Wedding at the Orem temple in Utah
The Temple Exit
Mia and Sam’s wedding day at the Orem Utah Temple was extra special, and their story with me started long before their wedding day! Mia served in the same mission as my husband, so through all the mission friends we hang out with, they heard about me through the grapevine. When they reached out about their wedding photography, it felt like the perfect fit! We even got to take their bridals together beforehand, and it was nothing short of magical.
One of my favorite parts of their wedding day was seeing Mia’s wedding dress for the first time! She decided to keep her dress a secret, so no one got to see it until she and Sam exited the temple after their sealing. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait!
Fun fact: Mia’s dress was nothing like she originally imagined wearing. She thought she would end up in a clean, fitted satin dress, but instead fell in love with a gown featuring delicate floral details, a full, voluminous skirt, and the prettiest puff sleeves. I love when a bride finds a dress that feels completely different from what she expected but ends up being so her!
Her veil was just as meaningful, too. Instead of a traditional veil, Mia wore a beautiful bow made by her mom! It was such a sweet, personal detail that made her wedding look even more special. Seeing all these little pieces come together as Mia and Sam walked out of the temple as husband and wife was the perfect way to begin their wedding day!
Family Photos
In my professional opinion, the Orem Utah Temple is one of the best temples for wedding photos! One of my favorite things about this location is that the temple exit is around the back, which means we're not competing with guests coming in and out of the temple while taking photos. The stairs are also right there, making it easy to organize large family groups without having to walk far. For smaller group photos, we can move closer to the exit doors, where there's beautiful shade during the middle of the day and gorgeous stained glass that complements so many wedding color palettes.
For Mia and Sam's wedding, we had a little surprise drizzle! We moved under the awning as quickly as we could to keep everyone out of the rain, and thankfully, it eventually passed. The cloud coverage actually gave us the most beautiful, soft lighting for family photos, and the skies cleared just in time for their bridals. Sometimes a little unpredictable weather makes for the dreamiest photos!
Sam's side of the family brought a special opportunity to put my Spanish-speaking skills to use! Having served my mission in California, Anaheim, I got to brush up on my Spanish while helping everyone feel comfortable and making sure we got all the family combinations we needed. Sam's family has ties to Mexico, and while some relatives speak English, others, including his grandparents, primarily speak Spanish. I love being able to connect with family members in their own language and help everyone feel included in the excitement of the day.
On Mia's side, we moved through the family photos quickly, leaving plenty of time to capture some extra-special moments with Mia and her mom. Mia's dad passed away many years ago, which made these photos together especially meaningful. Wedding days are full of excitement, but they also hold so much love and emotion for the people who have shaped a couple's lives. I'm always grateful when I can help preserve those family connections in a way they'll be able to look back on for years to come.
Colorful Bridal Party Photos
Mia and Sam’s Orem Utah Temple wedding had some of my favorite bridal party photos! The colors were absolutely POPPING against the temple’s beautiful stained glass, and I couldn’t get enough of how everything came together. If you’re planning a fall wedding and want to incorporate color while keeping your wedding day feeling elevated and timeless, Mia’s bridal party is the perfect inspiration!
Mia chose a gorgeous fall color palette featuring oranges, pinks, yellows, greens, and blues for her bridesmaids’ dresses. She was going for an elevated fall look, and she hit the nail on the head!
One of my favorite things about photographing weddings at the Orem Utah Temple is how beautifully the architecture and stained glass complement different wedding color palettes. Whether you’re planning a classic, neutral wedding or dreaming of a colorful fall celebration like Mia and Sam’s, the temple offers such a beautiful backdrop for wedding party portraits.
Of course, we had to get some photos of the groomsmen, too! Sam’s crew showed up ready to celebrate and hype him up on his big day. They wore red ties, which paired perfectly with the colorful bridesmaids.
Temple Bridals
After wrapping up family and bridal party photos, we had plenty of time left to focus on just Mia and Sam! From the moment they exited the temple to the very last bridal party photo, we finished all the group photos in under an hour. I always love when we can keep family photos running smoothly because it leaves us more time for those just-married portraits and maybe even gets you to lunch a little early.
We started at the back of the temple, where we'd already been taking photos, and slowly made our way toward where we had parked. For their bridals, I photographed a mix of digital and film images to give them a little variety in their final gallery. I love the way digital photography captures all the little expressions and in-between moments, while film adds that nostalgic, timeless feel that makes wedding photos feel like keepsakes. Paired with the Orem Temple's beautiful architecture and Mia's gorgeous wedding dress, it made for such a dreamy collection of portraits!
One of my favorite things about taking bridal portraits at the temple is that we don't have to rush through every moment. Once the family and bridal party photos are finished, we can slow down, let the newlyweds enjoy being together, and capture a few quiet moments as husband and wife before the rest of the celebration begins.
