Utah Weddings

When it comes to saying “this is my favorite wedding ever on SMP”, I feel like I call wolf constantly. But really, this is my favorite wedding ever on SMP. From the Jenny Packham gown to the ridiculously gorgeous florals by Honey Of A Thousand Flowers to well, everything else – every.single.image captured by Ciara Richardson makes me want to stand up at my desk and applaud, and you can see why here.

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From the Bride…Jordan and I were good friends in college and had a lot of mutual friends. We went on a handful of dates while still in school but nothing really materialized until I was out in New York for my internship. He had just moved to the city to start working full time and I was interning at an advertising agency. We had a great time together that summer and kept in touch when I left to finish my senior year. We started dating “officially” that December and did long distance for about 5 months until I moved to the city for good!

What attracted me to my husband was his love for life. We would spend hours in the library or on the phone talking about anything and everything. Conversation came easy for us, and he always found a way to make me laugh! We dream big together and understand each other… life is exciting when he is around.

Since Jordan is from Ohio and I am from Dallas, keeping some family traditions was important to us as we planned and decided on where to have our wedding in Utah. The rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding was at Log Haven, which is where Jordan’s parents had their wedding reception 31 years ago. La Caille was a special place to me as my parents and sister also had their wedding receptions there. I wanted a traditional, intimate reception with our closest friends and family, so La Caille ended up being the perfect place for us to have our wedding. I took inspiration from all over and was engaged in every detail. From selecting the vendors, to picking the perfect dress, the choices had to feel just right. The grounds of La Caille are very French and whimsical, so adding a bit of glam and art deco with our invitations, my dress, and Jordan’s classic suit attire made it more “us.” In some ways it felt like a 20’s French garden party.

From the Groom…What attracted me to my wife was: Everything clicked for me right away with Nicole. I had never met anyone so interesting, funny, and completely breathtaking in my whole life. There was romance, butterflies, laughter, but also a foundation of complete compatibility and great friendship to build on and it’s all only grown since.

After a romantic dinner that overlooked the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center, we strolled down 5th Avenue admiring all of the window displays and eventually ended up walking around Central Park. We were admiring the city skyline while some of our friends set up candles all around the Lady’s Pavilion, which is where he then got down on one knee and proposed. I was completely surprised! It was a perfect, magical night.

Photography: Ciara Richardson | Flowers: Sarah Winward | Cake: Granite Bakery | Band: Joe Muscolino Band | Groom's Suit: Keith Lloyd | Bride's Gown: Alta MODA | Dinner Venue: La Caille | Getaway Car: Something Vintage Something Blue | Hair & Make-up: Enizio On-Site Hair and Makeup Artistry

Leo Patrone is responsible for some of my favorite weddings ever on SMP (just take a look at this one here and here). And after pouring through this gorgeous backyard beauty (filled to the brim with stunning florals from Honey Of A Thousand Flowers), I think it’s safe to say that reign of favorites will continue on, because it just doesn’t get more gorgeous than this. See it all here.

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From the Bride…We met in the 8th grade. I distinctly remember my friend warning me that every girl in our school ended up falling for Pat, and in that moment I assured my friend that I would never be one of those girls. I was so wrong! We dated long distance for 5 years before we were engaged.

Our engagement story: I was so surprised! I was living in New York City at the time, and he was in Boston. It was December 22nd, and he made me think he was at home with his family for the holidays, a package arrived at my work, which led me on a scavenger hunt through the city, complete with cold weather accessories and treats along the way. Eventually, the scavenger hunt led me to the Rockefeller Center ice rink, where I was given ice skates and an envelope which I was only instructed to open after I skated to the center of the rink, looked at the gigantic sparkly tree and counted to 100. I only made it to 35 when I opened the letter. It said, “turn around and say yes.” He was on a knee, and it was perfect.

We knew we wanted to get married in the summer, because I had always dreamed of an outdoor, midsummer nights dream-like wedding. We wanted our wedding to be filled with handmade, special details. I’m an artist, so I wanted to make everything! I hand bound our guest book, dipped the gilded leaves for the place settings and watercolored all of our invitations, place cards and table numbers. The tables were named after different locations that held significance to us, like where we first met and the address of our new apartment. We loved hearing how the guests interacted with the places. On one of our first dates, Pat surprised me by picking me up on a tandem bike to go to dinner, so it seemed fitting to choose a tandem bike as our getaway vehicle.

I don’t think we could have imagined a more perfect day. We were so lucky to work with people who understood our vision, and brought their own distinct aesthetic and creativity to our special day.

Photography: Leo Patrone Photography | Wedding Planner: Soirèe Productions Wedding & Event Planning Studio | Florist: Sarah Winward | Gown: Alta MODA | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Heirloom Food Group | Suits: Brooks Brothers

Lovelies, this is what I call the perfect end to the work week: a breathtaking inspiration shoot that takes all things glamorous, mixes them with a big ol’ dash of golden glitter and adds just the right touch of fabulous details.  Think bundles of floral goodness from Lizy’s Lilies, beautiful images from Jessie Alexis and the calligraphy stylings of Melissa Esplin (just to name a few).  See it all right here.

