No question, whisky and vodka shine as the his-and-her cocktail darlings of weddings, but gin is having a moment in the spotlight. Bartenders—like Cheers & Swizzles’ owner Mary Pinyan-Lauer—prove gin’s popularity spans everywhere from restaurant menus to stylish soirées.
What better way to toast a wedding than with a celebratory concoction like a French 75? Effervescent, crisp and a little sweet and sour. “French 75s—for weddings, I like to call them French Kiss 75s—are tasty, fun and festive,” Pinyan-Lauer says. She adds they can be served year-round, from holiday engagement parties to summertime Sunday brunches. Even better? Make it a local pour with Beehive Distillery’s Jack Rabbit gin.
Photo by : Adam Finkle
Mary Pinyan-Lauer of Cheers and Sizzles’ offers up her recipe for a French Kiss 75.
• 1 ½ ounce of Beehive Jack Rabbit gin
• ½ ounce of simple syrup
• ½ ounce of lemon juice
Shake. Pour. Top with Prosecco. Garnish with lemon twist. Serve.
Estate Champagne glasses, Williams Sonoma at Trolley Square, SLC, $50 for pair; “I Love You And Cake” cocktail napkins, Wish, Park City, $12
Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant is a full service restaurant open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Silver Fork Lodge also offers 7 guest rooms and stays are complete with a complimentary breakfast every morning. We have a free shuttle for guests of the lodge and ski resorts to and from Silver Fork. Solitude ski resort is only 1 mile away and Brighton Ski Resort is 3 miles away. A beautiful indoor/outdoor banquet area surrounded by mountains, aspens and pines is a perfect backdrop for weddings and special events. Enjoy your special event with great food and hospitality at Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant.
One unique wedding that took place at Silver Fork Lodge was the bride and groom stood in the middle of a circle of family and friends and exchanged vows. Wildflowers decorated the lower lawn and all their tables and the sunlight glowed in the aspens and pines. Afterward everyone danced and mingled well into the evening, the fires were going and the atmosphere couldn’t be better. The couple was so relaxed and happy.
Another interesting wedding and the most unique that I’ve seen so far, was a traditional middle eastern wedding ceremony. The ceremony was close to two hours long with traditional dress and decor. They even brought in specialty ethnic desserts. Silver Fork Lodge is a great back drop for any style you want to create.
The weddings vary from season to season. In the summer time we have an indoor/outdoor banquet area that can hold up to 240 guests. Ceremonies and receptions can be mostly outside surrounded by mountains, aspens and pines and fireplaces when the sun goes down. In the winter we do have some brave couples that brave the cold and choose to do a ceremony outside on our upper deck. The deck has amazing views and is worth dressing a little warmer to enjoy the ceremony outside. The inside banquet room can be used for groups up to 60 in the winter for the reception. Or bigger groups can close the restaurant.
To someone who doesn’t know the area, I would say Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant is a full service restaurant open year round for breakfast, lunch and dinner, bed and breakfast and wedding and event venue. We are in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains and within a five minute drive to two awesome ski resorts, Brighton and Solitude. We have a historic building with rustic charm, cozy fireplaces, extraordinary views and love to provide hospitality to our guests.
The Country Club, is a full service venue, that offers a gorgeous mountain setting for your dream wedding. Discover the sophisticated ambiance, amenities, cuisine, and the personal attention that will make your wedding unforgettable. The Clubhouse features rooms to accommodate both small and large events. Inside, our scenic Canyon Room can seat up to 150 and outside, our Club Courtyard is the perfect setting for a ceremony and can seat up to 250 or up to 400 in a cocktail party setting.
If rustic-chic is what you are looking for, Jeremy Ranch is the perfect place for your mountain wedding. This year-round retreat offers up endless views of the rarely seen East Canyon rolling hills that pop green during the spring and summer, grow warm and dynamic in the fall, and finally sparkle with white in the winter. You and your guests will have breath-taking views from every angle on the property.
The country club is an intimate setting filled with opportunities for your personal touches and the staff are happy to help make the day all yours. “One of my favorites, was a wedding of only 40 people,” says Event Sales Manager, Angela Livingston. “It all the makings of cozy family setting. Such as they did a communal table that stretched much of the length of the Pier bar. Everyone was sitting together. It was very intimate and sweet.” Another great wedding Livingston remembers is one that transformed the entire outside into a farmers market complete with vibrant plants and stations that offered breads, jams, and honey.
