Only Two People in the Room

This summer wedding in Utah will have you believing in love again, right down to the movie-like moments of their love story.

Summer and Austin first crossed paths in 2016 during their sophomore year at the University of Nevada, Reno. After a brief introduction at a party, Austin took a risk and asked Summer out for coffee, but Summer put the date on hold for months. It wasn’t until the very end of the school year that they finally went out. And from there, sparks flew. It was a real romance movie meet-cute.

But soon after, summer break separated them—Summer headed back to Vegas, and Austin to Utah.

It was during that summer that Austin transferred to BYU for football, meaning he would stay there for the next few years. Luckily, they remained in touch, and two years later, Austin invited Summer to be his date for his father’s wedding at the stunning La Caille in Salt Lake City, a place that would soon hold even more significance.

“When I saw him walk down the aisle as the best man, it was like no time had passed,” Summer says. It was like a movie scene, the moment when they rekindled their spark.

After that whirlwind 24 hours in Utah, the two were inseparable, even though they were physically separated by miles. They navigated two years of long-distance, with Summer in Vegas, and Austin at BYU, until January 2020, when Summer made the leap and moved to Utah.

And in November 2022, Austin proposed, bringing their full-circle love story closer to its beautiful conclusion—a summer wedding at La Caille in Utah, the very same spot where they rekindled their connection.

Wedding Day Jitters

After nearly two years of planning, Summer and Austin’s wedding arrived on a perfect July day, almost seven years to the date of that movie moment at Austin’s dad’s wedding.

The couple kicked off the morning in an unconventional but sweet way. They broke tradition and spent the night before their wedding together, but it was exactly what they both needed—helping Summer feel at ease.

“I was anxious and excited with jitters up until the morning of, and then the morning came and we did breakfast and had coffee and opened up gifts that we bought for each other, so I felt like that really helped me start off the day on the right foot. Once I got to the bridal suite and started getting ready with all the bridesmaids and my mom, I felt so calm and tranquil.”

Brides, if you need to break tradition to help calm your nerves, take Summer’s advice and do it!

Meanwhile, Austin was an emotional wreck—nervous, excited, and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the day. “I’ve never been an overly emotional person, but that day, it all hit me. We were planning it for a little over a year and a half, so the anticipation was just crazy.”

Summer was able to calm down, just as Austin’s nerves were ramping up!

Walking Down the Aisle

When the time came to walk down the aisle, Austin was already teary-eyed, seeing Summer in her gown for the first time. “That day was really, really emotional for me. When I saw her walk down the aisle, seeing her in her dress for the first time, it was just amazing, and everything that followed was perfect.”

And we can agree enthusiastically that their day was absolutely perfect, in every single detail.

The ceremony, officiated by Austin’s father, was deeply personal. With family and friends gathered around, Summer and Austin exchanged vows that left everyone—including their string quartet—emotional. “The vows that we did were amazing; that was probably my favorite part. It’s a vulnerable moment, you’re standing up in front of everyone, but it was like it was just me and Summer talking.”

The vulnerability and honesty in their vows made the moment even more powerful. Summer said that they questioned whether or not they would do private vows, but ultimately they decided to keep it traditional. “This is really what everyone’s here for—this is how we wanted our wedding to be, and we felt like everyone there was close enough to us to hear more of the vulnerable side to our relationship.”

“The moment of actually reading them out loud was just so special, and it almost felt like everything around us was completely silent, and I just was there with him.”

Summer and Austin’s incredibly special ceremony was the perfect example of being so in love that you feel like you’re the only two people in the room. Another moment that feels right out of a movie scene!

Rock Your Summer Wedding Reception

One of the most special moments came during the reception when Summer surprised her mom by presenting her with the bridal bouquet. “It was such a sweet way to honor my mom, and she was completely caught off guard.”

But the surprises didn’t stop there… Summer’s reception dress was a nod to family history, a reimagined version of her mother’s wedding gown from the early ‘90s. “I turned it into a mini dress for the reception. It was such a fun way to pay homage to her wedding day.”

They even had a choreographed first dance! Turns out it’s completely possible for a football player to work the dance floor.

The night ended with the perfect party vibes, thanks to their DJ, Cooper Brown, who extended his set by two hours to keep the dance floor alive. “It was great that we could keep dancing and keep the party going, because we didn’t want it to end!”

And of course, no summer wedding would be complete without a furry friend—Summer and Austin’s dog made a special appearance as their ring bearer. Couldn’t you just weep for days over his little doggy tux?

The day was full of love—not just between Summer and Austin, but from every single guest who made the effort to travel from near and far to celebrate with them. “It was like the universe conspired to give us this perfect day. It was everything we’d dreamed of and more.”

At the end of the night, Summer and Austin shared one last dance surrounded by their favorite people—and of course, their four-legged ring bearer. From that first coffee date to their full-circle summer wedding day at La Caille, this bride and groom proved that some love stories really are like the movies.