These days, alcohol isn’t just reserved for the bar.
Wine, beer and spirits instill flavor into dishes like rosé ice cream, whiskey-infused cheese and wine-braised short rib. Spirits can be added to one item—like a bourbon-glazed sous vide pork tenderloin with grilled peaches, rosemary potatoes and baby squash—or to the entire dish—like vanilla cupcakes with red wine buttercream garnished with fresh fruit and a pipette of sangria. Seared salmon with rosé reduction, fresh grape, basil and shallot relish is another unique entree.
“Taking elements from classic cocktails and turning them into a dessert is another fun idea,” says Cuisine Unlimited’s Derek Dietsch. Here, executive chef Steve Ulibarri transforms a Pimm’s cocktail into a liqueur-spiked vanilla cake layered with cucumber, strawberry and mint buttercream, frosted with orange buttercream and garnished with fresh cucumber, strawberry, orange and mint.
After going through a thorough seven-month remodel, Talia Event Center is now back to making wedding dreams come true for brides across Utah. Our editorial team here at Utah Bride & Groom sat down with Talia Event Center’s Talia Painter to talk about what makes their venue unique and ways to make a large wedding more intimate, here’s what she had to say.
What’s it like to host a wedding at Talia Event Center?
“Once a couple has toured our facility and booked a wedding date, we will be as involved as the bride and groom wants us to be. From the wedding planner bride to the DIY couple, we make sure everything is covered and that the couple are happy with the plans we have set.”
Tell us, what makes your venue stand out from the rest?
“What’s great about Talia Event Center is that there are endless options for personalization. Weddings are such a special time and a couple really needs to be able to make this day their own. Our experienced team can help them achieve the perfect day while keeping things as easy and stress-free as possible.
We are versatile for any party! We can accommodate large and small groups, because we have multiple rooms options. Our large square footage of 19,000 square ft. makes it easy to rent out the entire building or just a room., depending on any couple’s needs. Our venue is a bar/nightclub turned event center, perfect for weddings. From features such as a custom-made chandelier, multiple bar spaces, exposed brick walls, a solarium, and more everything is new and readily available for the big day.”
What are your top tips to making a large wedding feel more intimate?
“It is all about space and décor. Make sure that every guest is appreciated by paying attention to detail. Adding small candles, name tags at seats, personalized favors, etc. goes a long way! At Talia Event Center, our space lends itself to intimate groups as well as giant parties. Our team will ensure that every small detail of your wedding is appreciated and thought through.”
What is your best venue shopping advice for couples?
“There are always some general questions to ask the venue to make sure it fits your needs for the day. Whether it’s about outside vendors or package pricing, ask lots questions. Question are key to making sure you make a well-informed decision. Also, make sure you like the venue’s customer service and willingness to help, because that will essentially make or break your experience with them. The venue is key to a great wedding reception.”
Earlier this week, I chatted about 2018 Utah wedding trends on Good Things Utah and this was one style that I couldn’t resist sharing with viewers.
Our “Less is More” feature story unveils a simple sophistication. It showcases a restraint on over-theming a party, which is easy to do when a party planner can’t contain their excitement for a specific style. Party planning tip: Balance the details and let each one shine.
Art deco hints—carnations, baby roses, crystal goblets and the groom’s classic tuxedo—balance the clean lines of a marbled cake, sculptural candleholder, and the bride’s contemporary gown.
Written by Val Rasmussen | Photos by pepper nix photography
After the big yes, it’s time to decide on the big where. Fortunately, Utah has many different venues—from sleek contemporary structures to rustic ranches and everything in between. But how to choose? Industry insider and photographer Pepper Nix offers a behind-the-scenes look at her favorite venues, along with expert tips and tricks for each site.
