The Mountains Were a Perfect Setting for This Timeless Utah Wedding

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Location: Deer Valley, Park City, Utah, US
Setting: Mountains
The number of guests: 115
Wedding Season: Fall
How long did the couple plan the event: 10 months
Wedding theme/style: Glam, timeless and elegant.

Kristen and John met in Nashville in 2021 through a mutual friend. Kristen had been living in Nashville for about five years, while John had recently moved there for work in real estate. The two felt an instant connection, and sparks flew right away. “The night we met, we both texted our family saying we found the person we were going to marry,” the couple fondly recalls. They started dating soon after, and the relationship blossomed. John eventually proposed during a weekend getaway in Charleston, South Carolina, a city they both adore for its charm. Kristen had always dreamed of a private and intimate proposal, so John got down on one knee on a beautiful southern street in Charleston. They celebrated their engagement at Camellia’s champagne bar inside Hotel Bennett, toasting to their future together.

They had always wanted a smaller, more intimate wedding. Being lovers of travel and adventure, they wanted to create an experience their guests would never forget. The couple put a lot of thought into selecting the perfect vendors for their special day, including the videographer. They chose Jared Wortley Films to capture every moment of their wedding day – from the heartfelt preparations to exchanging vows in the scenic mountains, the heartfelt speeches of their loved ones, and the joyous night of dancing. This film allowed Kristen and John to revisit and cherish these precious memories.

By the morning of the wedding, Kristen was very relaxed and felt so much happiness and joy in being in such a beautiful place with all of their closest family friends, marrying the love of her life. She had so much fun getting ready and felt beautiful. For the hair and makeup, Kristen chose a classic and timeless look. The makeup had a radiant glow, while the hair was styled long and curled, later transformed into a low ponytail for the dancing part of the evening.

She ended up with a completely different dress than she originally thought she wanted: “I thought I would go with a more form-fitting style, but ended up trying on my actual dress as a joke because my best friend told me I needed to try on one ballgown style. When I put on my Rita Vinieris “Delanie” dress and came out, my mom, John’s mom, and my two friends immediately cried. I felt like a princess and didn’t want to take it off. The dress had 3D flowers on it, and I loved its uniqueness. I knew John would be totally surprised by my choice, so I kept the dress a secret and didn’t show anyone until the big day.”

Kristen opted for Bella Belle shoes that perfectly complemented the flowers on her dress. One of the highlights of the wedding accessories was the jewelry – she rented stunning real diamond earrings and a bracelet from Verstolo, a diamond company based in New York City. The bouquet was simple yet elegant, featuring white and taupe roses with hints of greens and whites that tied in beautifully with the floral elements on the dress.

John aimed for a timeless and sophisticated look, and he felt excited as he got ready for the wedding day. He wore a custom-tailored black Sartoriale tuxedo with onyx and silver cufflinks, a cummerbund, and a bow tie. When it was time to hit the dance floor, his classic black lace-up tuxedo shoes were switched out for black Nikes.

The ceremony took place outside the Grand Lawn at the Montage Deer Valley, overlooking the mountains. After choosing Park City as the location, the couple met with their wedding planner to visit various venues soon after getting engaged. “When we stepped out of the car at the Montage, we immediately knew it was the place where we wanted to get married,” the couple added. The top-tier service from the staff made the couple eager for their guests to experience the same.

The ceremony featured beautiful floral arrangements along the aisle and grand floral displays on pedestals. The couple shared, “It was better than either of us could’ve imagined.” Wanting a traditional Christian ceremony with personal touches reflecting their relationship, they aimed to create an intimate atmosphere and chose not to have a large bridal party. Kristen’s sister was the Matron of Honor, while John’s best friend was the Best Man. Additionally, the groom’s niece was the flower girl, and their nephews served as Ring Bearers. The guests enjoyed a good laugh out of them and were impressed by the breathtaking views.

Kristen also shared the most unique and memorable moment of their wedding day: “One of my favorite things to do at weddings is watch the groom’s reaction as the bride is walking down the aisle. I knew I didn’t want to do a first look for that reason and wanted to see John’s reaction for the first time when I walked down the aisle. This was also important to me since my dress was a surprise, and I figured he’d be a little shocked. It was such a happy moment to see him smiling big at the end of the aisle.” They also cherished a private moment after the ceremony, where they could soak it all in and just be alone for a few moments. Writing letters to each other and exchanging them on the morning of the wedding was truly special and helped calm their nerves.

The reception took place on the Grand Terrace at the Montage, overlooking the Grand Lawn and the scenic mountain view. Kristen and John could look at the beautifully decorated Grand Terrace before their guests arrived for cocktail hour, and they were both amazed by how stunning it looked. The floral arrangements were mostly white and green with a touch of taupe and soft pink roses. The tables were elegantly decorated with taupe candles, gold accents on the plates and cutlery, and textured glasses at the head table. The layout of long king’s tables ensured that everyone had a great view of the dance floor and the mountains. “I felt like I walked straight into a fairytale setting and instantly was brought to tears,” added Kristen. The newlyweds also shared: “Our wedding planner, Silver Summit Events, brought our vision to life in terms of the concepts and inspiration.”

The celebration was amazing, with heartfelt toasts from the Father of the Bride, Best Man, and Matron of Honor, which moved Kristen and John to tears with both laughter and joy, sharing funny stories and well wishes. The newlyweds danced their first dance to “Perfect For Me” by Bradley Marshall. A highlight of the wedding was the cake – made by the talented pastry baker at The Montage, known for their culinary expertise. They enjoyed two delicious flavors, Raspberry Almond and Hazelnut Rocher.

The evening continued with an electrifying live band performance with all the guests dancing. They provided glow sticks and light-up sunglasses, and the guests were a hit on the dance floor, keeping the energy high all night long.

Advice from the couple:

• It’s true what everyone says: the day does fly by. We hosted a welcome party at the Montage the night before so we could welcome guests into town, say hi, and talk to everyone. It is our biggest piece of advice, so when the wedding day comes around, you feel like you can enjoy it with your spouse and not worry about making sure to say hi to everyone since you already saw them last night.

• Do your research and spend the money on a great wedding planner. They take so much stress off of you as a couple, and you can really enjoy it more. Your guests will appreciate it too.

• Also, hire a videographer! The video will capture moments you didn’t get to see throughout the day, and it’s so fun to be able to go back and relive the day through videos.