When it comes to choosing the right floral designer, it’s rare you’ll find a company with more expertise or passion for floral design than Every Blooming Thing.
After 40+ years in business, owner Robert Upwall and his team of experts are who you’ll want in your corner when you’re ready to begin selecting the beautiful elements for your wedding day.
Nothing demands elegance more in a room than when it’s enhanced with gorgeous blooms and greenery. Choosing the right team with a proven reputation you can trust like EBT is essential to brighten up the memorable events in your life.
“We are grateful and proud to say that we have done weddings for families spanning three generations. We aren’t just a one stop destination. We are there for anniversaries, baby showers, dances, first dates and proposals,” remarks Store Director, Crystal Tatton.
EBT understands the importance of focusing on the unique qualities, personalities and vision of their couples, embracing what is true and original, so they can capture the essential details of their dream wedding.
When you’re ready to work with the best in the industry to bring your fairytale to life, reach out to the team at Every Blooming Thing and learn why they’ve held a top spot in the wedding industry for over four decades.
Crystal Tatton, Store DirectorRobert Upwall, Owner
“We fall in love not only with the details of what we do but with the originality of those we do it for; we’re here for the forever journey.”
Robert Upwall
Ask the Expert
What’s Ahead:
Textural flowers have made their way into weddings and are not leaving any time soon. We’re looking forward to bold pops of color!
Excited About:
Couples who come with excitement, ideas and inspiration, trusting us to take the vision they’ve dreamt up and turn it into a beautiful reality. We want you to enjoy this time, especially on your big day!
Fresh Ideas:
A signature of ours is the blending of styles. Industrial boho, organic glam or a classic style with touches of vintage. Our designs are also architectural and filled with texture, drawing visual interest.
Love birds Dallin and Maddie met on popular LDS dating app Mutual. For Dallin, love at first sight meant chasing after Maddie for a few months before her eventual departure for an 18-month LDS mission. Nevertheless, Dallin stayed strong and love led to these beautiful scenic bridal photos.
The young couple celebrated their nuptials by taking these bridal photos at the scenic red rocks that Southern Utah has to offer. Dallin is dressed in a grey suit with a pink tie from Utah’s iconic Mr. Mac men’s suit clothiers. Maddie is dressed in a flowy, tulle puff-sleeved wedding gown from Moments Made Bridal in Bluffdale. Her floral bouquet was arranged by Wilson Park Floral and the dusty orange color of the flowers matches the scenery perfectly.
The couple’s scenic backdrop combined with Hayden and Megan Photography’s photography skills led to a beautiful bridal photoshoot showcasing the “high” the couple feels toward their upcoming wedding.
Old Hollywood meets modern glamour in Madison & Tom’s intimate downtown elopement.
THE COUPLE
Madison and Thomas first met at a housewarming party at Madison’s Provo apartment. Through mutual friends, the pair connected and immediately hit it off. Three years later, in preparation for a move to California, the couple tied the knot in a spontaneous and intimate elopement at the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.
A few weeks before their ceremony, the couple chose a ring together and began planning their vows. First up? The venue.
“I initially wanted to elope in a beautiful park, but being March/April in Utah, we couldn’t bet on good weather,” says Madison. “The Grand America is beautiful, romantic and very vintage-esque. As soon as I saw photos of the balcony, I immediately knew that was the spot.”
THE ELOPEMENT
Madison wanted their elopement to be classic, elegant, and embody all the old Hollywood vibes fellow vintage girlies know and love. Her inspiration came from a wedding playlist carefully curated over a number of years, filled with the likes of Billie Holladay, Sam Cookie, Otis Redding and Solomon Burke.
The vision began with the fashion details: her ring had a delicate pearl centerpiece rather than a diamond, and her flouncing mini dress from Lulu’s brought Old Hollywood to life with classic ribbons and bows.
“I loved that the look was simple, but with a statement,” says Madison. “Sweet and soft but also sexy.”
The bride also wore sheer gloves embroidered with pearls, and a simple white veil atop her half-pinned hairstyle and classic cat eye.
“Thomas said something along the lines of, ‘You remind me of I Love Lucy’ so I knew the look was giving exactly what i was going for.
The look was accented with a dried bouquet in shades of ivory and blush, standing out in stunning style against Tom’s simple black suspenders and bow tie.