Grand America
Take a look at SLC’s downtown skyline and one hotel stands out: Grand America. “The Grand” houses regal courtyards, elegant ballrooms, Italian crystal chandeliers and rich tapestries. There’s nowhere else like it in Utah,” Nix explains. “It’s so easy to marry here. You and your bridesmaids can get ready in a spacious two-room suite with floor-to-ceiling window light. One room houses your squad and the makeup artists, while the other room performs as the bridal closet. I have enough room to shoot the ‘getting ready’ shots, while the bridesmaids drink mimosas, feast on The Grand’s gourmet cuisine and bond during hair-and-makeup time.”
The Grand ( a UBG vendor!) suits couples who love formality. In terms of photo opportunities, Nix says, “It has a very indoor studio feel with multiple backdrops, traditional furnishings and tons of gorgeous directional light.” Wintertime holiday lights and summertime formal gardens enhance stylish weddings.
Cushings’s Cabin and Empire Canyon Lodge
Deer Valley’s legend runs as deep as its roots in mining. With over 2,000 acres to choose from in Ski Magazine’s 2018 #1 ski resort, what is Nix’s preferred ceremony spot? “By far, my favorite ceremony location in Deer Valley is Cushing’s Cabin,” she says.
“The view to the west overlooking Guardsman’s Pass is breathtaking, plus the west-facing ceremony site means that the chairlift ride to Flagstaff Mountain at 9,100 feet will win over your guests. After the ceremony, you ride back down and have a fabulous reception at Empire Canyon Lodge.” Winter brides at Deer Valley also can enjoy sleigh rides and Deer Valley’s famous Fireside Dining menu.
St. Regis
This mountain contemporary resort is synonymous with comfortable luxury. With large ballrooms, spacious patios and mountain views in every direction, couples have many options. Nix’s favorite spot? “A west-facing ceremony on the Mountain Lawn provides the perfect background for your pictures.
The St. Regis (a UBG vendor!) also has an excellent flow for your guests: the ceremony on the Mountain Lawn, cocktail hour on the Mountain Terrace (with a traditional Champagne sabering performance by the wait staff), followed by an outdoor reception on the Astor Terrace. The Astor Terrace is large enough that you can tent it and still provide your guests views of the mountains well after the sun has gone down.” The funicular ride and celebrity sightings—Elvis Costello, Tori Spelling and Kim Kardashian—add to the sensational experience from dawn to dusk and beyond.
Stein Eriksen Lodge
Overlooking Bald Mountain at Deer Valley Resort, Stein Eriksen Lodge [named after the famed Olympic medalist and Utah’s favorite adopted Norwegian, Stein Eriksen] is known throughout the world for its attention to detail and world-class service. Nix’s favorite ceremony location? “You guessed it,” she says. “The west-facing Flagstaff Deck at Stein Eriksen photographs perfectly.
From there, your guests walk along a flower-lined pathway to the new Stein Eriksen ballroom with an entire wall of windows that faces west, so, during dinner, your guests can enjoy the sunset.” Celebrity sightings include Conan O’Brien, Earth Wind and Fire and Summit County resident Katherine Heigl.
La Caille
The French restaurant nestled at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon is the perfect marriage of savory food and botanical delight. The in-the-know photographer’s fave spot for a ceremony at La Caille (a UBG vendor!) is on the lush green lawn next to the vineyard.
“La Caille has the best view of Little Cottonwood, and the east-facing ceremony overlooking the canyon is a pretty spectacular backdrop for your photos.” From the vineyard ceremony, guests walk to an upper patio for cocktail hour to enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres in the shade of magnificent trees, all the while enveloped in the canyon’s magnificent views. La Caille’s Grand Pavilion is the stage for a grand reception celebration. “The grounds are so extensive and varied that I could shoot here for 12 hours straight and not shoot the same thing twice. Plan on extra time for portraits in all the locales.”
Montage
As one of Deer Valley’s newest mountain resort venues, Montage flaunts ski-in, ski-out access, the largest spa in Utah and five—yes, five—dining options, including a pub with its own bowling alley (ideal for a late night after party). Nix’s favorite ceremony hub at Montage is the Grand Lawn overlooking Park City that centers around a fire pit.
