Shay and Chris’s ceremony was held at the Hidden Valley Country Club off of Wasatch Drive in the Sandy area. Great venue for a summer wedding. It was a hot afternoon so to be inside and cool was perfect. They chose to only have a flower girl and no other attendants which resulted in a very stress free wedding. Shay looked like a Greek Goddess with her style of dress, her long blonde hair and fair skin. Truly stunning…. It was obvious Chris thought the same.
Amy & McKay live in Hawaii and we were able to make all their ceremony plans via email and phone. Their ceremony was based on and around the summer solstice, which took, place June 20, 2008. Their wedding was held at Rose Sachs Gardens located (hidden) in Parley’s Canyon outside of Salt Lake on the way to Park City. It is an awesome venue that includes a cascading waterfall. www.rosesachsgardens.com
The summer solstice was very important to Amy & McKay. They composed their own ceremony and it was my honor to perform it for them. The following line opened the ceremony.
Today we will be celebrating the union of Amy and McKay along with the solstice union of mother earth and father sun.
Their ceremony also included a hand fasting, which was very beautiful. The majority of their flowers were sunflowers and it completely set the summer mood. Carrie’s Cakes www.carriescakes.com designed the cake and it was very, very detailed. Amy’s one request was to have ladybugs and bees on her cake. If you look close enough you will see both. (As well as sunflowers) The summer solstice took place at 5:59 p.m. and I’m happy to say that’s exactly when I pronounced them husband and wife.
James and Amanda’s wedding took place at “The Old Meeting House” on Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. It’s a great “cool” location for a summer wedding. All indoors, no outdoor amenities. They have a BIG flat screen monitor for guest to view photos of the couple. Watching their photos was how I learned Amanda and James were the King and Queen of the prom. I should’ve known. I mean really… look at them. I’d like to share an email I received from Amanda’s father the following day.
Awesome job, so much wisdom condensed into your ceremony advice. Will be glad to recommend you to others. Was truly a beautiful day, thanks much! :-)
Lorin - Brides father
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If there was ever a perfect morning for a wedding it had to be last Saturday for Aaron & Sally. They met 3 years ago, introduced by friends. She was moving out of state to Austin 2 weeks after meeting. That didn’t stop Aaron. He flew to Austin every month for 10 months. He then flew down with his parents along with an engagement ring. Their ceremony took place at Willow Creek Country Club at 10:00 a.m. The pictures speak for themselves. The landscape picture with the rock and waterfall is where the bride enters and walks down. As you can see, the flower colors absolutely popped. Every wedding has a little something that will leave a lasting memory. In Aaron & Sally’s case I’ll always remember a couple of “something’s”. As we are all watching Sally making her grand entrance the best man whispers to Aaron and I that he doesn’t have her ring plus we have no idea where it is. I noticed her ring bearer had a couple of little fake rings on his pillow so I whispered that when it was time for the ring to just hand over one of those rings. The moment arrived and as the best man is handing off the “little” fake ring to Aaron I’m now whispering to Sally what is taking place. She just laughed and went with it. The “little” ring barley fit halfway on her finger but no one but the four of us knew what had happened. As soon as the ceremony was over she retrieved the ring from her purse and we did the ring vows again as Aaron placed the ring on her hand. I’m sure it is a story they will be sharing with their grandchildren someday. The second something was their recessional. As Aaron and Sally were walking out they did so to the tune “I feel Good”. What a happy song and it fit their personalities to a tee. They literally danced their way down the aisle. Then as each groomsman came in to escort the bridesmaids out, they came to a stop, put on sunglasses and they too proceeded to dance out. (Oh yeah, did I mention the groom and all his groomsmen were wearing bowling shoes. Now there’s a fashion statement!) What a great, happy, fun way to end the ceremony and begin their new life. The best way to make your marriage work is to make it play. I think that’s a concept Aaron and Sally completely understand.
Mike and Melanie had a beautiful ceremony at Log Haven in Mill Creek Canyon last Friday evening. The weather was spectacular. Their colors were the very classy white/black/red combo. They carried it through in every way. If you look close at the sign in table you will notice even the pen is black and white polka dots and they had a basket of red/white peppermint candies. Very nice touch! I took one photo looking down on the guest from the area they were married. And of course, I always have to get the cake.
Great couple, great wedding!
One of the first things I like to check out when I arrive at the ceremony site is the CAKE! They are always so beautiful and each one is different. I honestly do not believe I have ever seen a bad cake. The Salt Lake area seems to be very blessed with an abundance of great cake bakers. I’ve seen a cake made in the exact design of the brides dress. One cake topper was of a fireman carrying his bride. The days of the solid white cake are long gone. If you can imagine it, it can be baked.
I only have a couple of pieces of advice to offer on cakes. If you’re having a meal that includes the dessert, go smaller on your cake. When it’s time to cut the cake your guest are usually so full they can’t eat another bite and you’re left with enough cake to feed 200 people. Also, have a plan for that left over cake.