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From Jessie Alexis Photography… In the case of this inspiration shoot, all that glitters truly is gold. Our goal was to create something bright, beautiful, and happy for the stylish bride. We feel that the gold-on-gold look can transition between season and styles, appealing to a wide variety of brides.

The flowers created by Lizy’s Lilies are both sweet and whimsical, perfectly perched in gold vases, surrounded by gold glittered candles. And of course, the bride’s bouquet is a a stunning compliment to the her rosette dress from Avenia Bridal. To complete the bride’s gorgeous look, Flavia Carolina with Versa Artisty worked her hair and make up magic.

I can’t say enough about the calligraphy! When this shoot was coming together, we knew we wanted to showcase how to incorporate calligraphy into your wedding beyond just addressing invitations. The place cards give such a nice, personal touch. Melissa’s talent with a pen is truly amazing!

Of course any party would be incomplete without a sweet little treat, and Erin’s Macrons are both visually stunning and beyond delicious. I love what these decadent nuggets add to the decor of the table scape.

Leah Alduous really nailed it with her invitation designs, especially with the amazing confetti save the dates! And the vintage couch from Odds and Ends Vintage Rentals was such a perfect fit for the overall feel of golden glamour.

Photography: Jessie Alexis Photography | Flowers: Lizy's Lilies | Dress: Avenia Bridal | Invitations: Leah Alduos | Rings: Sierra West Jewelers | Calligraphy: Melissa Esplin | Hair/Makeup: Versa Artistry | Macaroons: Dolce Bella By Erin | Vintage Rentals: Odds And Ends Vintage Rentals

I’m what some might describe as a holiday junkie. I absolutely cannot get enough, so the minute I put away the turkey on Thanksgiving, my mind starts to wander the next holiday waiting in the wings. Lucky for me, Brooke Schultz Photography is serving up a heaping helping of gorgeous that will help inspire my holiday decorating today, and perhaps will inspire a few lovebirds looking for a few stylish ways to style their engagement shoot. Get even more inspiration here.

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This shoot goes beyond ‘props’ for engagement sessions and gives brides inspiration to go all out with a fully styled engagement shoot.

The flowers are perfect inspiration for winter: ranunculus, cotton, thistle, and berries with oodles of cedar say holiday without being overkill or themed. The delicate wreaths are a simple and beautiful backdrop for winter cuddling, and would also be beautiful above a cake table. The swag garland in the window is another unique element that could also easily be translated to a drink station, cake table, or head table.

Photography: Brooke Schultz Photography | Flowers: Merit and Vine | Hair And Makeup: Vivian Makeup Artist | Models: Michelle Lier and Kyle White | Studio: Jessica Peterson Studio

When the bride mentioned she wanted floral to be the focus of her decor, everything clicked for me. You see, as I was looking through the images from Travis J Photography my eye was instantly drawn to the beyond-words beautiful flowers time after time. And then I saw Honey of a Thousand Flowers in the credits and it clicked again. A gorgeous wedding, filled to bursting with stunning blooms, and a super fun couple at the center. Perfection.

The pretty continues thanks to Ryan Hinman Films!

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Kevin had always dreaded his wedding day thinking it was going to be long and tiring. My goal was to make it as enjoyable as possible for him. He was busy studying for his med-school board exams during wedding planning, so I tried to add as many of his favorite things to make the day special for both of us. He LOVES desert so I chose his favorite cake from Magleby’s Fresh, as well as his favorite, Cafe Rio, for our luncheon’s food.

I was more worried about the decor. I wanted the floral to be the main focus with accents of candles, globes, and photography. I’ve spent a lot of time traveling abroad, so I had travel as a minor theme with small accents of maps and globes all over. Everything ended up coming together perfectly, and turned out just like I had imagined it.

We both wanted our wedding to be fun. We have been to so many boring weddings, and we didn’t want ours to turn out like that. The highlight of our wedding was having my uncles band ‘Joe Friday’ play. They play a lot of oldies cover songs, and are the perfect band for a wedding. Everybody can enjoy their music. It wasn’t just our friends dancing, but our parents, and their friends, and all of our families. It seemed like everybody was getting involved and having a good time. It was one of the only receptions I’ve been to in a long time that everybody stayed until the very end. When Kevin and I finally got out of there, it was still packed with people.

