Agricultural Wedding: Going Green

Farm to table isn’t new. For years, menus have boasted local food for good reasons: it is undeniably fresh, environmentally friendly (saves transportation costs) and supportive of locally-owned business.

What is new is entire wedding menus filled top-to-bottom with locally-grown gourmet offerings, not just a single dish. From appetizers and salads to entrees and desserts, Utah caterers prep their favorite farm-fresh dishes.

Maureen and Eileen Dunn of Done To Your Taste practice what they preach. “We grow Eileen’s Greens 20 feet from our kitchen door,” Maureen says of the duo’s garden that grows lettuce, arugula, spinach and corn. Their Heber location offers these chefs quick access to farms producing beef, eggs, potatoes, beets, carrots and more—most within a five minutes drive from their chopping boards.

Pictured:

Summit County beef tenderloin

Eileen’s Greens and herb chimichurri

Sweet potato straw

Heirloom purple corn nuts

Whipped Utah potatoes infused with

wild Uinta garden beets

Heirloom carrot soufflé

Ancient grains and sweet pea gremolata

Farm succotash of corn, tomatoes, squash

Utah peach tea

Prosecco added to Eileen’s Greens fresh herb shrub with High West vodka, Bear Lake berries, ice and cucumber slices

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See the other caterers we featured: Food by: Cuisine Unlimited | Blended Table | Utah Food Services | Culinary Crafts

See more inside the

Photographs by: Jessica White Photography

Food and Drinks done by: Done To Your Taste

Modern Southwest Elopement

Southwest style never fades. In fact, like fine wine and aged leather, this iconic American statement is getting better with age. Today, rugged is more refined, barren blossoms into vibrant, and windblown fades to perfectly polished.

Southwestern design is synonymous with comfort. That’s why we’re swooning over this cozy-chic inspiration from Jessica White Photography. Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you should get shortchanged in the fairytale department. So, how about go at it in style? Take our advice and follow these tips for an elopement to remember.

Think outside the reception box.

This 100-year-old converted railway loft reflects a rustic, yet modern style. Exposed beam ceiling, custom barn doors and shiplap walls? Joanna Gaines would approve.

Make a fashion statement.

Just because you’re eloping, doesn’t mean you can’t don a killer outfit. Sure, we’re thinking Southwest, but a custom suit—blue trousers and a plaid jacket—keeps the scene cool and contemporary.

Layer on the organic details.

Wool rugs, leather ottomans and sheepskin throws pack a luxurious punch to the scene. Add a lush garland filled with florals, succulents and greens for extra romance.

Go for earthy tones.

Muddy chocolates, raw woods and turquoise jewels invoke all our favorite desert sunset tones.

Experiment. Why not?

Play with a different style bouquet or go wild and pick two. Next, choose a custom wedding cake for the two of you.        Live happily ever after.

No explanation needed.

VENDORS:

Photography, creative direction and design:  Jessica White 

Venue: The Loft Studio 

Florals: Potted Pansy 

Gown:  Chantel Lauren 

Suit:  True Gentleman Supply Co 

Jewelry: Southwest Silver Gallery

Hair:  Kali Chris 

Makeup: Makeup & Brows by Cherisa 

Backdrop:  Ballantyne Design 

Rugs/pillows/staging:  Loom & Kiln 

Invitation suite:  Foil & Ink 

Invitation backdrop:  Watercolors by Marlene

Cutting boards:  Salt Marketplace 

Cakes:  Natalie Ward Gray 

Video:  Emily Evans Video

–Written by: Val Rasmussen, editor

Real Weddings: Dia de Pachamama at High Star Ranch

Laura Vernon & Iain Elliott – 8.1.15

THE COUPLE
Laura and Iain met online when they were both living in San Francisco. Eighteen months later, Iain (a soon-to-be resident physician) proposed to Laura (a retail brand manager) in their new home of Utah. “Three weeks after finding out we were moving to Utah, we met in Salt Lake to explore our future hometown,” Laura says. “Iain led me on a hike to the Living Room on Bonneville Shore Trail and proposed as we overlooked the city where we would build a new life together.”

THE WEDDING
“We chose High Star Ranch because we loved the views of the valley in the casual and relaxed setting,” Laura says. “And we chose the date [Aug. 1] as it is Dia de Pachamama—Mother Earth Day in traditional Incan culture—and we felt it would be a great intention for our life together.”

THE MOOD
Grassy fields and soaring mountains provided the ceremony’s natural décor. Invitations suggested “prairie formal” attire. “We decided to have the ceremony on the hillside to create an intentional connection with nature,” Laura explains. “There was no seating, just all of our loved ones and extended family surrounding us in a half circle for the ceremony.”


