Salt Lake City Wedding Guide Vol. 2

salt lake city, utah

VOLUME TWO

In order from top left to right: jacie van b photography | cam storie photography | maggie grace photo | alicia lucia photo shutterfreek | rosie nary photography | lindsey boluyt | taylor pettigrew | for the west and wild photo

In order from top left to right: jacie van b photography | cam storie photography | maggie grace photo | alicia lucia photo shutterfreek | rosie nary photography | lindsey boluyt | taylor pettigrew | for the west and wild photo

In order from top left to right: jacie van b photography | cam storie photography | maggie grace photo | alicia lucia photo

Salt lake city

Tucked into the stunning Wasatch Valley, Salt Lake City gets all the benefits of big city dreams with sprawling wilderness knocking at its backdoor.

inside scoop

AREA INFO

Salt Lake City is a four-season wonderland. Spring and summer bring lush green rolling hills and fields of wildflowers. In the fall, couples can enjoy some of the most brilliant fall foliage the west offers, with winter providing endless access to skiing, snowshoeing, and more. The most popular time to get married in Salt Lake City is May through September, when warm summer temperatures give way to cool, comfortable evenings.

Fast Facts

Elevation: 4,226ft

Population: 200,133

The average high summer temperature is 88 degrees.

The average high winter temperature is 40 degrees. The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere. Mount Timpanogos is the highest mountain above the Wasatch Valley at 11,749 feet.

HOW TO GET THERE

One of the biggest hubs in the Mountain West, Salt Lake City is ideally situated with an international airport and numerous options for transportation around the city. by car by plane

by shuttle

salt lake city airport shuttle slcairportshuttle.com

train/public transportation utah transit authority rideuta.com

salt lake city international airport slcairport.com

avis car rental avis.com

alamo car rental alamo.com

enterprise car rental enterprise.com

hertz car rental hertz.com

thrifty car rental thrifty.com

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

autumn

summer spring 56° | 30° 81° | 46° 76° | 44° winter 42° | 13°

Deciding what to pack for a Salt Lake City wedding depends entirely on the season! However, it’s always best to pack layers no matter what. If opting to get married in the mountains above Salt Lake City, the temperature can be much cooler at higher elevations than on the valley floor. Days can be warm and comfortable well into fall, with nighttime temperatures dropping quickly after sunset. Many times, couples opt to add packing lists to their wedding websites to help guide guests.

WHAT TO DO

ideas and recommendations for you and your guests to enjoy

during your wedding weekend

It’s no exaggeration to say that Salt Lake City has it all. For those who love the rush of the city, the downtown is teeming with flavorful cuisine, trendy shopping, and lively events. However, it doesn’t take much to get from the hustle and bustle of the city to tranquil forests and lakes. Wedding weekends in Salt Lake City can include a full itinerary of adventures, including concerts, sporting events, hiking, golfing, rock climbing, and brewery hopping. Whether looking to treat your bridal party to a fun activity or searching for a memorable getaway for just the two of you, you won’t have to look far.

ADVENTURE

utah mountain adventures utahmountainadventures.com

park city mountain parkcitymountain.com

hiking visitsaltlake.com

snowbird ski resort snowbird.com

big cottonwood canyon utahoutdooractivities.com/bigcottonwood

paragliding utahparagliding.com

SHOP

shop city creek center shopcitycreekcenter.com

gardner village gardnervillage.com

trolley square trolleysquare.com

the gateway atthegateway.com

the north face thenorthface.com

troy lee designs troyleedesigns.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AREA ACTIVITIES, VISIT: VISITSALTLAKE.COM

RELAX

the grand spa grandamerica.com/grand-spa

basalt day spa basaltdayspa.com

aquavie day spa aquaviedayspa.com

float spa 19 floatspa19.com

the mint facial bar mintfacialbar.com

innerglow massage and spa innerglowmassageandspa.com

deep tissue massage and spa deeptissuehealing.com

topcoat nail bar topcoatslc.com

sabrina photo co.

