” Autumn was the season of choice. “We chose October because we both love the fall. The foliage is beautiful, and the temperature is perfect.”
The weekend reflected the couple’s love for mountain-chic elegance and good ol’ fashioned fun. “We wanted all of our wedding elements to complement the beauty of the mountains, yet add a flare of elegance and sophistication,” says Chelsea of the décor boasting shades of navy, copper and magenta with accents of yellow and mixed metals. “We viewed our wedding as two distinct parts: ceremony and reception. We wanted guests to leave the ceremony with love in their hearts and tears in their eyes. And we wanted them to leave the reception saying, ‘That was the best party ever!’”
“We picked a menu that showcased the season and mountain cuisine that we love so much for our family and friends who were coming from out of town,” Chelsea says. Jalapeño corn bread and a winter green salad kicked off the meal. Next up, guests enjoyed “Stream and Prairie” entrees of pan-fried Utah trout and Niman Ranch New York Strip steak, both served with smoked root vegetables. Sweet treats finished the mountain-chic menu. “We both love chocolate chip cookies and found a great local bakery, Midway Country Kitchen, to supply them. We also had a dessert bar with s’mores and apple fritters provided by High West.”
Dinner music ranged from Frank Sinatra to the Fugees. To satisfy Chelsea and Tim’s desire to have “the best party ever,” the DJ blasted popular tunes from their high school and college days through today, ending with an “epic” rendition of Journey’s famous “Don’t Stop Believing.” Bruce Springsteen’s “Happy” serenaded the newlyweds during their first dance. “We both fell in love with it the moment we heard it together and knew it was right for our first song,” Chelsea says. 
“The walk down the aisle,” says Chelsea. “Walking with my dad, Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ playing, all my family and friends before me, the mountains in the background and all of the details from months of planning seen out of the corner of my eye. But as I rounded the corner, everything else faded away, and it was just Tim and me together in the world.” 
“I love to capture the closeness between the couple; the electric sizzle that in-love couples often possess.”
“The hair is twisted into a braid and swept over the shoulder to create a soft romantic look and feel.”
This cake is a combination of two cakes. The color on the bottom works to tie in all of the colors incorporated in the shoot. The lighter reds play off the golden tones in the place setting and lighting. 
The eucalyptus works in contrast with the deep red of the roses creating a classic, timeless style. 
Models: Tino Tuaila & Hannah Bagley
According to Megan, one way to create a “you” wedding with no regrets is to incorporate lots of timeless elements. 
