THE COUPLE
New York-based Kate and Dan met for the first time in Croatia, when Kate spotted her future husband across a bar, wearing a T-shirt coincidentally emblazoned with the name of her father’s Pennsylvania high school. The pair instantly connected thanks to their hometown roots, but parted ways when they headed for the airport. The couple later reconnected on Utah’s ski slopes, and six years after their meet-cute, became engaged on yet another ski trip to Zermatt, Switzerland.
THE WEDDING
In homage to the snowy mountains where they fell in love, Kate selected Peoa’s 4U Ranch as the ideal backdrop for an unique melding of garden party, rustic ranch and elegant organic styles. “We wanted our wedding to have an intimate feel, and we wanted to be able to easily stroll through our wedding day events surrounded by the people and mountains we love,” she says.
Kate walked down the aisle adorned in a lushly laced, form-fitting Monique Lhuillier gown with a high neck and long sleeves, showcasing a sophisticated, romantic style. Flanked by pastel-draped bridesmaids, she said “I do” under a graceful, asymmetric floral arch surrounded by the ranch’s dramatic rock formations. The wedding-day floral arrangements were designed to match a custom watercolor paper suite created by Studio Luzance. Kate fell in love with the delicate feminine details, and the lavender, blush and baby blue crest quickly became the brand of the big day.
“This paper suite was too sweet,” says planner Michelle Cousins. “It really captured that organic vibe and pulled the full event together.”
To accommodate guests between events, Kate arranged a variety of outdoor lounge areas, where attendees could enjoy Utah’s majestic views while sipping on custom margaritas and strawberry lemon mules.
For the reception, guests strolled to 4U Ranch’s reclaimed wood barn, where a neutral interior allowed the event’s feminine and organic design elements and colors to flourish in everything from floral centerpieces and hanging installations to dainty cake accents.
“We wanted the reception to look like you walked through a field of mountain florals, scooped them up and placed them on the table,” Cousins says. “Tinge Floral brought a great mix of bloom textures, colors and species to capture that organic mood.”
THE MENU
Culinary Crafts delivered loads of local flavor to the party with a lineup of Utah-bred favorites: risotto balls and pork buns for cocktail hour and grilled Rocky Mountain Ruby red trout and grass-fed Utah beef flank steak as main courses, accompanied by sides of seasonal butternut parmesan risotto and grilled carrots. A nearly too-cute-to-cut cake by The Dessert Studio delighted with layers of almond, lemon and raspberry-flavored dessert.
THE PARTY
Kate changed her look for the first dance, removing her gown’s sleeves to reveal a strapless sweetheart neckline. She and Dan danced to “At Last,” played live by New Soul Brigade. The band also provided music for dances with the couple’s parents and throughout the reception. The after-party began as the gathering moved venues, traveling to Goldener Hirsch’s newly renovated rooftop deck, which also hosted the wedding’s rehearsal dinner, welcome party and brunch. Kate arrived in a dance-floor-ready sequined minidress from Markarian, and the wedding party continued the celebration with a night of jamming with Life of the Party DJs.
THE HONEYMOON
The travel-loving newlyweds chose to wait out international travel restrictions, so rather than escaping to their destination right after the wedding, they planned a belated New Zealand honeymoon for December 2022.
UTAH WEDDING VENDORS:
Wedding Planning and design: Michelle Leo Events, michelleleoevents.com
Photography: Heather Nan Photography, heathernanphoto.com
Videography: NP Films, npfilms.com
Floral: Tinge Floral, tingefloral.com
Venue: 4U Ranch, 4uranch.org
Officiant: Kamrin Carver
Ceremony AV: Wasatch Audio Visual, wasatchav.com
Gown: Monique Lhuillierl, moniquelhuillier.com
Paper Suite: Studio Luzance, studioluzance.com
Rentals: Diamond Event and Tent, diamondevent.com
Lounge/Bistro/Bar Rentals: Vault Event Rentals, vaulteventrentals.com
Charger Rentals: Wild Event Studio, wildeventstudio.com
Restroom Rentals: Simply Privys, simplyprivys.com
Rehearsal and Welcome Bars: Decoration Inc., decorationinc.com
Makeup Artist: Kristen Packard Makeup, kristenpackard.com
Hair: Kali Chris Hair, kalichris.com
Catering: Culinary Crafts, culinarycrafts.com
Bar Service: Top Shelf, topshelfutah.com
Cake: The Dessert Studio, thedessertstudioutah.com
Transportation: Snow Country Limousine, snowcountrylimo.com
Rehearsal Dinner: Goldener Hirsch, aubergeresorts.com/goldenerhirsch
Welcome Party Music: The Birdwatchers, thebirdwatchersband.com
Ceremony Music: Tribeca Ensemble, tribecaensemble.com
Band: New Soul Brigade, newsoulbrigade.com
After-party DJ: Life of the Party Entertainment, life-of-the-party.com
View more https://www.utahbrideandgroom.com/category/real-weddings/