WHERE TO STAY

There is no shortage of accommodation in Salt Lake City for you and your guests. From city chic hotels to sprawling garden estates, here are some of the best places to stay during your wedding weekend.

the little america hotel saltlake.littleamerica.com

kimpton hotel manaco monaco-saltlakecity.com

grand america hotel Grandamerica.com

salt lake city marriot university park Marriott.com

the bigelow hotel & residences siohotels.com

salt lake plaza hotel Plaza-hotel.com

kasa downtown salt lake kasa.com

hyatt regency salt lake city Hyatt.com

the peery hotel Peeryhotel.com

ellerbeck mansion bed & breakfast ellerbeckbedandbreakfast

MAKE IT OFFICIAL

When getting married in Utah, you can apply for a marriage license at any county clerk’s office. In Salt Lake City, marriage licenses are issued by appointment only and must be obtained within 32 days of your wedding date. The first step in obtaining a marriage license is to submit an online application form. Both parties must be present when picking up the marriage license. The license fee is $50 and can be paid by AMEX, Mastercard, or Visa.

You will need the following to apply for a marriage license:

An in-person application with both applicants present at the time of application.

Full names, addresses, and dates and places of birth of both applicants.

Social security numbers of both applicants, unless an applicant doesn’t have a social security number.

Names and birthplaces of the parents of both applicants, including the mother’s maiden name.

Valid picture ID such as a passport, birth certificate, driver’s license, or state ID card.

2001 State Street South Building First Floor, S1-200 Salt Lake City, UT 84190

Brittany + Cade

Brittany and Cade hosted a traditional wedding at the Salt Lake Temple, however, opted for a more modern and edgy wedding celebration. The duo took to the streets of Salt Lake City and a Washington D.C. Museum to capture their vibrant love story. The bride-to-be added a darling mini veil and headband to give her contemporary cropped blazer set a bridal flair!A week after the pair moved into their new home, Patrick surprised Jessica by taking her to a nearby trail to watch the sunset. He got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. Jessica immediately said “yes!”

Photographer: Paige Mckenzi Photography | paigemckenzi.com Bride’s outfit: Zara | zara.com

Bridals at White Space Studios

Why opt for studio bridals? We asked Bailey’s photographer, Ashleyn French Photography, for her input!

“Studio bridals are underrated especially in Utah! This setting provides brides with an elegant and timeless look. All over Utah you can find studios with white walls creating the perfect blank canvas. Many also have features such as brick work, colored walls, vintage and modern furniture all of which can help to emphasize your wedding vision. This way you can still create a captivating, romantic variety of portraits like an outdoor setting!

The number one detail that gives studio bridals a leg up, is the ability to have control over your environment. No matter the weather, you can proceed with your session in order to keep your timeline intact. While some brides enjoy the wild, windy look a studio can keep a bride’s makeup & hair neat. Not to mention you won’t have to work around any other people at your location, you have full control over the environment. This control allows brides & their photographer/ videographers to focus more on the creativity of the session.

Last, but not least, studios allow you to keep your wedding gown protected. It goes without saying that every bride wants to insure her wedding gown is pristine on their big day! By taking photos indoors your gown is protected while you treat yourself to more photos as a bride!“

Visit page 60 to see Bailey’s wedding to her fiancé, Willis, at The Fifth Floor!”