Photography: Travis J Photography | Videographer: Ryan Hinman Films | Florist: Sarah Winward | Dress: The Perfect Dress | Cake: Schmidts Pastries | Ceremony Venue: Oquirrh Mountain Temple | Reception Venue: Log Haven | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Grooms Suit: Banana Republic

Ballet has been a source of inspiration for me since the day I donned my first tutu, so this shoot dreamt up by Attention 2 Detail Events which happens to combine two of my long time loves – Brides and ballet – is a sure fire winner in my book. What could possible be better than a shoot draped in lace, tulle, amazing style and the perfect amount of gold? I can’t think of much. It makes me want to break out my pointe shoes from yesteryear and do a twirl or two, but instead I think I’ll chassé over to the full gallery for even more of this gorgeous shoot snapped up by Rebekah Westover Photography…

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From Ashley of Attention 2 Detail Events… For this inspiration shoot, I was inspired by the feminine and romantic qualities of a ballet. From the dancers, to the costumes, and the feelings you get from watching one. Girls dream of becoming ballerinas when they are little and also start planning their dream weddings in their heads at the same time. I wanted to fuse both together to create a sophisticated version of a little girls dream ballet inspired wedding. For the tablescape, I wanted to create drama but still keep the light and airy feeling of flowing fabric. I created a chandelier, inspired by the ribbon on a ballet slipper, made out of various shades of gold, pale pinks, and deep pinks using satin ribbon. A gold table number was weaved onto one of the ribbon strands. The table was topped with a pale pink satin linen. Shades of gold and pale pink tulle, inspired by a classic tutu, were placed down the center of the table to act as a runner. Candles, tied with gold sparkle ribbon, were placed down the length of the center of the table. Linen menus, printed in gold ink and with gold hand painted edges, we placed on top of pale pink glass chargers and small round appetizer plates. Gorgeous gold flatware also topped the tables. Small place cards were placed in the fork tines and also had gold hand painted edges. 

The centerpiece consisted of two different arrangements made with blush garden spray roses, sweet akito roses, gold tinted seeded eucalyptus, pale pink lisianthus, snapdragons, and reindeer moss. They were placed in vintage gold canisters and topped antique gold candlesticks bases. Gold chivari chairs were decorated with custom floral swags tied on each corner. The swags were made using sweet akito roses, gold tinted seeded eucalyptus, pale pink lisianthus, snapdragons, and gold tinted football mums. Pink and gold tulle and satin ribbon also tied the floral swags and cascaded to the floor.

A gold antique cake stand held the wedding cake. We wanted to keep the delicate ballet feel so instead of a traditional wedding cake we incorporated a three tier vanilla and raspberry crepe layer cake. Each layer was made with 30 crepes, alternating between vanilla mousse filling. It was topped with fresh raspberries and drizzled with fresh raspberry puree. The invitations were printed on a linen paper and backed with gold linen cardstock. The tops of the wedding invitations were hand painted in gold and pink shades to resemble a watercolor effect. They were housed by gold envelopes with custom pink address labels. Guests were directed to their seats with small square boxes, tied with pink and gold satin ribbon and gold printed escort cards. The boxes were filled with pale gold tulle that held French macarons in shades of gold and pink, and doubled as the wedding favor.

A Raspberry Bellini was the custom cocktail served for the wedding. The cocktails were served in champagne flutes that sat upon gold chargers. Fresh frozen raspberries, placed in each glass, served as ice cubes. Small ribbon flags, in the coordinating colors, were also placed into each glass. The boutonniere was made using blush garden spray roses, sweet akito roses, gold tinted seeded eucalyptus, and pale pink lisianthus. It was tied with gold satin ribbon. The bouquet was made using blush garden spray roses, sweet akito roses, gold tinted seeded eucalyptus, and pale pink lisianthus and was tied with pink satin ribbon. Cascading strands of gold satin ribbon and pink tulle also hung from the bouquet. An antique gold and pearl broach was fastened to the front of the bouquet to finish the look. The bride wore a stunning short sleeved tulle and lace Rivini gown, with a gorgeous lace neckline and back. Her hair was created with an off center French twist bun. Custom bracelets tied the delicate look together and satin pink ballet shoes finished off the bride’s look. The groom wore a custom dark black suit. A black and white polka dot tie and gold cuff links accessorized his attire for a playful look.

Photography: Rebekah Westover Photography / Styling, Design + Coordination: Attention 2 Detail Events / Floral Design: Persimmon Floral Design / Stationery: Alexis June Creative / Rentals: RSVP Party Rental / Wedding Dress: Rivini via Alta Moda Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Jewelry: Katie Waltman Jewelry / Hair + Makeup: Versa Artistry / Groom’s Attire: Custom Suit via Dress Code

Seven gorgeous weddings.  That’s what we have in store for you lovelies today, all in celebration of one of our favorite days of the week – Wedding Wednesday. From downright amazing New Zealand fêtes to glamorous California soirees, we have a little something for everyone.  So, sit back and prepare to soak in all of the pretty.

We’re kicking off the day with this breathtaking Utah ranch affair from Erin Kate Photography.  A glamorous + rustic fête set against a stunning Kamas backdrop, it’s the oh-so-perfect love story (high school sweethearts!) meets the oh-so-perfect celebration, complete with fab DIY details and one of the most amazing Lela Rose gowns you will ever see.  If you’re a lover of natural hues, burlap and beautiful ribbon hanging from the trees, then it’s time to get seriously happy.  Click here for more.

