Dream Big, Then Go Bigger: An Opulent Black and White Utah Wedding

Originally from Chicago, Morgan and Evan met on a rooftop in their home city. They had both recently experienced a profound loss of a loved one in their lives: Morgan, her twin brother, and Evan, his mother. In a time of grief, they were able to connect and help one another through.

“We were very careful not to meet and bond over the grief, but more the light and joy and purpose of really moving forward in our lives.”

For Morgan, “Evan’s sense of humor, confidence, and patience made me feel safe and soft once again.” And for Evan, “Morgan’s sense of adventure, infectious smile, and determination left a lasting impression. We found light, joy, and hope in each other.”

From Chicago to Utah

After inheriting her brother’s Utah-based company, Morgan and Evan’s relationship faced a crossroads when Morgan was accepted into the Master Business Creation program at the University of Utah. And Evan decided to follow Morgan to Utah.

“While I was in school, he really had the chance to explore Utah, meet people, and grow his own company, Vidzual Media. By the time I was getting ready to graduate, we saw enough opportunity here. We decided to stay in Utah. Very unexpected, I think, for both of us and our family, especially coming from Chicago. We started the journey together, and got engaged a couple of years later.”

And their engagement was a surprise birthday party for Evan, planned by Morgan (or so she thought), but it turned out to be a surprise for Morgan instead when Evan proposed!

Timeless Elegance Yin and Yang

As they jumped into planning their black and white Utah wedding, they knew they wanted their colors to be black and white, not only because it’s so perfectly elegant, but because it’s the perfect representation of who they are.

“We wanted our wedding to be uniquely about us and who we are. We are part classic, part elegant; we are also part turn-up. And we wanted a day that represented us both in wholes.”

“We wanted timeless elegance for our wedding, and the black and white aesthetic did just that. Additionally, just as black and white are two opposing forces that complement and balance each other, so too do Evan and I. In a lot of ways, that’s kind of how we are: we’re black and white in personality, but we are also each other’s yin and yang. We balance each other quite a bit.”

And not only was every black and white detail perfect, from the guests’ attire to the florals and everything in between, but their black and white Utah wedding day was a beautiful and sentimental celebration of their perfectly balanced love story.

Unique Ceremony Moments

And not only was every black and white detail perfect, from the guests’ attire to the florals, but their wedding day was a sentimental celebration of their perfectly balanced love story, with live piano music accompanying the bride down the aisle and a live choir serenading everyone after the ceremony! And that’s just the beginning of their unique wedding moments.

“Everybody came from different directions; the pastor came from the east staircase, the family came from the middle, then my dad and I came from the west staircase.”

And then came the moment everyone was waiting for: Morgan walking down the aisle. “I came down with my dad, and we had to master not tripping on the dress coming downstairs.” With a ballgown as gorgeous as hers, it’s a feat of excellence to get down the aisle gracefully. And of course, she did it perfectly.

Another unique detail they incorporated down the aisle was giving Morgan’s mom an opportunity to see the bride before anyone else. “My mom was asked to stand and see my father and me coming down the aisle before anyone else as a show of gratitude and respect.”

And it was just as sentimental as you can imagine. “It was both overwhelming and beautiful to see so many of our family members in one place, to watch us have our union.”

Marriage is a Community Effort

As Morgan and Evan said their vows to each other, they involved their 200 guests in their vows with them. “We had a community vow, which I remember being really beautiful, where all of our family and friends acknowledged that a union is more than just between us, but it’s the joining of families and two communities together. Our marriage is a community effort.”

From the ceremony to the end of the night, live music accompanied every moment, starting with a grand piano and a violin as Morgan’s father gave her away, and moving into live vocals from a flash mob choir after they said I do. Not only was their ceremony visually stunning, but it sounded just as magical.

Magical and Moody Reception

As they headed to the reception at the Hyatt, the party only continued to get bigger and better. And they kept the live music theme going throughout the night as Evan serenaded his new wife with a keytar and sunglasses.

“I had the honor to get serenaded live by my now husband; he played the keytar and sang a song called ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You.’ That was incredibly special.”

Just like their ceremony had its own unique elements incorporated, the reception was the same. Instead of a typical first dance as they were introduced, they showed a pre-recorded music video.

“We were introduced by a music video that we created and recorded prior to the wedding; the essence of the wedding was very classical, elegant, and timeless, which blended into a very fun party at the Hyatt, and the music video represented that. We had a lot of fun recording the video. I would highly recommend to anybody to have a wedding music video. Best thing ever. So much fun. Live out all your fantasies for your wedding.”

The music video itself used songs they both loved. “Because Evan is a visual artist master, and we just had to do things a little differently, we chose the instrumental of a rap song. The song begins with a sample of the 1963 Brazilian song, “Serenata do Adeus” by Elza Laranjeira, then when the beat drops, dons the beat of 21 Savage. It was the perfect song to represent both the classy nature and absolute fun that represent us!”

Monograms and Man Decorations

When your black and white Utah wedding is as high-end and elegant as Morgan and Evan’s, a custom monogram is a requirement. “Evan and his company created a customized logo for the wedding, which was on the dance floor and behind the bridal table.” Between the monogram and the insane florals, their moody reception was beyond stunning and of course, magazine-worthy.

But the flowers and sparkle weren’t the only decorations of note; they included luxury cars for even more elegance. “We had ‘girl decorations,’ AKA flowers and candles, then we had ‘man decorations,’ so we had a Mercedes and Aston Martin brought in to match the wedding aesthetic, but then also as a kind of fun activity for people to get in, and take pictures of the cars.”

Who says you can’t bring in a few luxury vehicles to your wedding as decor?

Dream Big, Then Go Bigger

When it came to picking a favorite moment from their wedding day, Morgan couldn’t choose just one. “The whole day was just extraordinary. I think we really intentionally planned a day that would go above and beyond expectations. That’s kind of who we are as people; we like to go big, and then go bigger than that. From the flash mob choir, the wedding music video, to serenades, all of it, it was quite an incredible day.”

Morgan’s advice matches exactly what they did when they were planning their wedding: go big.

“Be you, and be as different as you need to be. That really set the tone for our marriage; no matter what you’re trying to do or be, or accomplish, it’s not so much about how it’s going to happen, but what you want to do and how you actually make that happen, together. We got real creative, really used the community in different and unique ways.”

And their vendors were a huge part of making those big dreams come true. “I’m sure some of our vendors were overwhelmed. But I think by us leaning into our big dream, we allowed other people to do that as well.”

With one look at these photos, it’s easy to take inspiration from Morgan and Evan and dream big for your own black and white Utah wedding day. Not only that, but every beautiful detail represents how much they love each other, and that’s what it’s all about. If you’re looking for your own black and white, timeless elegance wedding inspo, start right here!