Pig Themed Summer Wedding at The St. Regis Deer Valley

Why did you pick that location for your ceremony?

“Deer Valley holds a very special place in my heart. I travel to Deer Valley every winter for our family’s annual ski trip. I also chose Deer Valley because it has everything my husband and I enjoy in a vacation: fishing, hiking, biking, an amazing spa, great food, and beautiful views.”

How did you and your spouse meet?

“My husband and I met through friends at a 4th of July pool party.”

Who proposed marriage and how did that proposal happen?

“Mark proposed to me in a car wash, which is one of my favorite places on earth.”

Describe your Wedding Flowers

“I had a bouquet of different white flowers that were wrapped in a champagne silk. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of bright, cheerful flowers to offset their dark dresses. For the table arrangements, I wanted the focus to be on the flowers and not on candles.”

Describe your Bridal Attire

“The gown was a 2-piece dress. I was looking for a full skirt that would be fun to dance and twirl in, while the top part of the dress was more classic and ornate. For my hair and makeup, I went for a natural look. I knew the groom loved it when I wore my hair wavy and in the middle, so I chose this style for my hair. I wore my Grandmother’s tennis bracelet as my something old, and diamond earrings that were a gift from my parents. The veil was my something borrowed, which was from my sister. I also wore Jimmy Choo shoes, which were my wedding gift from the groom. He knows me well.”

What inspired the Wedding Day Outfits?

“I wanted everyone to be comfortable, so I choose navy blue long bridesmaid dresses. I made sure to choose a color and style that flattered all body types. We also provided the groomsmen with ‘pig’ ties, since the groom grew up on a pig farm.”

Tell us about the Ceremony Decor

“The decor theme was for ceremony was to let the beauty of Utah speak for itself. We had small bouquet of flowers on every other row of chairs, incorporating my colors of navy blue and coral. We also had two larger bouquets of white flowers on either side of the reverend, groom and I.”

Tell us about your Invitations

“We used Needle in a Haystack in Dallas for the invitations, and a calligrapher (also from Dallas) to address the invitations. We used a formal invitation with rounded edges. The ink color was a steal gray to add a softness to the invitation.”

Did you Incorporate Personal Details?

“On the wedding day, we offered sunglasses for our guests to wear during the ceremony. They were looking directly into the sun, so we wanted to protect their eyes. We also offered flip-flops for anyone who wanted to swap out their high heels while dancing.Before the wedding, we had welcome bags for all of the guests. We included snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, Advil, and pashminas for the women. The welcome bag also included a packet of information that was tied together by a navy blue ribbon. The packet highlighted my colors, with navy blue writing and coral art images. The informational packet included a note thanking our guests for attending, the wedding schedule, activities in Deer Valley, and our contact information. However, the most important sheets in the packet included a list of the entire wedding party and how we knew each person.”

Where did you find inspiration?

“Mostly from my sister. I also used Pinterest and ideas from my friend’s wedding.”

Three things you’re glad about:

1. Included all of my best friends as my bridesmaids, which made for a large number, so we hired extra artists for hair and make-up.

2. Allowing more free time for everyone in the morning.

3. I am glad that I waited until the ceremony to see the groom!

Anything you wish you hadn’t done?

“Rushed the photos of the Groom and I after the wedding.”

What was the best piece of wedding advice you got?

“Remember why you are doing this – to marry your best friend and man of your dreams. Keep your sights on that and let everything else fall into place.”

What family, cultural, ethnic, or other traditions did you follow?

“The only tradition we followed was to wait until the ceremony to see each other.   It was definitely more emotional, but well worth it. The decision was made by the groom who thought it was bad luck to see each other before the ceremony.”

How was your wedding different than you imagined?

“It was pretty much the day I had imagined. But to be honest, I was way more nervous than I had expected.”

Advice for Future Brides?

“I highly recommend eating dinner separately before you and your husband enter the reception. Once you have been introduced and had your first dance, everyone wants to talk to you. It is nearly impossible to eat or drink anything. Also, if you are at a friend’s wedding and see something you like, take a photo or the actual item (i.e. wedding program). Do this even if you are not planning a wedding.”

Tell us about the Decor

“I wanted the beauty of Utah to shine through along with bright beautiful flowers. I envisioned three different floral arrangements on the different tables, one small, medium, and large. It was also important that the flowers on the table did not block the guests from one another while they enjoyed their dinner. I wanted flowers that made a statement as the guests entered the tent; we chose large vases overflowing with white flowers. To let Utah’s beauty be seen, we rented a clear tent and used dry hops as a way to hide the beams on the side. It turned out to be beautiful.”

How did you Choose Your Vendors?

“I used vendors the St. Regis Hotel recommended for the most part. I also choose vendors that other vendors recommended.”

Which Caterer did you use and what Food was Served?

“We used The St. Regis Hotel as our caterer and for the appetizers menu we had watermelon and feta cheese with strawberry balsamic sauce; short rib crostini; shrimp cocktail.  For the reception menu they served caesar salad; herb glazed heirloom carrots, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, local trout, organic chicken breast and roasted Angus sirloin.”

Favorite part of the menu: “Our signature cocktail, created by the St. Regis Hotel and approved by the Groom and I.”

Describe your Wedding Cake

“I found the inspiration for my cake by looking on Pinterest. I wanted textured icing, or soft lines of icing, all around the cake. I also envisioned flowers on each layer of the cake; however, not large enough to distract from the textured lines.”

Wedding Favors for Guests: “Cookies in the shape of a pig”

First Dance Song: ‘The Very Thought of You’ by Albert King”