Once Upon a Dream

When you can’t elope, a Utah micro wedding is arguably better, and this dreamy wedding is proof of that.

Sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that grow slowly over time, like Anika and TJ’s. These two have known each other since seventh grade, attending the same school all the way through high school. It wasn’t until their senior year, amidst the chaos of the 2020 pandemic, that they became close friends.

With lots of free time and endless hangouts, their friendship bloomed into something more. But their story took a slight pause when TJ left to serve a two-year mission. And yes, you guessed it; Anika waited for him. When TJ returned, their love story led to a whirlwind engagement and an intimate Utah micro wedding they will never forget.

Their wedding day was exactly as they wanted; a small, personal affair with a few perfectly imperfect moments that made it even more memorable. When you can’t quite have an elopement, a Utah micro wedding is arguably even better. And we’ve never seen one as stunning as this one.

Begin with Bridals

The day began with a bridal shoot at a beautiful Utah reservoir, about 30 minutes away from their venue, the Commercial Club in Salt Lake City. Anika gave TJ his ring during their first look, a special moment between the two of them that set the romantic and intimate tone for the day.

And TJ’s reaction to seeing his bride-to-be was the highlight of the day! “You’d expect the guy to turn around and be all emotional, but I was just in shock. But it was perfect. I was like, ‘Wow, this is my wife.’”

And we can’t even blame him. The first time we saw those pictures, we were in shock too. “And her dress was really beautiful, nothing like the way that I had expected it. That was probably my favorite part of the whole day.” Those ruffles have us on the floor, and that bow detail is to die for. TJ may have been shocked, but we’re downright unwell.

Running Late

After their first look in the Utah mountains, they headed straight for their ceremony…an hour late.

“We booked it to the wedding venue. I remember the second we got there, the music was playing.” They may have been running late, but you can be when it’s your wedding day. We’re all about taking those few extra moments to enjoy one another’s company. And it just so happened that they had a photographer to capture it all. We’re not mad about it.

One of the funniest moments from their day was thanks to a mother-of-the-bride DJ. “My mom was the DJ for the day. After we kissed, the music didn’t start right away, so I had to remind her to hit play, and then she played the wrong song!” But everyone laughed, the right song was eventually played, and Anika and TJ walked back down the aisle with laughs.

From starting an hour late to a music hiccup during the ceremony, these little moments became cherished memories. Anika’s dad officiated the ceremony, making it extra special for her. “It was so fun because he officiated my sister’s wedding, too.” It was a full-circle moment for their family.

More Utah Micro Wedding Moments

But that’s not even all of the drama. “My sister accidentally stepped on my veil, and TJ was about to hand me a gift when it got caught on her shoe. We redid it, and it was hilarious and perfect in its own way.”

When you have unexpected moments like this on your wedding day, it just adds to the fond memories of the day. “Not everything was perfectly smooth, but it turned out great. I wouldn’t change it. I feel like it made it a lot more intimate and more fun.”

After the ceremony, Anika and TJ signed their marriage license, took some more photos, and sat down to enjoy some incredible food. But when it came to the cake, let’s just say they’re still dreaming about it.

“The cake cutting was another fun part because it was really good. We didn’t have any more cake after, and we were really bummed. I guess they cut the cake up and they served it to everyone, but we forgot to ask for someone to save us some more. We were so sad that we forgot to grab some, but it was a really good cake.”

They might have to ask for another one for their anniversary! Someone get Cakes By Kenn on the phone. We have to try this cake for ourselves.

Micro Wedding Music

When it came time for their first dance, the song choice was deeply meaningful to both Anika and TJ. They danced to Pioneers by For King & Country. “It’s a song that reminded us of being together after my mission, and it felt like the perfect choice for us.”

But that’s not even the only amazing musical moment from the day. Anika’s walk down the aisle was equally sentimental. “I really love the song I walked down the aisle to because it was also a special song for us.” She chose Lana Del Rey’s version of Once Upon a Dream. How dreamy and perfect is that? There isn’t a better song choice to perfectly match the vibe of this romantic micro wedding.

“Seeing TJ at the end of the aisle was really fun; just him smiling, and then once the ceremony started, looking out and seeing all my family there watching us, just the whole ceremony, I would say, was my favorite because it hit me that that’s when it became official.”

A Wedding Photographer Gets Married

Anika and TJ knew they wanted a small, intimate wedding, we’re talking elopement small, even if it meant balancing family expectations. As a wedding photographer herself, Anika knew exactly what she wanted at her wedding when the time came around.

“Photographing weddings, I just really wanted an elopement.” But elopements can be hard when your moms want to be there.

“The wedding was like a sort of elopement, but it also had some characteristics of a normal wedding. I just wanted it to be more intimate, and I wanted it to be about us.”

Looking back on their wedding, Anika and TJ have some solid advice for future couples. “Make sure the wedding is uniquely yours. There will be a lot of opinions, but in the end, it’s your day, and it should feel like it.”

Anika added a helpful tip for brides. “Be there when they’re setting up, or at least have someone who knows your vision completely. I had decorations that didn’t end up getting used, and I wish I had been there to make sure everything was exactly how I imagined.”

After their Utah micro wedding, Anika and TJ jetted off to Italy for their honeymoon, where they continued to capture beautiful moments, this time as newlyweds. If you can’t elope to Italy, just honeymoon there for a month! While their wedding may have flown by in the blink of an eye, the love and memories they created will last a lifetime. Especially thanks to these stunning pictures. We’ll be drooling at these forever!