THE CUISINE
“I am a fish-eating vegetarian and Iain is a meat eater,” Laura says. “We offered  a robust buffet menu accommodating both.” Laura and Iain baked the double-dark-chocolate carrot cake that they cut into and served a vegan carrot cake from Whole Foods to guests.

THE TUNES
Laura and Iain invited their friends to provide the music for the ceremony. “Our good friends sang and played ‘This Train is Bound for Glory’ as we all walked down to the reception. For the party, Metro Music Club brought the house down. We knew our guests would dance up a storm in the barn,” Laura says of their “killer music.”

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“Holding Iain’s hand,” Laura says. “And being surrounded by family and friends, overwhelmed with emotions, laughing, crying and my face being stuck in a constant ear-to-ear grin.”

See more inside the

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The Details

Photography: Erin Kate Photography, Park City
Catering: Done to Your Taste, Park City
Wedding Coordinator: Emmily Jones, Gatherist
Venue: High Star Ranch, Kamas
Flowers: Tinge Floral, SLC
Rentals: Diamond Rentals, SLC
Rentals: Pink Hippo Vintage Rental, Park City
Rings: Brilliant Earth, brilliantearth.com
Makeup: Versa Artistry, SLC
Alterations: Tissue Fine Fabrics, SLC
Invitations: Makr, makr.co
Transportation: Red Star Transportation
Gown and suits: J.Crew at City Creek, SLC
Bridesmaids’ gowns: Zara, Anthropologie, J.Crew
Entertainment: Metro Music Club

Bohemian Love In Utah’s Sand Dunes

“Every couple has something special about them, I always try and capture their feels.” – Tressa Photography

Photographers Tressa Roberts and bride Katherine Fraley produced on several fashion shoots together and they always dreamed of shooting at the Utah Sand Dunes. “We always thought it’d be the perfect place to show a love story with a bohemian twist.”

 Most shoots take place early in the day to take advantage of the soft morning light or around sunset to capture the warm hues of the evening. Despite the difficult access—an hour and half drive to the Sand Dunes—the duo persisted in order to get a sunrise shot of couple Katherine and Aaron.

Sure,  preparing for a shoot with poses and moments to capture are important, but Thomas recommends being open and ready to capture the raw moments that happen between a couple. “There’s something fun and silly that happens when two people love each other,” she says. “The way they look into each others eyes, or just their little quicks they have when they’re together.”

These sand dunes may be a perfect location for a bohemian-themed look, but with all that open pristine landscape comes a lot of 4-wheelers. “Because they’re dunes, you can’t see over them,” Thomas says. “We’d be shooting and hear loud engines revving in all directions. I kept having the thought that at any moment a 4-wheeler would come right over one of the dunes and run us over.”

Aaron and Kathrine Fraley met on their LDS mission to the French Caribbean. When they returned, they continued their friendship. “As we were texting one day he asked me if I wanted to go to the Lantern Festival, I said yes of course,” Kathrine says. “When our friends asked Aaron about this date, he looked at them confused, It’s not a date, we’re all going.’”

Finally, their mutual friends convince him to take her out on a date…alone. “We ended up going to the local county fair instead and had the best time of our lives. He was smitten,” Kathrine describes. That night, the couple enjoyed the evening together, laughing, and “spending way too much money on fair games.”  Now married, the two of them still love laughing and looking back on those fun memories.

–
DETAILS
Photographer: Tressa Photography
Suit: Topman
Headpiece: Danani Handmade

No Stress DIY Wedding Hair

Have you ever thought Miley Cyrus’ “Can’t be Tamed” may actually be about your hair? If so, we are in the same boat.

With so many things to do before the wedding, getting your hair done may be low on the list. But these easy DIY hairstyles will help you take a load off and make you feel beautiful.

Courtesy of oncewed.com

Romantic Half Up

  1. Loosely curl you hair and spray with a salt spray for texture.
  2. Tease the crown of your hair for some volume.
  3. Take a section from the front right of your hair, twist, and pin to the opposite side on the back.
  4. Take a section from the front left of your hair, twist, cross it over the previous section then pin.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 alternating sides until all of the front of your hair is pulled back.
  6. Pull out and loosen some pieces to create a romantic look.
Courtesy of papernstitchblog.com

Braided Updo

  1. This is another one where you want to start with texturized hair, do some loose curls or add some salt spray.
  2. Section hair into three parts, make each into a ponytail with a clear elastic band (or whatever you prefer).
  3. Braid each section and add another elastic to the end of it, then loosen and backcomb them to create more full braids.
  4. Start twisting each braid up and over the elastic from step 2 and pin to hold in place.
  5. Do that with all 3 braids then pull to fill in any empty spaces and add hairspray if desired.
Courtesy of laurenmcbrideblog.com