From the Bride… Cooper and I are high school sweethearts. We met 12 years ago on the very first day of boarding school in California. We started dating our senior year and have been together ever since. We’ve basically grown up together and are lucky enough to have been able to experience so much of life hand-in-hand. We’ve lived in three different states and four countries; traveled through 25 countries; adopted one kitten; been on countless plane, train, car, and bus rides; and all together. I feel so lucky to have Cooper not only as my husband but also as my best friend.

Cooper and I are so grateful to have an incredibly supportive family and community around us. Our wedding was truly a community effort — and it had to be since we were planning it from our home 8,000 miles away in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Even though we chose to have our wedding in Cooper’s hometown of Park City, Utah, it was essentially a destination wedding. We and most of our wedding guests flew in from out of town. We invited our guests for a week-long celebration including casual dinners, family lunches, a bridal shower, a welcome barbeque, the rehearsal dinner, the reception and finally, a farewell brunch. It was a ton of planning but we’re so happy that we were able to spend a solid week with our closest family and friends. None of this would have happened without Robbyn, my mother-in-law. She was not only our wedding planner, but also our designer, invitation stuffer and chief contract negotiator! My mother Laura hand picked every bottle of wine we served. My father-in-law Kim and his wife Barbara threw a very elegant rehearsal dinner (We had lobster! What more could a girl want?). My father, a jewelry designer, hand-crafted my bridesmaids’ gifts. My grandmother sewed every one of our napkins, tablecloths and runners. Lynn, a family friend, was ordained and spent hours upon hours crafting our ceremony with us. I’m exhausted just thinking about all the hard work and love that was put in to making our day so incredibly special.

I knew that I wanted our wedding to reflect not only our own styles and personality but also the natural beauty of the venue. We opted for a natural, organic feel — nothing fussy or overworked. I wanted the whole day to feel like we’d just casually thrown it together (which, of course, only happens when you have amazing vendors, a great designer and tons of help). My favorite part of the design was by far the ribbons that we hung from the tree. We had a lovely breeze during the day, and throughout the ceremony, the ribbons waved in the wind. It made for some fantastic photos that we’ll treasure forever! At the end of the day, we could not have been happier with our the way our wedding turned out. Not only was it a beautiful event, but we were also able to create memories with the people we love most in this world.

Wedding Photography: Erin Kate Photography / Wedding Venue: High Star Ranch in Kamas, Utah / Wedding Consultant: Robbyn Paxton-McGuire / Floral Design: Karen Buresh / Officiant: Lynn Fuller, A Family Friend / Catering: Culinary Crafts / Wedding Invitations: Tabula Rasa / Band: Motherlode Canyon Band / Transportation: Borrowed from Treat Williams / Wedding Dress: Lela Rose / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bride’s Jewelry: Vintage, Borrowed from the Groom’s Grandmother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alice & Olivia + Others / Groom’s Attire: Cao Minh’s Made to Measure in Saigon, Vietnam / Groom’s Cufflinks: Nordstrom / Bride’s Ring: Jeff Cooper Designs / Groom’s Ring: Ryder Diamonds in Hong Kong

Up next, is a soiree that will make you swoon and then some by Heather Nan Photography. With the stunning scenery Utah is known for, snow flakes that seemed to fall on cue and a collection of hues perfectly matched with the dreamy sunset – it’s image after image of gorgeous, making the full gallery the prettiest place to be today!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And you must, you just MUST, take some time to watch their film by Digital Memorys Video Productions – it is darling…

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From the Bride… Although Derek and I met three years ago through one of my best friends, his stepsister, it wasn’t until last year that we finally had a chance for each other. As he was getting ready to come home from his deployment to Afghanistan, he sent this little message to his sister, “I think it’s about time we bring up the subject of your friend Sam again. We seem to go back and forth with her, what’s the latest? I see she is still beautiful, but that’s about all Facebook can do for me.” To make a long, wonderful story a bit shorter, Derek proposed at our favorite ski resort in late August…

Knowing Derek’s stringent two year training pipeline, I knew that I could either get married in November during his break or wait until his training was complete. This was a no brainer, but only allowed me a couple weeks shy of three months to plan and prepare the day I’d been dreaming about since I was a little girl. Although Derek was in the Army, we decided against a full-on military wedding — this day was just for us. And as any military family can tell you, the military will get plenty of their days. Just because we didn’t go with all the military trimmings, that doesn’t mean I don’t love my man in uniform. So after we got all the shots in his suit we wanted, I warmed up while he changed into his uniform. There is just something so classy about a sharp uniform paired with an elegant dress. I guess I’ve just seen too many classic films.