If a ballroom isn’t your thing, a reception inside the Vista Lounge restaurant offers cozy furnishings, high ceilings and roaring fireplaces. “The custom chandeliers were designed to make it feel homey and cozy, which is incredible considering the 20-foot ceilings,” Nix says. Celebrity sightings include Justin Bieber and Mitt Romney.
Log Haven
Generations of Utah fine diners call Log Haven their go-to spot for celebrations. Surrounded by Millcreek Canyon’s wildflowers and waterfalls, this rustic-yet-refined log mansion has been honored by national news sources, including Forbes and USA Today. But what hits home for the local crowd is Log Haven’s induction into Salt Lake magazine’s 2017 Hall of Fame.
“It’s only 15 minutes from downtown,” Nix explains. “I adore the images I capture of the west-facing meadow overlooking the pond. It has incredible light, ducks in the pond and picturesque pathways leading to the ceremony.”
Blue Sky Ranch
As I-80 West winds beyond the Park City turnoff, one may think they’re driving into unknown wilderness. The hamlet of Wanship—15 minutes east of Kimball Junction—hides a 3,500-acre wooded paradise with lodging, barns, a whiskey distillery and dramatic landscapes.
Blue Sky Ranch (a UBG Vendor!) is a western-inspired getaway for the cowboy, yogi, fly fisherman, equestrian or sports shooter. Nix says, “Yet again, I gravitate to the west-facing ceremony site on their outside patio. What I love about Blue Sky is how the inside of the barn is authentic and Western. I love the rustic hardwood floor and the rope chandeliers. It’s on private land so the band can, and does, play until midnight. They only do one event per weekend, so it is very exclusive. You can do anything here from black tie to mountain chic to cowboy casual.”
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For more of the best Utah wedding venues, check out our list!
Wedding day hair and makeup fit for a Goddess? I think yes. This team of local talent created this gorgeous shoot that shows us how to get the look.
“For me when I heard about all the artist and makeup that was going into this shoot I instantly thought goddess and the was my inspiration throughout the whole shoot. It was a freezing day but the sun was so bright that I really wanted her to almost be one with it. To kind of tap into that inner and natural beauty that the sun offers. Every women should feel like a goddess on their wedding day! Rain or shine! And that kind of what I wanted to portray,” says photographer Kaylie Gainer.
Goddess Inspired Wedding Dress
“This dress actually has a pretty specific inspiration. I was always in love with Jenny’s wedding gown on the movie Forrest Gump. I love the causal, feminine ease of the dress, and I want to do something with a similar feel. I obviously wanted to put my own stamp on it, and design something a bit more sleek and clean to bring it into today,” says fashion designer, Janay Marie of Janay Marie Designs.
Goddess Makeup
“With the makeup, I wanted her to look like a natural, glowing goddess, who just happens to be flawless and stunning. I used a lot of luminous products with champagne and warm golden undertones to give her that “glowing from within” look. I wanted to the look to be natural and more editorial and all about her skin, so we didn’t use any mascara or lashes. She was the perfect model and I just love how everything turned out,” says makeup artist, Merrie Carson.
Bold Boho Headpiece
“This creation was a push for me to step out of my comfort zone, and I loved it. I am a strong advocate for the idea of every woman a goddess and try to reflect that in my creations. This particular crown was the perfect chance to really present that message and bring it to life,” says Aubrey Wood of Gracefully Bloomed.
We understand that choosing the right vendors makes a huge difference in your wedding experience–from the day you embark on the planning process to the last day of your honeymoon.
Our friends at Culinary Crafts sat down with one of their favorite couples for this Q&A about how they chose their wedding day vendors. Stefan and Taylor Berg give us the rundown on their experience with hiring wedding day vendors, from the food to the flowers, cake and venue.