Photography by: Dezember Photography, Candace AlldredgePhotography by: Dezember Photography, Candace Alldredge
Many people associate Utah with it’s colder snowy months due to the abundance of ski resorts in the area. And Jeremy Ranch is located just down the street from the nations largest ski resort, Park City Mountain Resort. But these hills definitely come alive during the summer and the country club takes advantage of the luscious vegetation, the long days, and cool summer breezes to offer you a beautiful outdoor wedding. A grand staircase, accessed by the clubhouse, makes for a stunning entrance for the ceremony or reception as it curves its way down into the courtyard area that is available June through October. The courtyard is an open patio with gorgeous cobblestone. It is surrounded by lush lawn and in the evening bistro lighting twinkles overhead as if you were enveloped in your own starry galaxy. In the fall, the trees alone come alive with vivid oranges, yellows, and reds that will paint a beautiful natural backdrop to your day.
And although summertime tends to be the more popular season to have a wedding at the venue, don’t be afraid to come up the canyon during the colder months. Jeremy Ranch offers many indoor areas such as the Canyon Room that has floor to ceiling windows that will make you feel like you are standing among the winter wonderland. But if seeing the wintery landscape isn’t enough and you want to brave the chill—outdoor heaters are made available for weddings and receptions to be held out on the patio.
When you arrive at Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country club you will find that you’ve found your a location that feels like your very own mountain home and what a perfect way to start the next step of your life. A casual setting with essences of upscale luxury and sophistication.
“Our wedding was pure fireworks over the 4th of July holiday weekend at Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club. We were married outside with sweeping views of the mountains as our backdrop while the sunset over Park City. The entire night was pure magic and we could not have been happier with this incredible venue. The food was delicious, the staff so professional and the setting unmatched in beauty. Our guests came from out of state and people were blown away with the venue ~ as were we. I wouldn’t change a thing and wish we could do it all over again to experience this incredible night again and again! Jeremy Ranch is one of the best wedding venues in Utah! Pure magic!” – Amanda MacNaughton
Photography by: Dezember Photography, Candace Alldredge
Easy-breezy gowns for the spirited, sun-kissed bride.
“The mountains are calling and I must go,” said John Muir in his most famous quote. Every year, the indisputable romance of mountain life lures engaged couples to Utah from all over the country. These wanderers and outdoor thrill-seekers celebrate our canyon breezes, grassy slopes and vast views.
It may seem challenging to compete with all this mountain majesty, but with the right head-to-toe look, a bride shines through. High-altitude style calls for lightweight gown fabrics, jaw-dropping jewels and messy-hair-don’t-care beauty. What better place to showcase this spirited attitude—luxe yet carefree—than Deer Valley Resort’s Empire Canyon Lodge and Cushing’s Cabin.
Wedding Design & Planning – At Sage and Thistle Events we don’t do cookie cutter, guys! When it comes to design we’ll craft an experience for your guests where everything – from the setting to the smallest detail – tells a story. We’ll cater to your sense of style without breaking the bank…and we’ll drop your jaw when it’s done. Guaranteed.
Photos provided by: Sage and ThistlePhotos provided by: Sage and Thistle
And when it comes to planning maybe you need a little help tying all your hard planning work with an elaborate bow of awesomeness. We can do that. Or maybe you haven’t even gotten started, and the more you think about it the more you realize you don’t want to. We can help there too. From “I think I’m in a bit over my head’ to “Hey, you guys plan this entire wedding. I’m going on vacation!” We’ve got your back.
Photos provided by: Sage and ThistlePhotos provided by: Sage and Thistle
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“Katie’s wedding was spectacular!!! Sage and Thistle Events worked so hard and all their effort showed in the final result. We were all transported to a magical place. Our friends and family’s comments lingered on for weeks as we all relived it in our minds. I know our goal was achieved when, after the talk of beautiful flowers and good food and spectacular lights, friends said how intimate and warm everything felt …. that the wedding was really personal. The ladies of Sage and Thistle Events listened to us and created a wonderful memory. Hands down the bar has been set high for my other girls!” Gloria Bowman, Mother of the Bride
Utah and mountain weddings go hand-in-hand. The Beehive State is set with magical backdrops, varying weather and resort-side venues. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, Deer Valley Resort tops our list for mountain elegance. And lucky for us, the Utah Bride & Groom team capitalized on Deer Valley’s luxe surroundings last summer by staging this fashion shoot on their lush grounds.
