Seven gorgeous weddings. That’s what we have in store for you lovelies today, all in celebration of one of our favorite days of the week – Wedding Wednesday. From downright amazing New Zealand fêtes to glamorous California soirees, we have a little something for everyone. So, sit back and prepare to soak in all of the pretty.
We’re kicking off the day with this breathtaking Utah ranch affair from Erin Kate Photography. A glamorous + rustic fête set against a stunning Kamas backdrop, it’s the oh-so-perfect love story (high school sweethearts!) meets the oh-so-perfect celebration, complete with fab DIY details and one of the most amazing Lela Rose gowns you will ever see. If you’re a lover of natural hues, burlap and beautiful ribbon hanging from the trees, then it’s time to get seriously happy. Click here for more.
From the Bride… Cooper and I are high school sweethearts. We met 12 years ago on the very first day of boarding school in California. We started dating our senior year and have been together ever since. We’ve basically grown up together and are lucky enough to have been able to experience so much of life hand-in-hand. We’ve lived in three different states and four countries; traveled through 25 countries; adopted one kitten; been on countless plane, train, car, and bus rides; and all together. I feel so lucky to have Cooper not only as my husband but also as my best friend.
Cooper and I are so grateful to have an incredibly supportive family and community around us. Our wedding was truly a community effort — and it had to be since we were planning it from our home 8,000 miles away in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Even though we chose to have our wedding in Cooper’s hometown of Park City, Utah, it was essentially a destination wedding. We and most of our wedding guests flew in from out of town. We invited our guests for a week-long celebration including casual dinners, family lunches, a bridal shower, a welcome barbeque, the rehearsal dinner, the reception and finally, a farewell brunch. It was a ton of planning but we’re so happy that we were able to spend a solid week with our closest family and friends. None of this would have happened without Robbyn, my mother-in-law. She was not only our wedding planner, but also our designer, invitation stuffer and chief contract negotiator! My mother Laura hand picked every bottle of wine we served. My father-in-law Kim and his wife Barbara threw a very elegant rehearsal dinner (We had lobster! What more could a girl want?). My father, a jewelry designer, hand-crafted my bridesmaids’ gifts. My grandmother sewed every one of our napkins, tablecloths and runners. Lynn, a family friend, was ordained and spent hours upon hours crafting our ceremony with us. I’m exhausted just thinking about all the hard work and love that was put in to making our day so incredibly special.
I knew that I wanted our wedding to reflect not only our own styles and personality but also the natural beauty of the venue. We opted for a natural, organic feel — nothing fussy or overworked. I wanted the whole day to feel like we’d just casually thrown it together (which, of course, only happens when you have amazing vendors, a great designer and tons of help). My favorite part of the design was by far the ribbons that we hung from the tree. We had a lovely breeze during the day, and throughout the ceremony, the ribbons waved in the wind. It made for some fantastic photos that we’ll treasure forever! At the end of the day, we could not have been happier with our the way our wedding turned out. Not only was it a beautiful event, but we were also able to create memories with the people we love most in this world.
Wedding Photography: Erin Kate Photography / Wedding Venue: High Star Ranch in Kamas, Utah / Wedding Consultant: Robbyn Paxton-McGuire / Floral Design: Karen Buresh / Officiant: Lynn Fuller, A Family Friend / Catering: Culinary Crafts / Wedding Invitations: Tabula Rasa / Band: Motherlode Canyon Band / Transportation: Borrowed from Treat Williams / Wedding Dress: Lela Rose / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bride’s Jewelry: Vintage, Borrowed from the Groom’s Grandmother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alice & Olivia + Others / Groom’s Attire: Cao Minh’s Made to Measure in Saigon, Vietnam / Groom’s Cufflinks: Nordstrom / Bride’s Ring: Jeff Cooper Designs / Groom’s Ring: Ryder Diamonds in Hong Kong