Holding hands and grinning from ear to ear, we were waiting outside the huge wooden double doors to be announced for the first time to our guests as Captain and Mrs. Telleson. As we waited, I looked over at the fruits of the labor that I had started months ago. As I gazed into the fireplace, I loved how the flames seemed to match perfectly to the gold sashes, pink flowers and various cream trimmings that I had chosen for our colors. The guest escort cards were hung from a board that I designed and Derek built. I had seen escort cards placed on tables or handed out, but I was looking for a clean, classy look that would easily hold our custom cards, which perfectly matched our invitations. One of my bridesmaids is a very accomplished graphic designer, and we must have swapped hundreds of emails making sure that all our printed materials had my distinct style and complemented each other. It was such a compliment to hear my friends tell me while dancing how beautiful the room looked and how it was “so Sam.” My goal had been to carefully choreograph a classy, elegant night to remember. For them to say they saw my style throughout all of the details was exactly what I wanted to hear. To see it all come together and show my vision I had for the day of my dreams was such a huge pay off for all the hard work. The best part was being able to share it with our closest family and friends. Our wedding turned out better than anything I had ever dreamed of, and I’m so lucky to be married to my handsome soldier boy. Huge thanks to our family, friends, vendors and especially Derek for making our day so special!

Wedding Photography: Heather Nan Photography / Ceremony: LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah / Reception: Wolf Creek Utah in Eden, Utah / Floral Design: Branches Event Floral / Event Planning: The Bride / Cinematography: Digital Memorys Video Productions / Wedding Invitations: Designed by Danielle Morgan + Printed by Trade Print Finishing / Wedding Cake: Layer by Layer Cakes / Entertainment: Ecco Entertainment / Favors: See’s Candies / Escort Card Board: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Claudine for Alyce Bridal via  Mary’s Bridal / Shoes: Michael Kors / Accessories: J.Crew + Bridals by Lori / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Banana Republic / Hair + Makeup: Alex Crabtree / Men’s Suits: Men’s Warehouse

A true backyard wedding is few and far between now a days but if you’re lucky enough to procure the perfect family retreat, what follows is usually an intimate and incredibly personalized affair. Elisabeth Kate Photography is proving my point with this vintage meets DIY meets budget friendly Utah wedding. It’s about as sweet as you can get with an equally stinkin cute couple and the getaway car? Now that is how you make an exit. See more of the day here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I decided I wanted the reception in my parent’s backyard which wasn’t quite wedding ready… Since our budget was fairly small, my Dad and then fiance decided they could do the work themselves. Little did they know it would take more than blood, sweat and tears to get that yard in tip top shape. But they did it! It turned out beautiful and they were so proud to be able to show it off to our guests. My uncle built the pergola over the patio and it went up the day before the wedding!

I wanted to be super involved in the theme and decorations of the wedding. After changing my mind several times, I decided on an old English meets shabby chic style. I got caught up in what everyone around me was telling me I should do or what they liked that I kind of lost my own opinion. When I finally decided on the theme it was a breath of fresh air knowing it was exactly what I wanted.

I found most of the decorations on local online classifieds, consignment and antique shops. The yellow antique couch I bought from a lady that posted on the local classified. That was definitely my favorite find! I wanted something unique for the guest book and came up with the idea of the bulletin board a few weeks before the wedding! We bought a lace fabric to cover the board and mailing tags from an office supply. We took the strings off of the tags and tied hemp on them for a more rustic look.  I found an awesome, budget friendly wedding planner who understood my vision for the decor and helped me out every step of the way.

We used very few vendors for our wedding. We were lucky enough to have some amazing friends and family that helped out. A family friend catered and the food turned out so great. Chicken skewers, wild rice, an array of fruit and green salad. A perfect summertime meal. We had a huge variety of desserts thanks to our extended families. French desserts from a local pastry shop, sugar cookies, brownie bites, coconut haystacks. The mini cupcakes that my husband’s sisters and mom made were a big hit!

A co-worker of my mom’s made the cake, another co-worker made the invitations, my aunt painted the wooden signs in calligraphy, my now brother-in-law was our videographer, my uncle provided the antique car, my close friend made my veil and my cousin took my bridal shots. If your budget is low, don’t be afraid to ask around! People are more willing to help out than you think. Don’t give up on your dream wedding because it is still possible to do at a lower cost. I spent many days searching blogs for DIY ideas and inspiration. Start early and you will be surprised at what you can do on your own.

Wedding Photography: Elisabeth Kate Photography / Wedding Planner: Wedding Expectations / Florals: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding Videography: Longstone Videos / Wedding Dress: The Brides’ Shop / Bridesmaid Dresses: YESSTYLE / Dance Floor, Linens + Chairs: All Star Rentals / Wedding Cake Decor: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding + Reception Location: Salt Lake City Temple + Private Residence

This next wedding is for all you DIY brides and anyone who wants to incorporate a little vintage feel into their nuptial day bliss. This crafty bride managed to do all the decor for the reception AND somehow found the time to design and sew her nieces, aka the cutest flower girls ever, their very own couture dresses for the big day. I love it! And there to capture all the craftiness was none other than Blush Photography. Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