The ceremony consisted of just pure love, encapsulated: on site were merely the couple, their officiant Zachary Pratt of Centerpoint Church, and a couple vendors to capture the special moment.
“It was wonderful to have the day truly be about us, instead of having to force ourselves to entertain other people and their ideas of what our special day should look or feel like.”
After they said “I Do,” Madison and Tom popped champagne and fed each other chocolate strawberries, celebrating their union in perfect intimacy. The pair plans to celebrate further with family and friends in a reception later this summer.
VENDORS Venue — The Grand America Hotel, thegrandamerica.com Photographer — Nathalie Saldana, capturedbynathalie.com Florist — Sadie Sunshine Floristry, sadiesunshinefloristry.com Bride’s Attire: Lulu’s, lulus.com; Amazon, amazon.com Groom’s Attire: Amazon, amazon.com HMUA: Starlee Johnson Hair, Cami Craig Makeup Videographer — Cris David
With fifteen seasons archived, Fuse Weddings and Events knows that executing the perfect wedding begins with mutual compatibility and impeccable design.
Fuse owner and renowned wedding planning expert, Mara Mazdzer, is as selective with her clientele as she is with her artistic vision. Prioritizing the value of well-suited partnerships, Mazdzer emphasizes choosing the right clientele in order to foster positive and effective experiences.
“We have a limited number of clients we work with each season, so we choose couples with visions we’re excited about and when we feel like we’re a good fit. A Fuse client knows we’re partners through the entire process with an equal investment in the success of their event,” Mazdzer explains.
Focused on unforgettable guest experiences paired with bespoke design, events with Fuse emphasize the important details of each couple to ensure they capture their unique love story.
Recurring feedback Fuse receives after events is how guests and family gushed about the authenticity of the big day and how it really “felt like” the couple they were celebrating.
When planning your perfect day, Fuse urges you to research the vendors you’re considering and read their reviews to help make your dream day a reality. “We’ve learned that working with the right people is the best formula for a successful day and the best strategy to enjoy the process.”
“We’re dedicated to our clients and take the time to learn about the details that matter most to them, allowing us to prioritize where to spend our energy and budget to turn their specific ‘wow’moments into reality.”
Mara Mazdzer, Owner
Ask the Expert:
What’s Ahead:
We’re excited to launch a partnership with another planning studio, this one focused on better serving our local clientele looking for a high-end experience without the extra services our current destination-wedding clients require.
Excited About:
“Minimalistic chic” is finally on its way out! We’re seeing more couples wanting the out-of-the-box big-moment design ideas, which are so much fun to create and bring to life!
Fresh Ideas:
While this might not be the sexiest answer, plan with your budget in mind and agree on the essential elements at the beginning. Approaching the planning process with a clear idea of where you should allocate your budget will help ensure you’re focused on the things that matter most.
After eight amazing years of planning weddings, I feel like I’ve truly seen it all.
In just under a decade, I’ve helped over 100 couples get married, and in those experiences, I’ve learned one thing–everyone wants their wedding to be as unique as their love. Why should that desire stop at a couple’s wedding party?
Modern weddings are constantly evolving in the way they honor, acknowledge, and nod to tradition. Having a wedding party–a group of people you cherish supporting you by your side on your wedding day–is a long-established and adored tradition.
Long gone are the days when only men peppered the groom’s side of the wedding party, or only one woman acted as a maid of honor. Now, there’s a modern twist on the way we think about wedding parties.
Brides and grooms are including the most important people by their side as they take the next steps in their journey together–no matter who they are and no matter how many of them there are.
That means that more couples are choosing non-traditional approaches to their wedding parties, including their best men selection.
Now, you’ll see best women in place of best men or even sometimes more than one best man to cover the best man list of duties.
Wedding Party FAQs: Common Questions About Organizing Your Wedding Party
The beautiful thing about a wedding party is that it–just like other elements of your wedding–can be a true reflection of what matters to you as a couple and as individuals. Still, there are some common questions every couple faces when learning about and arranging their loved ones in their own wedding party.
What Do You Call Your Wedding Party, Anyway?
If it was up to me, I’d always call a wedding party a wedding village. To me, the word “village” implies more inclusivity, leaving room for anyone you want in the party, whether they fit a traditional role or not. As the Wedding Village was established in ancient Roman times, a lot has changed since then.
