LDS Wedding Reception in Heber City, Utah
The Details
Maranda and Kaleb’s wedding details were intentional, beautiful, and so much fun to photograph! Every little piece felt personal to them while tying together the green, blue, and yellow colors of their wedding.
For her jewelry, Maranda wore a gold forget-me-not flower necklace paired with beautiful dangly earrings. A pop of yellow peeked out from beneath her dress in the form of low, strappy heels that tied in perfectly with the wedding colors!
One of my favorite details was a small gold mirror decorated with their last name and wedding date. It’s something they plan to keep in their future home, making it both a beautiful wedding detail and a meaningful keepsake from their day.
Kaleb’s details tied everything together, too! His boutonniere featured flowers from Maranda’s bouquet, and his green floral tie coordinated with the groomsmen’s looks. I love when couples incorporate thoughtful details like these to make their wedding day feel uniquely theirs!
An Iconic Wedding Reception
(and a Surprise Haircut!)
Maranda and Kaleb’s wedding reception in Heber City was iconic from the very beginning! After getting sealed in the Manti Utah Temple earlier that morning, they headed into the evening with a surprise that nobody saw coming: Maranda chopped her hair!
Maranda had worn her long, beautiful brown hair for years, and she had it styled that way for her sealing that morning. But in between the temple and the reception, one of her bridesmaids, who happens to be a hairstylist, gave her a whole new look! She surprised everyone with her fresh, shorter haircut, and she looked absolutely amazing. Honestly, it made me want to go back to my own short-hair era!
The Dances
After about an hour of mingling, enjoying yummy s’mores and cake, it was time for the happy couple to take to the dance floor! They started with a mother-son dance and a father-daughter dance, both such sweet moments to watch. The mother-son dance especially brought almost everyone to tears, and seeing the mother of the groom get emotional made it even more touching!
For their first dance together as husband and wife, Maranda and Kaleb danced to “Perfect” barefoot in the grass, just as the song says! It was playful, romantic, and such a sweet moment to capture. I can only imagine how precious it will be for them to hear that song years from now and remember dancing barefoot together on their wedding day.
Dance Party
Then came one of my absolute favorite parts of any wedding day: the dance party! I’m a firm believer that the best dance floors are the ones where everyone lets loose, sings at the top of their lungs, and forgets about everything else for a little while. You’ll rarely find me leaving the dance floor! I’m right there with my trusty camera in hand, capturing all the candid moments while singing along to just about every song. For me, it’s one of the best ways to celebrate alongside my couples and bond with their guests while documenting all the fun as it unfolds.
And this dance party did not disappoint! Everyone kicked off their shoes and danced the night away, with so much cheering and singing that we could literally hear our screams echoing off the nearby forest. The bride and groom wore “Bride” and “Groom” sunglasses, adding a little bit of extra fun! Halfway through the party, the bride even passed her sunglasses off to the flower girl, who got her own little moment in the spotlight! While mostly just friends of the couple, the mother of the groom and her friends joined the party, too, making the dance floor a mix of generations all celebrating together.
The Send Off
After an epic dance party, it was time for the grand send-off! Once the bridal party gave us the word that the getaway car was decorated and ready to go, I gathered everyone together and lined the guests up in a tunnel, ready to send the newlyweds off in style. We passed out the sparklers, got everyone into position, and prepared for one last magical moment! I absolutely love when couples choose a sparkler send-off. There’s something so fun about ending the night surrounded by all your favorite people, with the warm glow of sparklers lighting the way as you head into married life. It makes for such a dreamy ending to an already unforgettable day!
A Little Tip for Sparkler Send-Offs!
Sparklers burn out much faster than you might expect! I recommend getting all your guests lined up, making sure the couple and getaway car are ready, and having someone coordinate the timing before lighting anything. That way, everyone is in place, the sparklers are glowing, and you can make the most of those few magical minutes. Trust me, a little preparation makes all the difference in capturing that perfect send-off!