Tucked Braid with Loose Curls

  1. Start by adding some texturizing spray and curling your hair section by section away from your face
  2. Section off the front of your hair on the smaller side of your part, ending at the back of your ear
  3. French braid the section by putting the pieces under each other, braid until you have no more hair in the section to add and finish with a normal braid
  4. Pull on the sides of the braid while holding it taut to create a lived in look
  5. Tuck the braid behind your ear and and secure to piece of your hair near the bottom of your head with an elastic
Courtesy of livhart.com

Hair Enhancing Tips

  1. Ask your stylist how to accessorize with flowers, headbands or jewelry.
  2. Use a good texturizing spray or dry shampoo.
  3. Confidence is key. Strut your stuff down the aisle.

 

—written by: Madeline Brubaker

The Pinterest Bride

Many wedding pros warned me: When it came to throwing my dream wedding, a capable, visionary planner was the TLC my special day needed. But alas, my slim budget didn’t make room for the luxury of an in-the-flesh planner. I had to make do with the always friendly—and free—alternative: Pinterest.

My fiancé and I pinned our hearts out. The scene: A charming bucolic bash set among budding trees in an abandoned churchyard. The food: Street cart tacos, a sweet selection of Penguin Brothers hot-off-the-cookie-sheet ice cream sandwiches and an Italian-style garden cake, baked to perfection by Tess Comrie. The décor: String lights cheered up the moody May sky while bright and barely-there floral arrangements—courtesy of flower maven Jessica St. Thomas—dotted the tables.

The couple: blown away.

My post-wedding two cents? While stressful, wedding planning was a terrifically fun sport we were lucky enough to share. Our big day satisfaction came from finding a shared vision and investing ourselves in the planning process. Don’t hesitate to grab your partner and Pin away.

–

The Details

Photo by: Kate Osborne Photography, Gown: The Brides’ Shop, SLC; Beauty: Em’s Beauty Bar, SLC; Suit: J.Crew at Fashion Place, Murray

Capturing the Bridal Beauty Amongst the Outdoors

Ashlee Fetters and Jesse Hardy met long before they fell in love and have their families to thank for it. At 12 years old, their souls first crossed paths. Jesse lived next door to Ashlee’s aunt and uncle. “I always had a big crush on him,” Ashlee says. Eight years later as young adults, they reconnected over Facebook. The school-girl crush came back and soon the two began dating. “I feel like I’m living out my 12-year-old girl fantasy,” Ashlee says. “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.” They both admit they still give each other those young love butterflies.

Since the couple’s wedding is an outdoor garden theme, photographer Sydney Reid wanted to capture vast nature shots filled with plants and greenery for Fetters’ bridal shoot.

“When shooting a bride, you want to always make sure they stand out in the most dramatic way possible,” photographer Reid says. But capturing beauty amongst Utah’s gorgeous landscape is not always easy. Reid found the perfect little post right off the road. The sensational scene was a quick trip from the car, key for avoiding a far traverse in a wedding gown. Ideal as it was, the team fought off other photo seekers. “We had to juggle different angles and time the shots just right so we didn’t get any cars in our photos.”

Reid’s photography style is collaborative. Although she has creative and beautiful shots ideas, she believes it is important to ask the bride ahead of time for certain shots they may want or have imagined. “Because we all know brides have been dreaming of these moments for years. It’s my job to give it to them.”

Don’t forget all the details that go into a shoot. Yes, that gown is dazzling, but brides put so much thought into every last bit of their appearance. “So you want to make sure to capture ever little detail from her veil, to the way her hair is styled, the intricate lace on her gown and of course the ring.”

“This shoot was so fun. Ashlee has so much personality and we could have stayed in those mountains and shot all night. She is so open minded and just went with the flow, especially when I made her test her balancing skills on the log.”

Relax and enjoy the ride. “Images turn out 100 times better when your client and you are relaxed and having fun,” Reid recommends. “It’s a thrill to capture the most important day in a couple’s life.”