How Many People Should Be In Your Wedding Village?
In ancient Rome, the wedding village required 10 witnesses in total–five from each side. That tradition has long since passed, though, and in my time as a planner, I’ve seen every size wedding village you can imagine.
Some couples simply choose not to have anyone in their wedding village, especially in areas where witnesses aren’t required (like in Colorado, where it’s legal to self-solemnize).
Other couples have had as many as 20 people in their wedding villages. The only requirement for selecting your wedding party? Make sure you’re building your village with loving, supportive people who are going to cheer you on, hype you up, and be a foundation for you before, during, and after your wedding day.
The Wedding Village Details: Let’s Talk Best Men
Can You Have More than One Best Man on Your Wedding Day?
In a word: Yes! The longer answer is that anything goes on your wedding day so long as you and your partner are happy with it. To give some context to those who might be wobbling on where they stand on the “two or more best men” thing, let’s explore where this tradition came from in the first place.
Originally a best man’s job was to act as the armed backup to help the groom out just in case something went down during the wedding, like the snap decision to elope, an attack on the wedding, or a bride who decides to call it off (yikes). You get the drift.
If we’re going by historical context, having two best men might actually be the smarter choice–the more backup you’ve got, the better odds you have, right? If we’re going by modern context, it’s just nice to have your two closest people sharing a title that means something special.
Either way, you win.
How Many Best Men Can You Have?
You can choose as many best men as feels right to you and your partner–there’s no wrong answer on your wedding day. As a planner, I am always sure to schedule and organize individual photos, details, and time with each member of your wedding village no matter what, so there’s no need to limit yourself from the logistics perspective of things.
Assign your wedding village based on what’s important to you. It’s your wedding, so invest in what feels uniquely you!
So, If You Choose Two Best Men–What Do You Call Them?
For people who choose to go with multiple best men, titles sometimes become a little sticky. Best men can work fine if you like the title and your two best men are actually men. Sometimes, though, other options are a must-consider.
Once, I had a couple assign each member of the wedding village a uniquely grand title, because, to them, not one person was considered the “Best Man.” For that couple, each member of their village was so much more than just a singular title, and they felt they all deserved their own.
In my time as a planner, I’ve heard a ton of different ways to refer to multiple best men, and some of my favorite inclusive options are:
Best People
Best Woman & Best Man
Friend(s) of Honor
Brother/Sister of Honor
Remember, you’re not limited to what other people have done before you. It’s your wedding and your decision–feel free to get creative with the titles.
Let’s Talk Logistics–How Do You Plan for Two Best Men During the Wedding?
From a planner’s perspective, I think the most important logistical element is to ensure the experience you have on your wedding day is the one you want to have. So, positioning your wedding village–multiple best men and all–is going to come directly from your own priorities. Here are a few options you could consider for positioning, but remember, there are no right or wrong answers here:
The Traditional Approach: Position the best man who is related to you (or closer to you) stands nearest to you, then stagger your wedding village after them
The Inclusive Approach: Reserve the front row for every member of your wedding village; have them sit there after walking you down the aisle
The Half-Circle Approach: Alternate both sides of the village in a half-circle (or even full-circle) around you
The Best Party Approach: Only include your “best people” (man and woman, man and man, woman and woman, whoever you’ve chosen) stand next to you–the rest of the village can sit in the front row
The possibilities for these logistics are endless and depend totally on your preferences, the physical space you’re working with, and what matters the most to you on your day.
How Do You Divide Up the Best Man Duties Between Multiple Best Men?
The answer is simple–play to each person’s strengths. You picked these cherished people to be your “best” for a reason, which means you value something special about each of them. The traditional duties you should be assigned to the best men are elements like:
Giving a speech
Planning the bachelor party
Assisting with picking out the wedding day attire
Helping the groom get ready on the day of
Keep track of the wedding rings
Just like other areas of life, some tasks are better when more than one person is in charge. Being able to divide up the important jobs based on their strengths can be a huge benefit to planning the day.
Can You Have Two Best Men and Only One Maid of Honor?
You absolutely can! For those who are concerned about this tilting things off balance, we’ll get this out of the way quickly–from a design perspective, yes, this would alter the balance a bit.
