For me, editing this issue of Utah Bride & Groom magazine has truly been a gift. I was able to work with a team that included the staff at Utah Bride & Groom and some of the state’s most talented wedding photographers, planners, florists and caterers. And I was in awe of the lavish celebrations couples were able to pull off during the past year despite a laundry list of pandemic-caused challenges.
But the pleasure that stood above all was getting to hear so many love stories. I giggled along with couples as they recounted their proposals and choked back tears watching wedding video vows exchanged and toasts delivered. I was moved by how many couples infused their celebrations with homages to loved ones who’d passed on. And I felt pangs of FOMO, hearing about the over-the-top, post-ceremony shindigs (I’m looking at you, the bride and groom who pulled off a four-band reception.) Witnessing so much love and hope for the future has been, to say the least, inspiring.
I hope you’ll find an equal measure of inspiration for planning your own wedding. A few of the celebratory pieces we’ve compiled for this issue include “A Floral Feast,” (page 142), a vibrantly colorful and textural collection of tablescapes by local florist and foodie duos; “On Location,” (page 132), everything you need to know about planning a wedding in Utah’s mountains, desert, ranchlands and urban areas; “Making Change,” (page 44), designer dresses and accessories that allow brides to switch up their look mid-celebration without breaking the bank; and, one of our most loved sections, “Inspirations,” (page 101), a showcase of local wedding planners’ deep wells of talent. This issue also includes, of course, “Beginnings” (page 23), a compilation of nuptial news and trends; our comprehensive Utah wedding venue guide (page 154); and 10 beautiful, season-spanning “Real Weddings” (page 59).
The tips, trends, advice and resources offered by Utah Bride & Groom are not limited to these pages, however. Avrey Evans, pictured right of me, keeps her finger on Utah’s wedding-world pulse year-round as the digital editor for utahbrideandgroom.com and its accompanying social media channels, @utahbridemag, where she curates and shares the latest wedding world news from Utah and beyond.
On behalf of myself, Avrey, the rest of this magazine staff and Utah’s entire event planning family, we hope your journey of planning a wedding is as fun, rewarding and inspiring as the actual Big Day.
Cheers to beginning your happily ever after,
Melissa Fields, Editor-at-Large
Featured image by Gideon Photography
The 2022 issue of Utah Bride & Groom is available on newsstands April 1! Check here to purchase the digital copy.
