THE COUPLE
Putting a spin on the typical tale of coworkers falling in love, Farah and Geoff instead became colleagues post-matrimony. Today, the spouses work together for a political organization, but their story began shortly after Farah moved from Utah to Washington, D.C. in pursuit of a career in politics. Geoff, who was a former employee of Farah’s company, stopped in for a visit and boldly asked Farah to dinner the first evening they met. As they say, the rest is history.
THE PROPOSAL
One summer, Farah invited her parents to visit D.C. Upon arriving at their final sight-seeing stop (the office of the Speaker of the House), Farah was pleasantly surprised to find a staff photographer on site, snapping shots for a supposed promotional pamphlet. As the couple stepped onto the marble balcony to enjoy the Speaker’s famous view of the National Mall, the photographer’s true mission was revealed: to capture the powerful moment of Geoff’s proposal (and Farah’s forever “yes”).
THE WEDDING
Farah and Geoff’s marriage brought not only two people together, but two cultures. Farah is of Chilean and Honduran descent, while Geoff’s family is Chinese. To celebrate this blending of traditions, the couple went all in with a cultural celebration of the century held at Salt Lake City’s La Caille.
The couple exchanged vows in an outdoor ceremony surrounded by lush tropical flora: massive green fronds teamed with vibrant red and white arrangements of roses, anthurium, and gladiola to create a striking path for the couple’s entrance. Farah walked down the aisle in a strapless Pronovias gown featuring intricate lace details and a tulle illusion skirt. She accessorized with ivory heels embellished with palm leaves, linking her bridal fashion to the décor.
Inside, the wedding’s crimson theme took center stage as an homage to Geoff’s heritage, in which red is a lucky color. Belle Bodas Events strategically added enough color to each table to elevate the greenhouse space, but not so much to detract from the venue’s natural beauty. Larger settings were dressed in champagne-colored linens and towering arrangements of greenery. Round tables balanced the room with simple black linens and contrasting crimson centerpieces. Framed palm leaves served as menu displays, and bright red Chinese gift boxes welcomed each guest to their seat.
Overhead, glowing Chinese lanterns fostered a peaceful ambiance and a sense of dimension, delighting the eye no matter where it wandered.
THE PARTY
When their big celebration finally came, after postponements due to the pandemic, these lovebirds went all out for the party of their dreams. And while Chinese culture strongly influenced the décor, the dance floor is where Farah’s South American roots truly emerged. “We wanted the wedding to have a ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ vibe, while incorporating both of our families’ cultures,” says Farah. “Ultimately, we wanted to entertain and surprise people.”
Those surprises came in all shapes and colors, from an unexpected father-daughter Cueca dance accompanied by a live Mariachi band to a live artist painting the intimate ceremony and trumpeters sending guests off at the end of the evening, each with a slice of black-frosted wedding cake in hand.
“Utah is so beautiful and unique, that we wanted to give our out-of-town guests an experience they’d truly never had at a wedding before.”
Utah Wedding Vendors
Wedding Planning and Design: Belle Bodas Events, bellebodasandevents.com
Photography: Grey Giraffe Collective, greygiraffe.com
Venue & Catering: La Caille, lacaille.com
Floral: Cactus and Tropicals, cactusandtropicals.com/eventfloral
Gown: Pronovias Privee via Kleinfeld Bridal; pronovias.com, kleinfeldbridal.com
Overlay Skirt: Martina Liana Bridal, essensedesigns.com/martina-liana
Ceremony Shoes: BHLDN, bhldn.com
Robe: Robed With Love,
robedwithlove.com
Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
Stationery & Signage: Made by Jen, @madebyjen_
Ceremony Painter: Painting with Bailey, @paintingwith.Bailey
Rentals & Linens: Diamond Event & Tent, diamondevent.com
Hair: Create on Location, msha.ke/createonlocation
Makeup: Julianne Horsley, MUA,
Groomsmen Suits: The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
Videographer: Shey Allen Films, sheyallenfilms.com
Cake: Annie’s Cakes, @annies.c.a.k.e.s
DJ: DJ Drew, getdjdrewmusic.com
Photobooth: Snap Happy Photobooth, snaphappy-photobooth.com
Reception Voicemail Phone: After the Tone, afterthetone.co
Lighting: Moonlight Utah, moonlightutah.com
