Real Wedding: Annie & Brad’s Ski-In Celebration

December 11, 2023

Snowpine Lodge, Alta

April 17

Planning & Design by Hoopes Events

Photography by Katie Edwards Photo

THE COUPLE

Annie dove into the world of online dating after moving to Utah from Michigan, and after a few chats, she agreed to attend a party with a date. She never expected to find her soulmate that night, but after arriving, Annie’s original date introduced her to Brad, and their fate was sealed. “Let’s just say Brad was more my style,” Annie says. Today, after six years of dating and a stunning winter wedding, the couple works together at a quickly expanding wellness business headquartered in Austin, Texas.

THE PROPOSAL

Brad originally planned to propose while skiing Alta’s backcountry, but shifted gears after an unfortunate spill the night before resulted in a broken arm. Instead, he took Annie for a walk along the resort’s Summer Road, where he told her all of the things he loved about her and used his functioning arm to pull a ring and a hidden miniature bottle of bubbly from his sling. They spent the evening celebrating Annie’s acceptance together at The Cliff Lodge.

THE WEDDING

The couple returned to Alta for their big day. Taking full advantage of the venue’s alpine glory and ski-in, ski-out capabilities, Annie and Brad worked with Hoopes Events to design a celebration with the good vibrations of a rustic ski trip, and the modern elegance of a mountain chalet.

It all began with a snowy ceremony where colorfully woven rugs marked the aisle and altar with striking contrast to the mountain’s all-white backdrop. Featuring jewel tones that Annie selected for the bridal party, the scene was a statement of bold color. Annie said “I Do” in a long sleeved, backless Daalarna gown with pearl and floral lace details, a cathedral length veil with Indian-inspired beading and white St. Laurent boots, perfect for tramping through the snow. Something borrowed—a diamond snowflake necklace of her mother’s—was accented by blue apatite earrings.

Brad wore a velvet black tux and a wooden bow tie custom engraved with mountain ranges to match those of the groomsmen. “We were married by my best friend from college, who is also an ordained minister. She brought so much holiness to our ceremony,” Annie recalls.

THE PARTY

The party moved inside for a cozy and elegant dinner, accented by more vivid rugs and sprays of colorful florals. “I wanted ‘rainbow’ flowers,” Annie says. “I love all colors and wanted them to be as vibrant as possible in contrast to the snowy background.” Guests signed in on a vintage “Ski Alta” poster then made their way to their colorful settings, each labeled with a different adventure destination. After dinner, the couple delivered a customized ice-cream sandwich feast, teaming Normal Club and Ruby Snap Cookies for their first-ever collaboration. From the bar, Telluride Distillery’s “Chairlift Warmer” schnapps became the drink of choice, along with obligatory Alta Bombs and a special Chianti Classico from Annie’s family origins for celebratory toasts.

The Morning Yells transitioned the crowd from cocktail hour to reception soirée with ease, starting with a salsa-heavy first dance to “Hooked on a Feeling,” performed by Annie and Brad. The celebration was full of unexpected surprises, from father-daughter dances and songs performed by family members, to Phish jam sessions. “Let’s just say the dance floor got weird in the best way,” Annie says.