Location: White Space Studios | whitespacestudios.com

Photographer: Ashlyn French Photography | ashlynfrench.com

Dress: The Bride’s Shop | thebridesshop.net

Engagement Ring: Vintage Art Deco, Patrick’s great-grandmothers’

Adrianna + Ryan

While Adrianna and Ryan met in high school and shared the same group of friends, their connection was never romantic until years later. After the two graduated from high school, Adrianna moved to Hawaii for the summer where Ryan visited her. It then became evidently clear to the pair that they had found something special in each other. When Adrianna returned home from the Islands, her and Ryan took the next step in their relationship and officially began dating. Three months later, Ryan popped the question at a hot air balloon festival in Kanab. “The morning of my birthday we woke up to watch the balloons rise and when we reached our destination, Ryan had it set up with letters saying “Marry Me,” he proposed as the hot air balloons were floating behind us. It was the best birthday surprise ever” the bride reminisces. Kennedy Kiara Photography captured Adrianna and Ryan’s bridal portraits in an intimate photo studio flooded with natural light.

Location: Studios Elevn | studioelevn.com

Photographer: Kennedy Kiara Photography | kennedykiaraphotography.com

Engagement Ring: Morgan Jewelers | morganjewelers.com

Beauty: Tia Montgomery | @tiacelise

PEPPER NIX PHOTO

BRADEN YOUNG PHOTO

SIMPLY SHELBY PHOTO

Bailey + Willis

Bailey and Willis’ love story began in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, however they are proof that good things happen to those who wait. After taking it slow, the pair finally went on their first official dinner date to Fleming’s in Salt Lake City and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Fast forward to the spring of 2021, Willis proposed while on a trip to the west coast. “I had just graduated nursing school and it was my birthday all in the same week. Willis told me we were going on a trip, but I had no idea where until we got to our gate at the airport for San Francisco,” Bailey recalls. During their stay in Half Moon Bay, a small city on the California coast, Willis popped the question as they walked along the sandy beach of the Pacific Ocean. On February 26th, Bailey and Willis invited 75 loved ones to The Fifth Floor for their timeless winter wedding.

The bride and groom decided to forgo a first look, so, their grand reveal occurred at the ceremony. “Walking down the aisle and seeing each other the first time was our favorite memory of the day,” the couple shares. Bailey’s daughter was also in attendance, “Having my daughter be part of our day was so special, she loved every minute of it,” Bailey reflects. After exchanging vows, Bailey and Willis snapped portraits with photographer Ashlyn French and soaked in their first few moments as a newly married couple.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES

“Planning a wedding can be stressful, but don’t let that cause tension. It’s all about you and your love that day. So enjoy your time and take it slow. Also on the wedding day make sure to have someone send you a goodie box of food to take to your room after it’s all over!”

-VENDORS-

Venue: The Fifth Floor | thefifthfloorutah.com

Photographer: Ashlyn French Photography | ashlynfrench.com

Florals: Bronte’s Florals | www.brontesflorals.com

Invitations: Shutterfly | shutterfly.com

Catering: Marvellous Catering | marvellouscatering.com

Music & Entertainment: Creative Entertainment Plus | @creativeentplus

Bridal Boutique: The Brides’ Shop | thebridesshop.net

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | badgleymischka.com

Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstrom | nordstrom.com

Bride’s Ring Designer: Blue Nile | bluenile.com

Beauty: Dyln Kaye Beauty | @dylnkayebeauty

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Baltic Born | balticborn.com

Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | menswearhouse.com

Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy | johnstonmurphy.com

Officiant: Pastor Robert George | clclayton.org

Honeymoon: Hard Rock Hotel Cancun | hardrockhotels.com

Blair + Tanner

Blair and Tanner met through a dating app! They talked for a couple weeks before going out for Mexican food and a movie. However, Blair was living in Holladay and Tanner was living in American Fork, so a lot of driving was involved. “He was the only guy I ever let pick me up at my house off of a dating app. We talked the whole date, including through Scream, the movie we watched, and it was an easy decision to keep seeing each other from there,” says Blair. To propose Tanner put together a scavenger hunt; an idea he got from Blair’s dad over Christmas because he always did scavenger hunts with the kids. Blair continues, “I went and got pedicures with his sister that morning and came out to the car and found flowers and a photo with a message and clue on it for where to go next. He chose four places that meant something to both of us and at each station, a member of one of our families was there to give me another message and clue. He ended up proposing at a park by my apartment overlooking Salt Lake. His siblings and my sister and her husband were there for the actual proposal. Then we went and got Mexican food downtown with our families and my best friend.”