My whole life I have been dreaming of my wedding day. What kind of wedding would I have? Big and fancy or a small get together with just close friends and family, outside or an inside? Also who I was going to marry? Was it going to be love at first sight or was it going to be an old friend? I’m very much a hopeless romantic so these thoughts were always in the back of my mind. I remember thinking I was going to wait a while to get married, I wanted to travel and live life before I settled down with just one person. But as many people know life doesn’t always go according to plan. When I was just 19 I met Derrik and it was love at first sight. From the moment I met him I knew we would be married. And a few years later it happened. Since meeting Derrik and knowing our wedding day was just a matter of time, I started searching the Internet and reading through bridal magazines. I changed the theme and feel of the wedding too many times to count. But once we decided to have our reception in Derriks father’s backyard everything fell into place. We got married in the middle of summer but the weather couldn’t have been better. We were married in the morning in the Salt Lake Temple. It was so amazing to be surrounded by our closest family and friends for our wedding. After the wedding we were able to take lots of pictures with all our loved ones on the temple grounds. Then we headed over to The Lion House for lunch. Our reception was held that evening in the small town of Liberty, Utah, at my in-laws. It was the perfect setting for the relaxed reception we had visioned. With the big willow trees, natural pond and mountains as a backdrop we couldn’t have asked for anything better. As the sun set we danced and had such a wonderful time with all those that made that day amazing. Having a mom and two sisters who are very crafty we were able to incorporate many DIY  projects for the reception. (We even designed and sewed the flower girl dresses for my nieces ourselves.) For our decorations we wanted it to be vintage and classy, yet relaxed. So for the table settings we had decided to have them all be a little different. We found all different frames to hold pictures of Derrik and I over the last few years with gorgeous flowers for centerpieces. My dad is quite the handy man and has collected old windows and doors for as long as I can remember. So we used these as accents throughout the yard, as picture frames or just as fun backdrops. Since we had an outdoor wedding we really wanted to keep the decorations simple and let the natural beauty really be the focus.

Photography: Blush Photography / Flowers: Tiffany Rawson / Dress: The Perfect Dress / Videographer: JD Julander / Music: iPod / Bridesmaid Dresses: Charlotte Russe / Flower Girl Dresses: Bride and Family / Ring Bearer: Gap

If you are like us, then most likely you are totally and completely without a doubt OVER Winter. Well we have an adorable backyard shindig captured by Green Apple Photography that is sure to get your spring radar kicked into high gear and put a big, fat smile on your face. We’ll collectively cross our fingers that the warm weather and blooming flowers are on their way but in the mean time you can revel in all of the sunny happy images from this Utah wedding in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

From the Bride…For the wedding, I had pretty good idea of what I wanted (probably since I have worked with my mom on so many and could pick out exactly what I did and didn’t want). I wanted it to feel laid back, relaxing and fun (I originally wanted to close off the street and have a block party, but we toned it down a little), but still very classy and nice. And we especially wanted everyone who helped put it together (and there was tons of help from family and friends) and who came later, to have a really fun time. So we went with really good food, good music, kept it outside with lots of lights, and had lots of chocolate. I love summer so that’s where the bright, vibrant colors came from. And I have always wanted it at my house, so that was an easy pick, and we were so lucky to have had such great weather! Everything turned out just perfect.

Photography: Green Apple Photography / Dress: Melissa Blackburn / Floral and Design: Julie Prince / Catering: Alan Allred, Terrapin Station Smokin’ Co. / Rings: AAA Jewelers Inc. (groom) and Philip & Co. (bride) / Suit: Land’s End and Banana Republic (tie) / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Cake: Cakes de Fleur / Lanterns: Skylantern /  Painted “Lauren & Crismon” Sign: Michal Onyon / Chocolates: Cakes de Fleur did the cupcakes and cake candy, and family, friends and bride did the rest / Chocolate Table Signs: Jayne Swallow / Invitations: Jayne Swallow, RSVP Custom Invitations / Shoes: Children’s Hour / Music: Jeff Proctor / Videographer: Ryan Hinman Films

We are big, big fans of adding a little personality to your wedding whether that be in the decor, the attire, even the venue. We say bring on the out of the box thinkers and yes please to unexpected details. For instance, this adorable couple that held their winter wedding festivities at a local restaurant in Provo, Utah. It’s intimate, it’s oh so chic and it looks like they had one amazing party. What’s not to love? All the fun festivities were captured by Elisabeth Kate Photography and Holly Fowler was the woman behind the fabulous decor. See more from this wintry delight in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

Ally and Collin met last winter at the Sundance Ski Resort in Utah, while they were both ski instructors. Their dating began and they were with each other almost every day for the next 12 months. Collin proposed to Ally while on vacation in Lake Tahoe at sunset. Ally’s wish for her wedding was to have a grand celebration. The Spark Restaurant and Lounge in Provo, Utah was the perfect venue for this wish to be granted. The menu consisted of shirley temples topped with cotton candy, herb french fries, pork lollipops and panna cotta. We had a candy bar and a chocolate/vanilla cake with hazelnut filling. After a night of eating, greeting friends and spending time with family, sparklers were lit and they left in style. They spent their first night together at The Grand America in Salt Lake City and then spent the rest of the week at a ski in ski out cabin at Sundance, honeymooning where it all started.

