It’s Magazine Monday — on a Tuesday! (Thanks, Thanksgiving.) But enjoy a glimpse at this winsome wedding from our 2021 glossy pages. Also, two words: FLOATING AISLE.
Alyssa Schwarz and Brandon Wardrop were both living at the same apartment complex in Provo when they each decided to go to a courtyard party. When they met, they were intrigued and impressed. She loved his charming sense of humor and he knew he wanted to date her from the moment he first saw her.
Their meant-to-be meeting led to a dreamy proposal. Alyssa and her sister, Hannah, were supposedly going to watch the Ski World Cup on a double date. Brandon told Alyssa to meet him at the St. Regis valet. After riding the funicular up to the hotel, Brandon led Alyssa over to the balcony where Alyssa saw lights, rose petals, and candles. “I felt Brandon’s palm pushing me toward the balcony and I said, ‘What are you doing?’” Alyssa says. “He said ‘I think you know what I’m doing’ and got down on one knee.”
Brandon and Alyssa got engaged in February 2020, right before the pandemic hit. They planned their entire wedding day celebration, and then their LDS temple date was cancelled. They changed their plans to an intimate civil ceremony on their original date. Later in August, they hosted a reception with family and friends.
The civil ceremony may not have been full of guests, but it was still important to Alyssa to make it special and beautiful. This is where Alyssa’s dad and brothers saved the day. She approached her dad about creating a floating aisle (!!) over her parents’ pool. “At first, my dad thought it would be too difficult, so I moved on from the idea,” Alyssa says. “Then a few days later, he came back and said if I wanted it, he would build it. I was shocked and wondered what had gotten into him. He had been watching ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and felt inspired by the gorgeous wedding in the movie.”
Alyssa’s brothers and fiancé spent a day in the pool creating a magical floating aisle made out of scaffolding, wood, fabric, and ribbon. “It was gorgeous and an even better family memory,” Alyssa says.
The Covid adjustments weren’t all bad. In fact, one of Alyssa’s favorite memories of her wedding was reading vows, which was not part of her original plan. “I never knew how emotional vows could be, but making promises to each other turned into the most magical few minutes,” she says. “Our families loved hearing our love for each other.”
Alyssa’s gown, impeccably made by Tommaso Cardullo, had the most grand and gorgeous veil — 8.5 feet of lace ombré perfection. “I truly felt like a bride every time I put it on,” Alyssa says. Her floral vision was full of layers and levels — pampas clouds hanging high, hydrangeas floating in the pool, and a circular backdrop covered in roses. The wedding was full of personal details — from the custom neon sign to the personalized Nutella favors. Alyssa and Brandon’s ceremony took place at the Schwarz’s home in May and the reception was hosted in August at the Wardrop’s home. Their love story is truly local — Alyssa grew up in Alpine and Brandon grew up in Provo. Today the couple live in American Fork.
COUPLE Alyssa Schwarz + Brandon Wardrop // PLANNING + FLORAL Cheryl Burke // BRIDALS + CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHY Aubree Belle Photography // AUGUST RECEPTION PHOTOGRAPHY Alora Lani Photography // VIDEOGRAPHY Russell Alboroto // DJ DJ PBABY (a #UVBvendor!) // GOWN Tommaso Cardullo // CATERING Utah Custom Catering // CAKE Julia Gwinn of Taylor Made Cake // HAIR Savannah Morris // MAKEUP Averie Bird // RINGS Custom Ring Design // PAPER SUITE Shine Wedding Invitations // PRINTS Persnickety Prints // RENTALS Diamond Event & Tent (a #UVBvendor!) + All Out Event Rental // LIGHTING Moon Light Holiday Lighting
PHOTOS BELOW BY Aubree Belle Photography
PHOTOS BELOW BY Alora Lani Photography