Blair and Tanner held their ring ceremony the afternoon of April 15th at Red Butte Garden. The couple wanted a casual wedding day and didn’t have a lot of structure to the reception. “We wanted it to be more like a gathering of loved ones, not a formal occasion scheduled to the tee. And that’s what it was,” recalls Blair. For the bride’s look, Blair’s friend and professional makeup artist, Brynn Thomas, did her makeup. She wore an elegant long sleeve satin dress with a twist front, subtle V neckline and high front slit from The Brides’ Shop, while the groom dressed in a timeless grey suit.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES

“My advice to couples is to choose the other person every day and that although being in love is fulfilling and beautiful, it’s also hard work and sacrifice.”

Megha + Jeff

Megha and Jeff instantly clicked when they met at a downtown bar for their first date. While the plan was to have a casual drink at 7 pm since both of them had to wake up early the following morning for work, the conversation kept flowing through the evening till it was time to close the bar. Three years later, came the perfect proposal on a surprise getaway to Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley. When the couple arrived at the authentic European lodge for an intimate dinner, Jeff shared the news that he booked a weekend escape complete with a professional photoshoot on the scenic terrace of the resort. As the two walked along the alpine setting to find an ideal location for photos, Jeff got down on one knee and asked Megha to marry him. On August 27th, Megha and Jeff tied the knot at The Grand America Hotel with 270 guests present to celebrate their love.

The duo started the wedding festivities with a haldi and mehndi ceremony which is a traditional pre-wedding celebration in Hind u culture. The haldi is an intimate ritual where the bride and groom are smeared with a rich golden turmeric paste. Turmeric is auspicious in Indian tradition representing a life of prosperity for the couple about to begin their new life together. For the mehndi party, Megha accented her stunning look with elaborate orange, red henna body art applied to her palms, hands, and feet. Tradition says the darker the color of the bride’s mehndi, the happier the couple’s marriage will be.

On the morning of the wedding, the bride slipped into a luxe red three-piece lehenga featuring gold embroidery designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, one of the most sought after designers of modern Indian fashion. Megha elevated her ensemble with her grandmother’s jewelry set, including a necklace and earrings. She also donned a breathtaking gold plated headpiece studded with beads and stones.

The couple met for a first look on the grounds of the Grand America Hotel where the 24-story white granite hotel is nestled amongst the Wasatch Mountains and beautifully manicured gardens. “It was so special to have that moment just for us before all the events started,” says the bride.

The groom entered the ceremony on a ceremonial white horse decked in traditional Indian finery as his guests led the way dancing. During the procession known as the baraat, a dhol or double-sided barrel drum is played to amplify the joyous event. After Jeff made his way through the baraat, the bride and groom’s family exchanged flower garlands as Megha’s relatives welcomed Jeff and his relatives to the wedding space. The milni is derived from a Sanskrit expression meaning “a coming together” before the marriage rituals begin.

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES

“Everyone is going to have an opinion about your wedding, especially if you’re having a big wedding. It is impossible to please everyone. The only people you need to truly worry about at the end of the day are you two and the most important thing is that you have a blast on your wedding day. It may sound obvious, but it was hard for us to say no a lot of the time. We wanted to please our family and friends and looking back, we definitely should have been a little more selfish. That would be my biggest piece of advice: Be selfish. It’s your wedding day! It’s the one day it gets to be truly all about you.”