But ask yourself, what’s more important–a small imbalance in your wedding day photos or the satisfaction of knowing you did exactly what you wanted on your wedding day? The number one focus of your day should be feeling comfortable, happy, and totally at peace with all your decisions.
The Pros and Cons of Having Multiple Best Men
The Pros of Having More Than One Best Man
There’s a lot to consider when choosing whether or not to select more than one best man. Here are some of the key advantages to going for the multi-best man option.
Logistically (and from a planner’s perspective), it’s helpful to have more than one person in charge of keeping track of the groom before the first look to ensure it all goes smoothly.
Having more people to share their “best men toasts” is always a crowd pleaser and very sentimental for the couple
Surrounding the groom with a group of their most important people without any uncomfortableness of having to “rank” one over the others can make sure the wedding day is stress-free and seamless
Multiple best men can help gauge the environment and hype the groom up for his wedding day
Multiple best men can split the wedding tasks according to their strengths–one can handle planning the bachelor party, the other can handle organizing speeches
The Cons of Having More Than One Best Man
Every pro has a potential con in every aspect of your wedding. Here are a few other points of view to consider when it comes to choosing more than one best man.
More people in your wedding village could mean longer photo sessions–this might influence the way the timeline of your day unfolds
Multiple toasts are so fun, but they do mean more organization is necessary–you’ll have to schedule toasts instead of having sporadic ones
A modern take on the wedding village might be a tough guest for more traditional guests to understand (though, at the end of the day, only opinion matters here)
Some members of the wedding village might feel slighted (though, again, your decision is the only one that matters on your wedding day)
Choose the Best Man or Best Men Who Make Your Day Special
As a wedding planner who’s been in the industry for nearly 10 years, I can tell you first-hand that the happiest wedding days are the ones where couples lean into their vision of what a perfect day looks like–the rest of the details are just that, details.
With clear expectations, honest communication, and the willingness to get creative from a logistics perspective, having multiple best men can work out beautifully.
The most important focus of your wedding isn’t the number in your wedding village, the decor you’ve selected, or the photos you’ll take–it’s the decision to marry the love of your life exactly how you wanted.
As your wedding planner and advocate, it’s my mission to help guide you to that day every step of the way. Article Written by Irene + Co Events. For more information on planning your wedding, please visit www.irenecoevents.com.
Originally from Michigan, Natalie and Tom are college sweethearts who have been inseparable since their days at Michigan State. The pair have lived all over the country together, but most recently settled in the great state of Utah.
3-4 months before popping the question, Tom planned a special day for Natalie. The couple had previously modeled for local styled shoots, so Tom reached out to photographers Jenna Roden and Shannon Ferrell to set up a mock styled shoot to set the mood.
The photographers set up a picturesque scene: a picnic shoot on the glorious grounds of La Caille restaurant, nestled among the canyon views in Sandy. Natalie’s sister flew into town under the radar, and purchased the perfect outfit for the day.
After a few minutes of posed shooting, Tom dropped to one knee, and Natalie quickly realized that she was experiencing the real deal. From that point, the shoot turned to a day of joy and celebration surrounding the happy couple.
At the helm of Utah’s thriving foodie scene, Culinary Crafts remains the beacon of exceptional dining experiences across the state. Approaching its fourth decade in business, its continued success is rooted in an unwavering commitment to using fresh ingredients and made à la minute cuisine.
As second-generation proprietors, Ryan and Kaleb Crafts carry forward their family’s legacy by preserving what they refer to as “culinary romance.” Prioritizing ambiance alongside taste, they’re willing to make extraordinary excursions to bring their clients’ dream events to life.
Crafts takes pride in elevating the romantic aspects of dining by curating eclectic experiences, such as serving guests entrées in the middle of a lavender field or perhaps within one of Utah’s enchanting national forests.
While many catering companies are available for on-site setup, it’s a select few who are as dedicated as Culinary Crafts to fulfill a client’s vision.
Regardless of the occasion, whether it’s a wedding or social soirée, Culinary Crafts understands that food is the ultimate social linchpin. Guests generally attend events for specific purposes, but when quality cuisine is paired with memorable atmospheres, it allows guests to have a wonderful time while creating unique and delicious memories.