The couple, not originally from Utah, were familiar with Park City because the bride’s family owns a vacation home there that she and Stefan had visited several times. According to them, they always loved their visits to Utah and they knew as soon as they were engaged Park City is where they wanted to host their wedding.
Here’s what Taylor and Stefan shared with us about how they selected their wedding vendors even though they lived out of state:
First, tell us about your wedding.
Stefan: “Having our friends and family come to such a beautiful place made the wedding extra special. We really wanted to surprise everyone with something, so we decided to keep the actual wedding venue a secret. On our wedding day we gave everyone instructions to be at one of three pick-up spots at a certain time. Our wedding planner had arranged for three buses to pick up our guests and drive them to our wedding location, Blue Sky Ranch. We heard that the guests were buzzing with excitement during their ride, “Where are we going”, “Why are we on a bus?”, “What’s happening!” When they arrived at Blue Sky, they were in awe of how beautiful, serene and remote the ranch was. The views of the mountains were breathtaking. Our wedding was off to a fantastic start.”
Taylor: “Yes, that was such a fun thing to do! I especially loved how intimate and romantic our wedding location was. It felt magical and was everything I hoped for. I’m still getting calls and emails from guests about how much they enjoyed the food, drinks and dancing, and the whole experience at that beautiful ranch.”
What were the first steps you took to find your wedding vendors?
T: We didn’t want to rush the planning process so we set our wedding date for 16 months after our engagement. We have friends who live in Park City, so we asked them for some recommendations, and then we started researching vendors online. Mostly, we looked at vendor websites, but we also read some reviews and looked at Pintrist pages. After we felt like we had researched enough, we narrowed our choices down to a handful of vendors and made appointments to meet them on our next trip to Park City.
S: Yes, we met with a variety of vendors on that first trip….florists, caterers, wedding planners etc. It was really important to meet them in person. Looking at their websites and work samples helped us narrow down who might be a good fit for us, but meeting them in person was key to making a final decision. In some cases we had been really excited about a vendor’s website, but when we met and talked with them, things just didn’t click. It’s really important to meet your key people in person!
How did you work together when deciding which vendor to hire?
S: We each researched things that we were interested in, and then shared what we found. We stayed in communication about all our ideas, and, we both met with the key vendors. When it came time to make a decision it was pretty easy to tell which vendor was best for us based on our research and the connection we had with them during our meeting.
T: Stefan is a foodie, so it made sense for him to take the lead in researching caterers. I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted the ceremony to be like, and the celebration in terms of decoration and style, so I took the lead on the wedding planners and florists.
How did you know when you found the right vendor?
T: After meeting with a vendor we discussed our impressions privately. It was pretty easy to tell if a vendor had really listened to our vision. We could tell if they were genuinely interested in getting to know us. If they asked questions that helped us express what we wanted, I felt like they were really making an effort to understand us.
S: Right. We ended up picking vendors that we got a good vibe from, who were easy to talk to and who answered our questions. Having a good connection with our vendors made the rest of the wedding planning a much smoother process. Were there any vendors that stood out to you?
S: Our vendors were all amazing and I truly mean that! It’s hard to pick only a couple that stood out. But the two that come to mind first are CulinaryCrafts and Bluebird Events.
T: We met with Mary from CulinaryCrafts on our first planning trip to Park City. We were excited to meet her because the food shown on her website looked so delicious and her presentations really caught my eye. We scheduled a tasting so that we could sample some of the foods we wanted at our wedding and meet some of the people on her team. We loved it! By the end of the tasting we had planned the entire menu and felt like we had found a friend in Mary.
S: Mary and her team listened to our vision and put their own special creative twists on the food to make it unique for our menu. Even after the wedding, our guests could not stop talking about how fantastic the food was and how friendly the catering staff was. Being a foodie, it was very important to me that the food at my wedding be amazing. Thanks to CulinaryCrafts, it was!