-VENDORS-

Venue, Catering, Sweets, Lodging & Rehearsal Dinner The Grand America Hotel | grandamerica.com

Wedding Planner, Paper & Calligraphy Bluebird Event Destination Management | bluebirdparkcity.com

Photographer Hights Photography | hightsphotography.com

Videographer

Cali Warner Media | caliwarnermedia.com

Florist Artisan Bloom | artisanbloom.com

Invitations Azure | helloazure.com

Rentals Vault Event Rentals | vaulteventrentals.com

Music & Entertainment Elliott Estes | djelliottestes.com Utah Live Bands | utahlivebands.com

Gown Designer

Sabyasachi Mukherjee | sabyasachi.co Anita Dongre | anitadongre.com

Bride’s Veil Sabyasachi Mukherjee | sabyasachi.co

Bride’s Shoes Jimmy Choo | jimmychoo.com

Bride’s Jewelry Bride’s Grandmother’s

Bride’s Ring Designer Morgan Jewelers | morganjewelers.com

Beauty Utah Bridal Hair & Makeup | utahbridalmakeup.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses & Groomsmen’s Attire India

Groom’s Attire Purusham | purusham.com J.Crew | jcrew.com

Groom’s Shoes Allen Edmonds | allenedmonds.com

Officiant Hindu Temple Priest

Photo Booth Utah Jive | utahjive.com

Honeymoon St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort | marriott.com

Abbie + Chase

Chase and Abbie met in the Summer of 2021 in Denver, Colorado, while Abbie was working as a live-in nanny and Chase was living in Denver for the summer for his job. For their first date, the two rode electric scooters through downtown Denver and never stopped laughing. They continued to date every week between May and June. Abbie’s time as a Nanny unfortunately came to an end and she moved back to Utah in mid-June. Chase and Abbie continued to date remotely. A few months later, Chase moved to Provo and Abbie moved to Cedar City to attend school. Although it was still a commute, it was so much closer than they originally had been in distance and the drive was worth it to be together! They commuted between the two cities throughout their relationship and fell more and more in love. Chase planned a surprise proposal for Abbie at La Caille on December 4th, 2021 inside a beautiful greenhouse on the property. Chase’s sister-in-law, a wedding videographer, captured the beautiful moment on film. Afterwards they had dinner, followed by their families’ surprising them upon their return home!

Abbie, an Event Management student, couldn’t wait to plan their wedding! It would be her first large scale project. Abbie wanted a soft romantic styled wedding while pulling in Chase’s fun and quirky personality. In the end everything blended together beautifully and they could not have wished for a more perfect day! On April 29th, 2022 the couple celebrated with friends and family with a traditional ceremony, luncheon and reception at the Commercial Club. That night, the couple flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, Chase’s home state, to be sealed in the LDS Las Vegas Temple the next day followed by a beautiful orchard reception at Ahern Orchard’s located in downtown Las Vegas. After the wedding the two celebrated their honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and then flew straight to New York where they would be living for the next 4 months!

ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES

Choose vendors you trust. Vendors can make or break your wedding day. They can either make it an enjoyable and seamless experience, or can make the process frustrating and disappointing. Read online reviews, talk with past clients, research their work, and understand their contracts. Choose vendors because you love their past work and style. Don’t expect a vendor to change their approach to one that they are unfamiliar with. They most likely won’t be able to completely replicate what you’re envisioning in your head, and you’ll probably be disappointed and frustrated. Choose vendors that communicate well. You’ll want vendors that are willing to answer questions, return phone calls & texts, and be responsive to your needs throughout your entire wedding planning period.

Also, remember to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest! Choose planners, vendors, and people you trust to take care of all the details so you can truly enjoy your day with your partner. This should be the happiest and most memorable day of your life, plan ahead to make it a joyful experience.