DETAILS

Bride: Ashlee Fetters
Photographer: Sydney Reid with Sydney McCall Photography
Shoot Location: American Fork Canyon

Tip Tuesday: Taking Care of Your Skin

written by: Emily Lopez
This weeks Tip Tuesday talks more about what lies beneath your makeup. Taking care of your skin should be your top priority. Exfoliating your skin can make a significant difference in the way your makeup looks and feels, and doing it on a regular basis offers several benefits. Not only will it give you smoother makeup application, it can also improve skin texture, even out skin tone, prevent blemishes, and also minimize the appearance of pores. There are 2 different ways to exfoliate: Manually & Chemically. You can manually exfoliate by using a Clarisonic, microderm pen, or by washing your face with a gritty cleanser. You can chemically exfoliate by purchasing a cleanser with glycolic or lactic acid, or take it to the next level by scheduling an appointment with an aesthetician for a chemical peel (Great excuse for a pamper session ) If you don’t exfoliate, start now! Your skin [and makeup] will thank you.
(Photo credit: Kate Osborne Photography)
Here are a few of my favorite tried-and-true exfoliating products:

Real Weddings: Glamour on the Mountain at The St. Regis

Danielle Kasirer & Jaime Schwartz – 7.3.16

THE COUPLE
Jaime (a plastic surgeon) and Danielle (a preschool teacher) met on a blind date. The Los Angelenos dated for seven months before Jaime popped the question over the Fourth of July weekend. He proposed to Danielle with Champagne and roses in the same spot they subsequently were married a year later: The St. Regis Deer Valley.

THE WEDDING
“Deer Valley holds a special place in my heart,” says Danielle. “My family has been going there for over 20 years.” Danielle and Jaime hosted a welcome dinner at St. Regis’ Deer Crest Club on Friday. On Saturday, all guests attended the Deer Valley Music Festival (featuring the Utah Symphony) and after the concert, everyone enjoyed drinks, dessert and dancing at The Spur on Park City’s Main Street. Sunday’s ceremony included religious articles that belonged to their grandfathers. “We had two talitot that belonged to both of my late grandfathers to adorn the top of the chuppah,” Danielle says. “And we used Jaime’s late grandfather’s tallit to be wrapped in.”

THE MOOD
“We wanted an elegant rustic theme,” Danielle explains. Dahlias, garden roses, lisianthus, ranunculus and blushing brides decorated centerpieces and bouquets. Five crystal chandeliers dangled from the rafters of a clear-sided tent, and candle-filled hurricanes flickered on the tops of long farm tables.

THE CUISINE
The wedding night menu offered elegant kosher-style cuisine including entree selections of Koosharem Valley Utah trout, seared tofu and mushroom ravioli.

THE TUNES
Danielle’s three-year-old son Oliver played a large part in the festivities. “Jaime and I considered the wedding to be about the three of us becoming a family,” Danielle says. “Because of that, Oliver had a part in our first dance and he was lifted up on a chair during the horah. That was his favorite part.” The Party Crashers, a local band, performed live. Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road” introduced the newlyweds’ first dance.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“The first look,” Jaime describes. “I didn’t realize how emotional it would be.”

the details

Photography: Logan Walker, SLC
Wedding planner: Soirée Productions, Park City
Catering and venue: The St. Regis Deer Valley, Park City
Flowers: Artisan Bloom, Draper
Rentals: Soirée Productions, Park City
Cake: Carrie’s Cakes, Sandy
Videography: Ryan Hinman, Draper
Dress: Ines Di Santo, Lovella Bridal, Glendale, California
Rings: XIV Beverly Hills, California
Invitations: JAM Invitations, Beverly Hills, California
Entertainment: The Party Crashers via Green Light Booking, Pleasant Grove

Agricultural Wedding: Get Choppin’

Locally-harvested cuisine from Utah’s top five caterers.

Farm to table isn’t new. For years, menus have boasted local food for good reasons: it is undeniably fresh, environmentally friendly (saves transportation costs) and supportive of locally-owned business.

What is new is entire wedding menus filled top-to-bottom with locally-grown gourmet offerings, not just a single dish. From appetizers and salads to entrees and desserts, five Utah caterers prep their favorite farm-fresh dishes.

“If serving fresh local foods is something you are passionate about,” says Mary Crafts-Homer, owner of Culinary Crafts, “you can actually visit some of the local farms that your caterer uses, or visit the cheese maker that supplies cheese to your caterer, or any number of local excursions your caterer may recommend. What a fun date for the foodie couple.”

Pictured:

Mezzaluna-chopped Salad

Fricasee of forest mushrooms

Hearty greens

Slide Ridge honey vinaigrette served on a wood plank

House-made artisan bread

Black pepper brioche with Utah sea salt butter paddle

Pumpkin cornmeal roll with honey cranberry compound butter

Rocky Mountain red trout, mesquite grilled with tomato jam

Grilled local asparagus with torched pine nut butter

–

See the other caterers we featured: Food by: Cuisine Unlimited | Blended Table | Utah Food Services | Done To Your Taste

See more inside the

Photographs by: Jessica White Photography

Food by: Culinary Crafts

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