Photography: Elisabeth Kate Photography / Flowers: Hollyhocks / Event Design and Planning: Holly Fowler / Ceremony Location: The Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah / Reception Location: Spark Restaurant and Lounge, Provo, Utah / Invitations: Brandon at Wedding Smith / Cake: Layers, Bountiful, Utah / Shoes: Steve Madden / Dress: Bridal Expressions, Sandy, Utah / Car: Mercedes-Benz G Wagon, Tom Felt

Happy Monday lovelies! Our first wedding is so bright and happy, it is sure to pull you out of that early morning fog – no coffee needed. And we are pretty positive the bridesmaids’ attire is some of the most adorable we’ve seen to date. Seriously, how can you top those cute yellow cardigans? Jonathan Canlas worked his usual magic with the camera and whipped up some gorgeous imagery straight from Salt Lake City and there’s even more to fawn over in the gallery if you so choose.

see the rest of this pretty day here!

I felt so lucky on our wedding day because our families meshed so well. Between the two families, we had close to 50 grand kids! Can you believe it? There were kids everywhere, but that’s what made the event so fun. Part of what made our wedding special, is that my mom and Blake’s mom were best friends in college. They were even each others bridesmaids! Our moms were in heaven and it made the whole wedding feel so personal!

I always wanted an outdoor wedding, and lucky for us, the weather turned out to be perfect. We had delicious food, lights, an ice cream bar (I like ice cream better than cake), and a great band who played jazz and Frank Sinatra (because I think that style of music is so romantic)! Kids were dancing everywhere! As we left our reception all we could think about is how loved we felt. It was so fun to have all the people we cared most about all in the same place at the same time to celebrate with us!

Photography: Jonathan Canlas / Ceremony Venue: The Salt Lake Temple / Reception Venue: The Salt Lake Country Club / Wedding Dress and Belt: Alta Moda Bridal / Hair: Lanna Marie Waisath at Le Studio Salon / Floral Design: Carolyn May at Mayflowers / Cake: Raspberry Almond Cake from Pastry Arts Barrani / Make Up: Tilly Sine Southwick / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein from Nordstrom / Groom’s Bow Tie: Brooks Brothers / Music and Entertainment: Joe Muscolino Band / Favors: Ghiradelli Chocolates / Groomsmen Ties: Bloomingsales / Bridesmaid Outfits: J.Crew / Invitations: Bella Figura

This next little number has completely and totally captured my heart. Although they had me the moment I laid eyes on those perfect ice cream cones…a wedding detail that EVERYONE should have in my humble opinion…it was the laid back, totally effortless style that the bride and groom infused into every corner that really got the giddy going. Paired with the photography style of Jenny Moloney, this wedding turned out to be a little slice of heaven…right here on SMP. Click here to see even more!

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

Kelli & Sean are not only fantastic together, but they are individually wonderful people. I am so glad I met them! Kelli and Sean got married on Friday, August 20th at Rose Sachs Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vicki and her daughter Hailey, of Ella Bella Floral out did themselves. Kelli, a creative girl herself, wanted to create a setting with a woodsy and feminine feel — sofas in the nooks of the trees, tissue paper flowers, hanging lanterns, wooden tables draped in lace and topped with jars of flowers. Did i mention the gorgeous cake table? The pair opted for strawberry, toasted coconut, chocolate ganache and lemon zest cakes. Sean invited his talented friends of the Tony Lake Trio to play at the event. And the result of all these collaborations? A delicious, beautiful and joyful day!

Photography: j. bird photography, jenny moloney / Flowers+ Event Design: Ella Bella Designs / Ceremony + Reception Location: Rose Sachs Garden / Invitations: Kelli Hurst (bride)  / Dress: Alta Moda Bridal, monique lhuillier / Catering: Culinary Crafts

We are continuing down the path of mini wedding festivities with a doozy of a wedding. If you are all about sweet family affairs and intimate backyard details, you will most likely fall head over pretty heels for this. The trees, the lanterns, the lovely maids all in a row…we just can’t get enough. You can find the full wedding day from Duston Todd Photography in the gallery.  Happy gazing!

{click here for ALL of the wedding goodness}

From Duston Todd:

This was a beautiful backyard wedding and reception.  The late summer sun and flowers were truly abundant throughout the day. There were also a ton of charming details and DIY decor: ribbons and lanterns in the trees, lovely food, and grandma’s house (literally) as a backdrop. The bride and groom were much more interested in a relaxing and soothing summer evening event. When I asked if they wanted to dance or cut the cake or bouquet toss or anything on the traditional/formal side – it was the least of their priorities. They really just wanted to soak up the ambiance, visit with those they love and remember the moments of it all. (and i thought that was just perfect).

