Utah’s landscapes offer idyllic settings for cowboy-chic celebrations of any style.
From Hollywood to high fashion, it seems everyone’s going cowboy. Weddings are no exception. Couples far and wide flock to Utah to celebrate their nuptials among the promontory peaks and crimson cliffs of the state’s legendary Western landscapes.
WESTERN STYLE WEDDING #1: BLACK TIE RUSTIC AT BLUE SKY RANCH
Couples looking to bring high-end polish to their cowboy celebrations need look no further than Wanship’s luxury venue, The Lodge at Blue Sky. Just 30 minutes from Park City, Blue Sky delivers a new kind of ambiance for those wanting to embrace the true cowboy atmosphere found in the venue’s storied past as a working ranch.
Many rustic-leaning brides opt for wildflowers to grace their well-dressed tablescapes, and creating a luxurious look using such simple blooms is a Utah wedding planner’s specialty. “It takes careful planning to make an event look both elegant and effortless,” says industry expert Michelle Cousins.
For Nicole and Tyler’s barn nuptials, the Michelle Leo team exquisitely blended cowgirl country with high-fashion femininity using hardwood tables and chargers as a backdrop for organic vessels of dainty wildflowers and delicate chiffon linens. A rich palette of blues and warm neutrals quintessentially captures Utah’s transition from summer to fall, capping off this event’s theme.
According to Cousins, an expertly finished tablescape is key to visually conveying luxury in any celebration. “A completely set and designed table helps elevate any event, especially those that are more rustic,” she says. “A setting immerses guests in the ambiance with something beautiful and elevates their experience. It’s all in the details.”
Including comfort-food favorites on the menu throughout the celebrations makes the mood abundantly clear: microbrews, BBQ and cobbler all say, “Cowboy shindig, this way!” Food paired with fashion is a surefire way to involve guests in an event theme. This couple landed upon a rare “black tie rustic” dress code, inviting their loved ones to don their boots along with their suits to match Nicole’s custom-designed peplum gown and fringed footwear.
For added drama, Nicole made her grand ceremony entrance in iconic cowgirl style: pulled behind a team of spectacular black horses.
Ultimately, Cousins contends that events can be themed in every detail without erring on the side of kitsch. By mingling cowhide with chiffon and champagne, industrial metal details with on-trend wicker chandeliers, and other glamorous accents with Blue Sky’s bucolic atmosphere, this team fashioned a luxuriously formal event without a trace of inhibiting stuffiness.
Blue Sky Ranch Wedding Vendors
Planning and Design: Michelle Leo Events, michelleleoevents.com
Photography: Megan Robinson Photo, meganrobinsonphoto.com
Videographer: Branson Maxwell Video, bransonmaxwell.com
Floral: Amber Reverie, amberreverie.com
Venue and Catering: The Lodge at Blue Sky, aubergeresorts.com/bluesky
Rentals: Diamond Event and Tent, diamondevent.com
Chairs: Vault Event Rentals, vaulteventrentals.com
Chargers: Alpine Event Co., alpineevent.co
Cake: Lustr Creative, msha.ke/lustrcreative
Lighting: Moonlight Lighting Utah, moonlightutah.com
DJ: Ricky Barrera, @therickybarrera
HMUA: Marisa Rose, marisarosemph.com
Paper Goods: Twelve30 Creative, twelve30.com
WESTERN STYLE WEDDING #2: RANCH REFRESH AT THIS IS THE PLACE HERITAGE PARK
Brides who long for western flavor but are not quite ready to give up a bit of playful glitz needn’t worry. For guidance, look no further than this fusion fête created by Leslie Price, owner of Leslie Dawn Events. At this après-vows affair, a historic vintage homestead and a Southwest-inspired palette meet the flashing-lights drama of the Nashville cowgirl. The result? A powerful design punch pairing modern simplicity with an upbeat palette.
To perfect the ranch refresh, Price has a few tricks up her sleeve.
“I would first find a color palette that really represents your personality and let it take you to unexpected places,” says Price. “This allows you to deliver a fresh take on many classic elements.” The happy-go-party-girl bride should never be dulled by a basic color scheme, and vibrant bride Hayley took the reins of a buoyant palette and ran with it all the way to the stables. Summery peach, glowing grapefruit pink, electric green and rich violet come together in a dazzlingly youthful mix, starting with a color-blocked invitation suite designed by the bride.
The palette continues day-of, modernizing Utah’s classic Kimball House into an of-the-hour hoedown. Traditional western trinkets including cattle skulls, wagon wheels and lasso rope get a 2020’s-funk treatment throughout the design, peaking in the form of a neon-hued photo booth.
Introducing the playful edge and contemporary punch that this bride craved, a greenery wall sporting flutes of lavender lemonade became the guests’ first experience of the party’s unique style.