-VENDORSVenue Commercial Club SLC | commercialclubvenue.com

Photographer Ashley Teresa Photo | ashleyteresaphoto.co

Videographers

Footage: Ethan Thresher | ethanthresh.com

Editing: Madison Hafen | madisonhafenfilms.com

Catering

Utah Celebrations Catering | utahcelebrationscatering.com Pizza: Pizzeria Limone | pizzerialimone.com

Cake Annie’s Cakes | @annies.c.a.k.e.s Florist Florette Designs | florettefloral.com

Entertainment Band: Utah Live Bands, The Current | utahlivebands.com Harp: AnnaJay | annajayharp.com

Photo Booth: Booth Boys Photo Booth | @boothboys_ut

Maggie’s Hair and Bridal | maggieshairandbridal.com Makeup Makeup & Brows by Cherisa | makeupbycherisa.com

O B S E S S E D W I T H T H E D R E S S

Brian Smyer Photography

dining

rehearsal dinner & day-after brunch

Step into luxury and enjoy delicious eats with those you love the most. Celebrate the start of your wedding weekend or the final farewell before your guests depart at one of these local rehearsal dinner and brunch restaurants. Elegant fine dining and carefully hand-crafted cocktails await your arrival!

Restaurants

Laurel Brasserie & Bar Laurelslc.com

The Grand America Hotel grandamerica.com

London Belle Londonbelleslc.com

SLC Eatery Slceatery.com

Level 2 Social Games & Restaurant leveltwosocial.com

Ivy and Varley Ivyandvarley.com

White Horse Spirits and Kitchen whitehorseslc.com

Purgatory Bar purgatorybar.com

Lake Effect lakeeffectslc.com

Bodega and The Rest Bodegaslc.com

Glasshouse Venue glasshousevenues.com

Caffe Molise caffemolise.com

VENUES

Best local spots to tie the knot

the azalea event venue

11277 KESTREL RISE RD, SUITE 2 & 3, SOUTH JORDAN | 801.820.4360 | THEAZALEA.NET

Here at The Azalea we’ve made it our mission to provide you with a clean, modern, and affordable space for you to create the wedding or event of your dreams! We are located in South Jordan, Utah in the popular and rapidly growing area of Daybreak. Our large main space features tall ceilings, a brick accent wall, twinkling Edison lights, lush live plants, and plenty of natural light to create the perfect gathering place for your event. The main space seats 120 people comfortably, but can accommodate up to 190 people at a time for a larger event. We also have a smaller event space, the Primrose Room, that features white walls, lots of natural light and can seat up to 60 people. This space is great for smaller events such as a luncheon, bridal or baby shower, birthday party, workshop, yoga class, etc. For our larger events, with 170-250 people we recommend renting both the main event space and the Primrose Room. We also have an inventory of decor items that you can rent for a flat fee. Take a look at our items here. For more information, or to inquire about availability, please contact us!

Notes:

Open year-round Indoor & outdoor spaces

Outside catering

Outside alcohol allowed - preferred bartender list

Bridal suite on-site Guest accommodations nearby Wedding planner optional Rentals included: tables & chairs

400 person capacity Pet friendly

photography by: davis smith photographer

red butte gardens

300 WAKARA WAY, SALT LAKE CITY | 801.585.9563 | REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

With stunning landscapes, valley and mountain views, and botanical collections as a gorgeous backdrop, Red Butte Garden is an iconic spot to host the wedding of your dreams. You’ll find a unique balance of natural settings and modern amenities to host small, intimate gatherings or large, festive crowds.Open year-round, the Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie can be set up for an indoor wedding ceremony, formal dinner, or open-house event. For smaller events, the Rose House provides the perfect indoor and outdoor patio garden space setting. In the warmer months, wedding ceremonies may be held in select spaces of the Garden such as the beautiful Fragrance Garden or Rose Garden. Schedule an appointment with the Garden’s private events team to begin planning your perfect day at Red Butte Garden.

Notes:

Open year-round Indoor & outdoor spaces Inclement weather backup In-house catering & beverages 10 p.m. curfew

Bridal suite on-site Guest accommodations nearby Wedding planner optional Rentals included: tables, chairs & basic linens

150 person capacity

VISIT VENUE

photography by: pepper nix & chris wood photography

Wedding planning guides wedding tips & inspiration

photo by kaylee chelsea photography