From the Bride:

We wanted to keep things organic yet with a vintage feel in the outdoor garden setting. The flowers and table centerpieces played a big part, along with the long flowing ribbons we hung from the large oak trees. Lighting was key as well –  we hung large glass chandeliers in the trees, bistro lights above the patio, and rustic barn lanterns were placed all through out. Alpine Event Rentals did an excellent job providing fresh and up-to-date lighting options in addition to their classy tables and chairs.

The cocktail tables had vintage hand blown glass bottles which held single stem flowers. Each table a little different. Florals consisted of ivory anemone with ink blue centers, peach parrot tulips, ivory peegee hydrangea, old fashion peach garden roses, tiny grey twigs and organic cotton branches etc. accented with votive candles. All flowers were loose and airy looking. Earthy vintage looking.

Here are a few more bits of eye candy from today’s FABULOUS real wedding! Stay tuned for a DIY project that anyone could incorporate into their own affair.

gorgeous photography by Duston Todd

Here are some fun details from Shea…

There was a lot of love and DIY that went into this wedding – we made the wreaths that hung outside the barn, ironed tablecloths that my parents brought in their suitcases, strung lights, a friend did my hair, we hand-picked every song played, hung bicycle wheels and giggled along the way making the whole process an unforgettable memory.

At the reception, Syd and I did not worry about a thing and I know our guests could really feel that – we just had fun dancing, chatting with old friends and smiling til our cheeks hurt. We rode off into the night on our cruiser with guests throwing fall leaves into the air – the bottom of my dress is still caked with dirt and I wouldn’t change a thing.

More to come!

I am SO not surprised that you guys are eating today’s wedding up. It’s just that kind of a wedding! The red barn, the twinkle lights, the glowing bride and the adorable groom…every bit of it is just delicious. Well, Shea is a doll and is not only offering up some pretty great details, she’s also stopping by in a bit to share one of her DIY projects with us!

Now, on to the reception…

Duston Todd is the talent behind these ridiculously lovely photographs and I have to say, although a great photographer will make any wedding appear beautiful, I don’t think he had to work too hard to make this one seem completely gorgeous! As a quick sidenote, Duston’s images are some of the most breathtaking photographs you’ll ever see…they literally glow with emotion.

From the gorgeous bride…

The reception was the cozy evening we had hoped for – filled with mingling, comfort food and lot’s of dancing! We had the fireplace going, hor’dourves during a mingling hour, a hot chocolate bar (with our bike logo printed on the mugs which were our favors – a big hit), panini bar for dinner and a dessert bar with ancestors’ wedding photos.

My mother stayed up day and night sewing every tablecloth, overlay and handstitching flowers. The centerpieces were half containers made out of bicycle baskets and the others were actual bicycles. The florist was fabulous and acheived the “glamorous wildflower” look perfectly. We hung lanterns from the ceiling and lights everywhere. Guests signed postcards made from our engagement pictures and put them in a mailbox instead of a guestbook. We also had a photobooth which was great because the little kids (and big kids) found it very entertaining.

More to come!

If you are just now joining us, Shea and Syd are our FABULOUS featured couple for the day. Shea is one of the loveliest brides we’ve ever had on SMP, thanks to her perfect sense of style and that smile that seems to go on for miles. If you can’t already tell, we love her and the fantastic wedding that she and her fiance designed…

Don’t you wish you were at this wedding? It just reminds me of a warm and cozy weekend, filled with great food, really good wine and friends to make you laugh. I love that. The pictures, all shot by the insanely talented Duston Todd, let the true beauty of the day shine and all of the details that Shea crafted to appear as if they came right out of a magazine. Pure loveliness.

So much more to come!

I KNEW you guys would love this wedding. It’s really hard to NOT to with such a ridiculously gorgeous bride, a warm approachable style, sweet personal touches throughout and a groom that well, ain’t too shabby.

ridiculously gorgeous photographer by the forever talented Duston Todd

More from Shea, the lovely bride…

I was having my dress made and we all hear those horror stories – well I was one of them. Three weeks before the wedding I had to find a new dress. One day after work I went all over Salt Lake and found a sample dress that fit like a glove and did not even have to be hemmed. I designed this jacket and had it made in 3 days transforming it into the custom look I had been wanting all along. I wore the ban.do for the wedding ceremony and changed it to a purple suede flower for the barn. Syd wore a suit from Zara. Wedding disasters happen, but it all comes together.

So much more to come!

There is just so much to love about today’s wedding…the oh-so-chic bride, the sweet but completely elegant style of day, the pure happiness that is radiating from the bride and groom.

the absolutely lovely images are by Duston Todd

Complete and utter charm. Loving every bit of this wedding! From the bride…

Syd and I are not the type of couple to get married in a typical “wedding venue” so I set out to find a location that could provide the rustic, romantic feel I love so much, but provide the practicality of indoor plumbing, heating and place for the caterer. I found a barn in Mapleton, Utah that fit the bill. We had our wedding ceremony at the LDS temple in Salt Lake City and the reception later that night. We invited close friends and family (about 125 guests) and decided to not have bridesmaids and groomsmen.