nate + teresa

snowpine lodge, alta, utah

well, here’s one of my favorite weddings and favorite couples from 2019. these two have a love that is unmatched. i feel like that says a lot given that i spend most of my weekends (and lots o’ weekdays) as a third wheel with couples – going on adventures, hiking, photographing their ceremonies on cliff edges, etc. you get to know people in these situations, it’s just inevitable. these are emotional, vulnerable situations and it truly shows you who people are. it’s something i love so, so much about photographing couples, especially on their wedding days. and all i can say is that these two are sincerely, wholeheartedly, madly in love. they deserve every damn good thing this world has to offer.

here’s a quick little story that i think demonstrates how kind they are: wedding days can get busy (duh). it’s often really hard for the folks working at weddings to grab a bite to eat at dinner time. there are speeches to photograph and first dances to document, and i sure as hell don’t want to miss a thing. when everyone was seated for dinner i was still in the dining room, taking a few detail shots, when nate came up to me and said, “the vendor meal will be ready really soon, you should go eat!” and then he started to walk away, but paused and said, “i’m sorry, i just feel so weird calling you a vendor, you’re more of a friend.” i about started crying right then and there. those little things, those acknowledgements mean more than most can understand. i’ve photographed these two on three separate occasions now and i do feel like i can call them friends. i am absolutely okay being called a vendor, by definition that is what i am, but it is so much more than that, and to have someone recognize it, and say it, on their wedding day, is something i won’t ever forget.

thank you nate and teresa, for being your kind, loving selves always.

these two were married at snowpine lodge in alta, utah about a 20 minute drive up the canyon from salt lake city. i absolutely loved this hotel. it wasn’t too big and had a great boutique feel to it. everyone i encountered that worked there was kind and helpful, and the view was gorgeous. when you’re looking to spend a pretty good chunk of money on a venue, it helps to know that the planning team is there for you when you have questions, not matter what. they were very responsive when nate and teresa were trying to lock down a venue:

“We knew we wanted to have our wedding at a resort/some place that was an easy one-stop-shop for guests. At the end of the day, we were most impressed with Snowpine because the team there always responded within 48 hours, if not under 24 hours which was not a treatment we received elsewhere. Unlike other resorts, they also block out the entire grounds for you on your wedding day with your event deposit which we also really liked.”

here’s some great advice from these two to all of you planning weddings in the future:

“1. Don’t have too many cooks in the kitchen, but for the ones you do have, give them a job so they don’t give one to themselves

2. Do a first look!!! Bridals before or after the wedding is something I played around with for too long, and we’re so glad to have done them

3. Nobody will know the difference between your plan A and plan D

4. Hiring a week-of or day-of coordinator can be very helpful

5. Hire vendors you trust. I saved a big one for last. I’ve talked about this one with my recently-married friends and my newly engaged friends a lot and is usually what I lead with if I get asked for any advice. Friends of mine who have hired #1 rated, top tier and top dollar vendors have told me that they were generally happy with the results, but they wished that they worked with people who were more invested in them and less transactional. One of my bridesmaids told me the day after the wedding (ahem Emily): “I wish I hired someone like Emily because of how much she cares. I couldn’t get over watching her during your wedding and it was the cutest thing ever”. I’ve felt so, so lucky to work with some really incredible vendors (including you!!) that turned into my partners for that day. Of all the little bits to worry about, I was never worried for a second about anyone sticking to timeline, being around if I needed, and doing an incredible job on our wedding day. The day was even more special because of all of the hands involved, and I could feel how everyone cared as much as I did about their pieces in the wedding; it was really heartwarming and our friends and family could clearly see it too.”

i love these two. congratulations! also, i’ll be sharing their moab first look photos in a separate blog post because they’re that good – they need their own post.

day-of coordinator: brooke davenport

venue: snowpine lodge

dress: made with love

florals: beehive floral

HMUA: janelle ingram