Culinary Crafts welcomes their clients’ ideas and has the experience to make most a reality. Moreover, their skilled team understands the intricate nuances to bring even the wildest ideas to fruition.
“As long as we can get our trucks and equipment to the location, we’re in!
Food is why we gather, so why not dine in settings as stunning as the cuisine?”
Ryan and Kaleb Crafts, Catering Savants
Ask the Experts
What’s Ahead:
We’re growing like crazy! This year, in addition to celebrating our fortieth year in business, we’re opening a wine-tasting bar and venue right downtown in SLC. Beyond that, one of our favorite aspects of this business is that we don’t always know what’s ahead! We wait to see what our clients are interested in so we can turn their ideas into a reality.
Excited About:
We’ll always be excited about the cuisine and you can taste the passion in our food. Still, what we look forward to most is trying something we haven’t yet done before. We love the ideas our clients bring and we can’t wait to see where and what we’ll be cooking next!
Fresh Ideas:
Don’t assume something isn’t possible. If you have an idea for a location or a meal, we’ll work with you to see what we can create. As the trendsetters of cuisine across Utah, our innovative team has the expertise and vision you need to execute your meal to the highest standards.
Old world fashion meets crisp, contemporary photography for a breathtaking bridal session in Utah’s capitol city.
When it comes to the wedding day, nothing sets the tone of your personal wedding vibe quite like the bridal fashion, and this classically stylish couple is the ideal example. Couple Alyssa and Colton braved the early morning chill with photographer Amy South (Amy Elizabeth Photo) to show off their one-of-a-kind wedding day ensembles at the crack of dawn at one of Utah’s most beautiful spring venues: the blossom-laden grounds of the Utah State Capitol Building.
Alyssa arrived on scene in a Regency-ball-worthy, off-the-shoulder satin gown with elegant ruffle details from shoulder to waist, found at Alta Moda Bridal. Her groom, Colton, sported a custom suit jacket in creamy white with black piping from Logan’s Kater Shop. Hiding within, a colorful custom paisley liner brings his personality to every detail.
Alyssa’s bridal ensemble was accented by a charming parasol, perfectly pastel bouquet and delicate lace shoes. Her ring, befitted with swirling loops of equal regency flair, add the ideal dose of sparkle alongside blue drop earrings.
See more of this dreamy bridal session:
Photographer: Amy South/Amy Elizabeth Photo IG handle: @amyelizabeth.photo Website: https://amyelizabeth.photo/
Cake meadows are the latest trend in dessert decor. Rather than choosing a simple cake stand and ribbon, brides are decking their cake tables with full-force florals. After all, why shouldn’t your dessert be a feast for the eyes, too?
A romantic shoot with bold color captures the essence of a timeless union between a bride and groom, marking the beginning of a new family affair.
A gloriously sunny day, buttery yellow florals, and a sweeter-than honey “something blue.” What more could a wedding need?
This marvelously inspirational styled shoot from Ruby Jane Events captures a “vision of sophistication,” the ultimate goal of Ruby Jane planner Julie Walker. The upscale inspiration begins with the setting, one of the valley’s most picturesque venues, Twenty & Creek, which contributed endless beauty to the big day with its natural light and neutral canvas as a foundation for the team’s chosen palette of blues and golds. “These colors were carefully curated to reflect the couple’s classic style while infusing a sense of joy and brightness into the atmosphere,” Walker says.
When imagining this dream couple, the vendors decided on an upscale pair, with a love to travel. Details including dainty botanical paper elements, classic floral shapes and a hand-crafted macaron tower reflect a love of Paris’s high style and infinite elegance.
The floral elements of the day equally conveyed elegance, from the delicate floral detailing on the bride’s gown and billowing veil to the simple bouquets of yellow garden roses and blue delphinium scattered throughout the event’s design. On the tables, sleek modern tableware and knotted napkins add further refinement. The masterpiece wedding cake showcased subtle texture and airy cosmos, tying the day’s theme together.
“What truly set this photo shoot apart was the inclusion of the couple’s young daughter, who stole the show with her adorable presence,” Walker says. “The little one wore a navy blue lace dress, complete with a dainty crown and satin ivory shoes. The family’s connection was palpable, and every frame captured the genuine love and happiness they share.”