A lot of reception centers will make your cake. Some even charge a “cake fee” if you bring one in from the outside. If the reception center offers a cake you’re happy with, it will be one less worry for you. The cake will be there and no risk of a toppled cake as it is being delivered and you might be paying an extra charge for the delivery. (And yes, I’ve seen a toppled cake)
If you would like any recommendations please feel free to contact me. (801)205-6112 or revanita@hotmail.com
I tell couples that the flowers will die, the cake gets eaten and what you will have left after your wedding is your memories. These will be in your mind and in your pictures. With the introduction of digital cameras a lot of amateurs thought they were professionals. Trust me, I’ve watched enough professional photographers (and amateurs) to know the difference. Wedding photography definitely requires a special skill. Specific shots, creative shots, and family shots. They must be capable of having a good rapport not only with you, but also with kids, grandparents and maybe Uncle John who’s had a little too much champagne. Your wedding day is perfect for capturing family pictures. Everyone is dressed up and who knows when you will all be together again, looking sooooo good. If there’s not good chemistry between you and your photographer, they will not be able to draw out your best. A good photographer can get you to relax and that’s a must.
From my Internet surfing and working with photographers I know the price range is all over the place from hundreds of dollars to many, many, many thousands. One great option, especially for those on a budget, is a professional who will do the shoot and then give you the disc so you may develop your own pix. However, I would recommend having the pix developed at a high-end photo lab and not at Costco, Walgreen’s, etc. There is a huge difference in the quality and finished product. On the flip side, a high end photographer will Photoshop out any stray hair, or even stray kids. They can offer a great finished product in a hard bound book or album and even post them online for your family and friends to choose any they may like to have All of this just depends on how much you would like to spend.
A lot of photographers prefer to shoot the family shots before the wedding. I’m a huge fan of this. Everyone is fresh, no mascara running down the face, eyes aren’t red from crying, hair isn’t messed up from hugs and best of all, you get to enjoy your party almost immediately after the ceremony. Plus if something is missing (like the veil) you will know it in advance rather than 15 minutes before your wedding. I know many prefer not to take pictures prior because the groom will see you. There is a way to do this that not only is very special but also can actually relieve some pressure. The groom stands with his back turned to you and you then walk up and tap him on the shoulder. He turns and is immediately awestruck. All of this can be caught in pictures. He really has the time to take it all in rather than the 15 seconds he gets to see you as your walking down the aisle. And if you prefer he not see you that’s fine, but you can still get the individual family shots over with and again it will save so much time later. Who wants to spend lots of time on pictures after your wedding (I didn’t) when you know there’s a party going on?
Best advice for choosing a photographer. Someone who makes you feel comfortable with a style you like.No matter what time you plan on starting your ceremony, it will probably not start exactly on time BUT… it should start within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. There are several reasons for this. Once you start your wedding late (anything after 15 minutes of the intended start time is late) you will throw everything that follows off and you’ll never catch up. Maybe it’s an evening wedding and now your photographer has lost the light they had planned on shooting with. Then there’s the food. Your caterer or reception site have allowed for your ceremony to start within that 15 minute window. That’s how they judge when to have the hot food hot and the cold food cold. Anything later, the hot food can become the hot mushy food and the cold food can become warm. You also need to keep in mind that your guests, are your guests. I’m out there walking among them as the minutes tick by and I assure you, there can be some grumbling. The majority of your guests will arrive 10-15 minutes early. So if you’re running 30 minutes late they have now waited 45 minutes. I’ve had weddings held up as much as an hour waiting for one person. That’s not fair to you or your guests. This is time lost that you will never get back. If you know you’re a “late” individual, allow yourself lots of time to get ready and then add more time to it. On your wedding day the time will fly by. It is so nice when I walk into a brides room and see her and all of her attendants smiling, happy and ready to go versus, rushed, stressed, and basically in panic mode as they scream, “where’s my shoes?” This is not how you want to start your walk down the aisle. Allow yourself LOTS of time to get ready and then you’ll be able to enjoy your day the way it should be enjoyed. Peaceful and happy.
Now that the wedding season is upon us I thought I would start a blog to provide some information to new brides. I understand if you’ve never been married, it’s uncharted territory for you which can also be a bit scary. After presiding over 500 ceremonies the number one rule I tell couples I meet with is, “there are no rules.” Everything has changed and there is no “right” way or “wrong” way to do anything. Only “YOUR” way. No one calls Miss Manners the day after your ceremony because something was not done “right.” If you want both your parents to walk you down the aisle, great, go for it! I think it’s a wonderful thing. If you want your parents to sit on the right side of the aisle instead of the left, perfect! They will actually get to see your face during the ceremony instead of your back. Families and friends no longer sit on the brides side or the grooms side, that too is really a thing of the past unless it is a very formal wedding with ushers. Most guest sit wherever they would like. Things have become a lot less formal which translates into a lot less stress. Your wedding should reflect your personalities whether they’re fun, formal or funky so you may enjoy your wedding day to the max. No two wedding venues in Utah do things exactly alike, so again, do whatever you wish and enjoy your special day, your way!
I’m always open for questions or comments.