Tori & Cameron
Little Cottonwood Canyon, September 25th
Panning & design by Stella & James Events
Photography by Ashton McFarlane Photography
THE COUPLE
Tori and Cameron, both native Utahns, met like many modern couples do—on a dating app called Mutual. It was the first, and only, date Tori ever went on through the app, and it seemed the two were graced with beginner’s luck after they met at a Starbucks and talked for hours until the shop closed. For three years, Tori and Cameron dated while they attended and then graduated from the University of Utah.
THE PROPOSAL
Tori and Cameron had been talking about getting married for a while before he finally proposed. “We felt like we were ready to start this new journey together,” she recalls. One Friday, Cameron had planned an outdoor picnic at the base of Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon. There, he laid out an assortment of Indian food, the couple’s favorite cuisine, and cheesecake. In his excitement Cameron forgot utensils, and the pair shared one plastic fork for their feast. “I had so many butterflies I couldn’t eat anything,” Tori says with a laugh. “When he passed me the cheesecake, I didn’t even notice the giant ring box alongside the cake.” Cameron then pulled Tori to her feet and lowered onto one knee. After she accepted his proposal, a photographer emerged from the forest to take photos of the entire setup. “I love the little things like forgetting forks and my focus on the cake instead of the ring,” Tori says. “It made it really special and unique to us.”
THE SCENE
Growing up, Tori always wanted to get married in the serene forest behind her childhood home. The shifting autumn leaves and natural beauty of the setting also reflected the couple’s love of the outdoors. “We wanted a venue that reflected that part of our lives,” Tori says. The couple chose a neutral wedding palette influenced by fall, allowing the scenery to breathe life into the ceremony. Gray, champagne, caramel and gold were the dominant hues. “I love the rich deep color of the velvet tablecloths, and the lighter champagnes and grays helped balance it out,” says Tori, who spends her free time sharing interior design DIYs and creative décor on her social media feeds.
THE WEDDING
After being sealed in the Bountiful temple the night before, Tori and Cameron were joined by their guests for a ring ceremony at her family’s home in Little Cottonwood Canyon. A family friend, and second mother to Tori, officiated their wedding. “She made everyone laugh and was so sincere and sweet, she really nailed it,” Tori says. Their wedding party was made up of friends and family, including the bride’s sister as the maid of honor and all of the groom’s brothers. Once Tori and Cameron exchanged their I dos, all the attendees made their way to the home’s main outdoor areas, where Culinary Crafts served a plated meal. Inspired by seasonal flavors, the menu included salt-roasted pears, bacon-wrapped dates, espresso-and-herb-rubbed lamb chop and pan-seared sea scallops. Each guest also enjoyed a delicious pumpkin soup served in carved-pumpkin bowls. “We had them washed and packaged for each guest to take home as a favor,” Tori says. Their wedding cake was made by Butterworks Bakehouse, and echoed the fall theme with flavors of raspberry chocolate, milk and honey and honey-infused cream cheese frosting. After the meal, Diamond Empire Band had guests on their feet late into the night.
SIGNATURE DETAIL
Leaning into their autumn wedding date, Tori was immediately drawn to the theme of pumpkins. “We placed glass pumpkins on the tables, fresh-picked gourds in flowerbeds and miniature pumpkins subtly hinted throughout,” she says. The natural gourds fostered a comfortable fall evening without venturing into Halloween-theme territory.
THE PLAYERS
WEDDING PLANNING & DESIGN: Stella & James Events
PHOTOGRAPHY: Ashton McFarlane Photography
VIDEOGRAPHY: Haleigh Barber Films
VENUE: Private residence
CATERING: Culinary Crafts
CAKE: Butterworks Bakehouse
FLOWERS: Bloom by Madison Murdock
STATIONERY SUITE: Designed by the mother of the bride
BRIDE’S CEREMONY GOWN: Morilee
GROOM’S SUIT: Men’s Wearhouse
ENTERTAINMENT: Diamond Empire Band
RENTALS: Diamond Rentals; Excel Rental
MAKEUP: Makeup by Cherisa
HAIR: Amy van Biljon; Laura Maley
Get inspired by even more fall Utah weddings here!