“That was our theme throughout this entire wedding: blending something old and something new to create a never-before-seen style that was totally on-brand for this couple,” Price explains.
Capturing this unique pairing of demure and drama, The Petal Coop delivered in blooms. Angular wildflower centerpieces teamed airy freshness with stylized structure, giving each bouquet a runway-ready finish. For added whimsy, each table setup included elegant—and edible— elements. Oranges, blackberries, peaches and figs contribute to the scene’s striking colors.
“For a playful and modern bride, I love adding unexpected table elements,” says Price. “Here, the linens were a soft pink velvet, and the fruits brought a pop of color even bolder than what florals could deliver.”
The ode to the Southwest continues from the palette to the bride’s sleek and structured jumpsuit, with a dramatic homage to the past in tow. Floor-length fringe adds movement, glamour and on-the-town flirtiness while still keeping things beautiful and bridal.
This is the Place Wedding Vendors:
Planning & Design: Leslie Dawn Events, lesliedawnevents.com
Photos: Hillary Taylor Harmon, @hillarytaylorharmon
Venue: This is the Place, thisistheplace.org
Floral: The Petal Coop, thepetalcoop.com
Rentals: Diamond Event & Tent, diamondevent.com
Lighting: Moonlight Lighting Utah, moonlightutah.com
Catering: Cubby’s, cubbys.co/catering
Cake: Salt Cake City, saltcakecity.com
Bar Service: Cheers and Swizzles, cheersandswizzles.com
Photo Booth Furniture: Utah Vintage Rentals, utahvintage.rentals
Makeup: Aubrey Robertson, @aubreymakeup_
Hair: Simply Mindy, simplymindy.net
Groom’s Suit: Smith Bespoke, smithbespoke.com
Bride’s Attire: Rminé Bridal, rminebespoke.com
Stationery: Superlative Design, superlativedesign.co.uk
WESTERN STYLE WEDDING #3: RED ROCK ROMANCE AT LAZALU RESORT, ZION NATIONAL PARK
In today’s events climate, adventure lovers are embracing the destination micro wedding more than ever. Lazalu, a quaint venue nestled among the majestic formations of Zion National Park, offers unmatched vistas for outdoor enthusiasts like Samantha and Brett.
In this intimate celebration designed by Laura Stagg of Forevermore Events, every element is an ode to the venue’s striking red-rock views.
“To achieve a truly western look, we encourage our couples to mirror the landscape in their design, accentuating the atmosphere and immersing their celebration in the beauty that Southern Utah provides,” Stagg says. “Including the organic elements of the desert in the palette and florals adds a bit of that Wild West flair to the magic of the wedding day.”
A palette of warm desert hues carries the red-rock theme from the ceremony to the reception tables. Bridesmaids garbed in rust-colored satin impeccably mirror the bronzed cliffs on the horizon while copper and amber tones deliver a Zion-inspired palette to the couple’s rustic table settings.
A true desert tribute comes to life with indigenous cacti spotted throughout the floral design, appearing as succulent blossoms on catering tables, in individual pots amid simple cotton place settings and even as unexpected accents in the bride’s bouquet. Each arrangement delivers a decidedly freshly-foraged-from-Utah look, marrying seamlessly with a traditional boho scheme of dried fronds and neutral blooms.
The remainder of the décor is understated, showcasing soft macrame accents and on-trend acrylic signage that deliver a level of refinement without overpowering the park’s stunning scenery. Even the triangular ceremony backdrop features ample negative space, allowing expansive views to shine through as Samantha and Brett tied the knot.
Carefully curated moments deliver intimacy to this desert affair. They include raised-glass toasts made while clad in cowboy-chic furs, homemade jerky samplings bow hunted and prepared by the bride herself, and a cozy sweetheart’s table at which Samantha finished her bridal ensemble with a well-matched ivory cowboy hat and fur jacket.
Lazalu Wedding Vendors:
Planning and Design: Forevermore Events, forevermoreevents.com
Photographer: Ashley Meagan Photography,
ashleymeaganphotography.com
Rentals: St. George Party Rentals, stgeorgepartyrentals.com
Signage: Black Julep Studio, etsy.com/shop/BlackJulepStudio
Venue: Lazalu, lazalu.com
Hair: The Honey Salon, @honeysalonbride
Makeup: Chantry Wagstaff, @honeysalonbride
Floral: By Bloomers, bybloomers.com
DJ: Festival Sounds, festivalsounds.com
Caterer: Magleby’s, maglebys.com
Baker: CBJ and Company, @cbjandcompany
Hat: Tilly’s, @tillys
Gown: Beloved Couture Bridal, belovedcouturebridal.squarespace.com
Suit: Men’s Wearhouse, menswearhouse.com
Tie: Azazie, azazie.com