What exactly epitomizes a wedding steeped with mountain luxury? The event team at Deer Valley knows and today, they share their top tips for achieving a wedding weekend that screams resort elegance.
Surround Yourself with Nature
Inside and out, a resort lodge sets an easy stage for a classic outdoor event. “Outdoor-loving guests fall fast for rustically vaulted ceilings, huge tree pillars, stone fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows with sensational views of the natural beauty of the mountains and lawns,” says Deer Valley’s Banquet and Catering Manager Karen Gibbs.
Get High
Treat guests to the ride of their life. Ride Deer Valley’s Ruby lift to Cushing’s Cabin which rests atop the resort’s highest point. At 9,100 feet above sea level, the view flaunts 360-degrees of the Timpanogos and Wasatch Range.
Trust the Pros
By hiring seasoned pros, you can be guaranteed your wedding weekend runs smooth. Instead of you running around with a massive to-do list on your wedding day, let the professionals do it. “We are truly dedicated to fulfilling our couple’s vision of their perfect mountain wedding,” Gibbs says. “Attention to detail is key.”
Plan a Feast
By tradition, weddings are about two families becoming one and what better way to celebrate than with a customized gourmet meal. “Our skilled chefs (many of whom have been with us for years) recommend choosing a wedding menu designed around locally grown and raised ingredients,” says Gibbs who adds that food presentation also elevates the luxe vibe.
Sit Back and Relax
Enjoy the big day knowing you and your guests are pampered from sun up to sundown. “Chose a venue known for first-rate mountain hospitality,” Gibbs suggests. “It’s important to have a friendly banquet staff who welcomes wedding guests warmly and treats them like family, with a sincere willingness to please.”
‘Tis the season for gown shopping and there’s no better place to start than Gateway Bridal’s new digs.
The gowns glow, sparkle and shine inside Gateway’s new industrial space and lucky for us, we helped our friends at Gateway Bridal celebrate their grand re-opening and their 15th anniversary.
Oh, what a night. Thanks to Gateway Bridal, FUSE Events, Culinary Crafts, Abbey Kyhl Photography, Cactus & Tropicals, Specialty Linen, Diamond Rental, Perfect Pour and Sugar Rush video.
2016 is a year for the books and Utah Bride & Groom’s exquisite Real Weddings unquestionably deserve to be celebrated. Take a stroll down memory lane, uncover some inspiration for your own wedding day or simply revel in the enchanting imagery and fairytale whimsy as we present Our 5 Favorite Real Weddings from 2016, selected by you, our lovely readers of course — carry on.
Isabel and Adam knew right from the beginning that they were meant for each other.
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
“I knew he was my forever,” Isabel said.
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
During a trip to visit Adam’s family in Arizona, Adam and Isabel went to a Scottsdale Resort for a sumptuous dinner. When they were told by the staff that their wait for a table would be about 15 minutes, Adam led Isabel on a saunter through resort grounds.
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
As they walked, they caught the faint sound of music playing from a luminous gazebo…
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
“I thought we were invading someone else’s event,” Isabel said.
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
The couple was taken in and seated inside of the floral adorned gazebo as the wait staff brought out menus—after their meal, they danced.
Courtesy of: India Earl Photography
Following the serenade, Adam kneeled down on one knee as he proposed to Isabel, “I had never felt so loved and in love.”
Oh, you had us Alençon lace. Put away your Snapchat and Insta for just a second and imagine sixteenth century Normandy where in the small French town of Alençon, this type of needle lace was born. Today, Christos gowns use the same delicate detail on their ladylike and sophisticated frocks.
Want to see this in person? Head to local shop Bitsy Bridal where Christos gowns grace the racks year round. Coming up this weekend, brides have a chance to try on the latest and greatest from the 2017 line. Prices range from $2,900-$3,600 and a 10% discount is available for trunk show purchases.
What: Christos 2017 Trunk Show
Where: Bitsy Bridal, by appointment (book online), 2005 East 2700 South Suite A2, SLC