T: Agreed! Finding the wedding planner though, took a little longer than we expected. I think it was because this person is “in charge” of everything. So it’s very important that you have a sense of confidence and trust in your planner. We met with a few planners before we talked to Merideth at Bluebird Events. The other planners were all very nice, but some of them couldn’t assure us that they would be the person at our wedding. Personally, I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable with this. After I had spent a year working with a planner, I would want that person to be at the wedding to oversee everything. When we met Merideth, I knew at once that she was the right person for us. She immediately caught our vision and she assured us that she would be at our wedding to over see everything.
S: Yes, Merideth was wonderful to work with. She handled more details than I could keep track of, had great ideas, and kept everything flowing smoothly on our wedding day. Who were some of the other vendors you worked with?
S: Our photographer, Blake Peterson’s work also stood out to me. It was cool to see the action photos of skiers and snowboarders on her website. I coach high school basketball and have photographers come to our games to take pictures of the kids and her work reminded me of that.
T: Blake is a childhood friend of mine who I absolutely adore and I admire her work. I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable with the person taking all of the photos as I knew these would be memories we would look back on and share with our own children one day.T: Artisan Bloom’s work was truly breathtaking and exceeded our expectations. I felt their work captured the romantic vibe I wanted and they took our vision and made it even more fabulous with their gorgeous flower arrangements. I really felt their work made a beautiful statement and awed our guests.
S: We hired Jared Wortley as our videographer. His work is magical. He captured all the details of our special day and now we have a video we can watch to be reminded of what a wonderful experience we had.
T: I loved the band, Changing Lanes! It was so fun having musicians who interacted with our family and friends. We wanted our guests to have fun and enjoy the night, and the band kept everyone entertained and on their feet.
S: And of course, our venue, Blue Sky. This was the perfect venue for our wedding. It was secluded with beautiful scenery and ambience. We knew it was the right place the minute we saw it. LeAnne, their coordinator, was beyond helpful with any questions we had. We also really liked that we were able to bring in our own vendors. LeAnne provided suggestions, but we could choose our own vendors.
What is something you wish you knew about finding wedding vendors before you started planning your wedding?
S: Finding the vendor that you have that special connection with is really important. Knowing that your vendor really gets your vision and is thinking on your behalf is key. I hadn’t realized how important that would be to make the whole process less stressful and more fun, but looking back it was the most important thing.
Getting hitched alone or accompanied by only a few friends offers intimacy, beauty and, ultimately, a focus on what matters most: marrying the love of your life. Photographer D’Arcy Benincosa joins floral designer Sarah Winward to enlighten Utah couples on the art of eloping with unforgettable style.
Try a minimalist approach. Rachael Affleck of Rachael Ellen Events and photographer Kenzie Victory reject the conventional overdone décor, princess gown and endless guest list. Instead, they focus on what matters most—a couple beginning its life together. Follow these five tips to harness sophisticated style for a Scandi-chic winter celebration.
Minimal of color can be magical, especially when a site is dark and moody. Leslie Price of Leslie Dawn Events and photographer Alixann Loosle enter La Caille’s deep forest at dusk to create a quiet design that caresses and calms. This enchanting retreat captures the charm of a captivating storybook romance.[vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1519270183946-35da74ab-03d9-5″ include=”13647,13648,13649,13650,13651″]
Holy Trinity Cathedral & Grand Hall at the Union Pacific Depot
The Couple
Peggy (a marketing consultant) and John (a wealth advisor) met at a Greek concert in Las Vegas when Peggy’s friend recognized John from a parody video she saw on YouTube.
Peggy’s friends partied that night with John’s friends, then, after four years of dating Peggy, John was ready for the next move. “Given that we had met at a Greek concert, I saw the perfect opportunity to fittingly propose at one,” John says. “Peggy and her girlfriends had planned a weekend getaway to Vancouver to see one of their favorite singers.
Unbeknownst to Peggy, I had notified the concert organizer of my plans to propose and was able to coordinate a moment with the musician to bring her on stage. Once she walked on, I came out with ring in hand and asked her to marry me in front of the entire audience. Amidst tears and cheers from the crowd, she said ‘yes.’”
The Wedding
Salt Lake City’s 100-year-old Holy Trinity Cathedral hosted Peggy and John’s traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony.
“The location was particularly meaningful to us because John’s parents and grandparents were also married there,” Peggy says. “The Greek Orthodox Sacrament of Marriage is unique in many ways, but primarily in that the ceremony has remained almost entirely unchanged since its origination centuries ago.”
Peggy created a personalized touch to the traditional ceremony by adding a sentimental inscription in John’s ring for him to discover during the ceremony.
The Mood
“We opted for an elegant, black-tie affair with a neutral color palate to underscore the historic beauty of the Grand Hall,” says the bride. “In typical Greek fashion, however, our wedding was themed around one word: party!” Food action stations, custom cocktails, musical performances and traditional Greek plate-breaking amped up the celebration.
The Menu
Live food stations included flaming Saganaki cheese appetizers and an ice-sculpted cocktail luge. A formal plated dinner began with spinach and arugula salad topped with tart cherries, sweet ricotta and hazelnuts tossed with a local honey vinaigrette and garnished with edible flowers. Next, caterers served chicken rotolo stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese and prosciutto or a beef tenderloin medallion with natural jus.
To top off the meal, loukoumades (Greek donut holes fried on sight and tossed in honey and powdered sugar), mini cannoli, and goat cheesecake bites with raspberry compoteand chocolate bouchon were served for dessert. Late-night offerings included mini Greek gyros and mini souvlaki skewers provided by Aristo’s Greek Restaurant, movie theater popcorn, milk chocolate sea salt popcorn and chocolate chip sea salt cookies courtesy of The Blended Table.
I’m head-over-heels for this beautiful styled shoot done right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Photographer Ashley Smith captures exquisite details, while the Potted Pansy’s florals add an organic textural element when paired with Betsy Couture’s gorgeous gown and model Audrey Seidel’s fierce posing game.
This shoot has ‘big city vibe’ written all over it –I feel like it’s straight out of an episode of Gossip Girl (Serena, is that you?)–and I can’t believe how lucky we are to have this much talent located right here in Utah. I’m so excited to share this with you, keep scrolling to see all of the amazing images.
Take a look at SLC’s downtown skyline and one hotel stands out: 
Deer Valley’s legend runs as deep as its roots in mining. With over 2,000 acres to choose from in Ski Magazine’s 2018 #1 ski resort, what is Nix’s preferred ceremony spot? “By far, my favorite ceremony location in 
This mountain contemporary resort is synonymous with comfortable luxury. With large ballrooms, spacious patios and mountain views in every direction, couples have many options. Nix’s favorite spot? “A west-facing ceremony on the Mountain Lawn provides the perfect background for your pictures. 
As one of Deer Valley’s newest mountain resort venues, Montage flaunts ski-in, ski-out access, the largest spa in Utah and five—yes, five—dining options, including a pub with its own bowling alley (ideal for a late night after party). Nix’s favorite ceremony hub at 
“We opted for an elegant, black-tie affair with a neutral color palate to underscore the historic beauty of the Grand Hall,” says the bride. “In typical Greek fashion, however, our wedding was themed around one word: party!” Food action stations, custom cocktails, musical performances and traditional Greek plate-breaking amped up the celebration.
Live food stations included flaming Saganaki cheese appetizers and an ice-sculpted cocktail luge. A formal plated dinner began with spinach and arugula salad topped with tart cherries, sweet ricotta and hazelnuts tossed with a local honey vinaigrette and garnished with edible flowers. Next, caterers served chicken rotolo stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese and prosciutto or a beef tenderloin medallion with natural jus. 
