
Gabby Menlove & Sam Barlow | Jul 19, 2024
Anyone who has ever seen the stunning views and jaw-dropping backdrops at River Bottoms Ranch knows that it’s a dream come true in venue form for any wedding. For Gabby and Sam, not only was it the location of their Midway Utah wedding, but the start of an incredibly magical wedding planning process from the very beginning.
Just looking at these photos is a dream come true for us!
Gabby and Sam’s love story began two years ago when Gabby’s best friend played matchmaker. “We met through my best friend, who is married to his cousin, so she introduced us. She was dating her now-husband, and he was playing on the same soccer team as Sam,” Gabby recalls.
After a magical engagement in November 2023, Gabby and Sam began planning their dream wedding for July 18th, 2024, with a reception and celebration at River Bottoms Ranch following on July 19th.
Gabby, with the help of her mom and her previous experience with her sisters’ weddings, jumped right into planning. “I have two older sisters, and they both got married before me. So, my mom knew for sure she wanted a planner because she was sick of being the planner herself.”
Their dream Midway Utah wedding venue came with their very own built-in wedding planner. “It was great. It made everything so easy.”
Love at First Sight: Discovering River Bottoms Ranch
Gabby initially considered venues in Salt Lake City, but her sister suggested exploring a gorgeous place in the heart of Midway.
The bride-to-be and her mom decided to visit River Bottoms Ranch, and the moment she saw it, she knew it was the one. The venue’s indoor-outdoor flexibility, breathtaking views, and the expertise of Hailey Bonny, the venue’s in-house wedding planner, sealed the deal.
“As soon as we drove in, we were just like, ‘This is perfect.’ I think my mom literally got out her phone and contacted River Bottoms Ranch, and then within a week, we met Hailey and started the planning.”
Like Gabby’s mom, we all know that having a wedding planner can make all the difference in your big day, easing the stress and creating an environment where you can enjoy the wedding planning process—and it’s even better when your planner is the expert on absolutely everything at your venue.
RBR’s In-House Wedding Planner
“It was so nice—Hailey herself is just so nice. She became a really good friend. My mom wasn’t stressed, which made me not stressed. She made it more of a fun planning experience rather than a panic. Hailey knew a lot about the venue. I felt very at home, like planning a party with my friends and family at our ranch. It was a very nice experience.”
Gabby and Sam had a nine-month engagement, but Hailey was so on top of the planning that almost everything was coordinated before the end of 2023.
“At first, based on how we planned my sisters’ weddings, we only planned stuff when we absolutely had to. So, when Hailey said, ‘Alright, I’m your wedding planner! Who do you want for your photographer?’ we were kind of like, ‘Oh, already?’”
Gabby wondered if they really needed to worry about it so soon. “But Hailey made it so easy, sending friendly reminders like, ‘Hey, I promise if you get it done now, you’ll thank me later.’”
“By December of 2023—just a month after we got engaged—we had gotten a big chunk of it done because of her. She told us, ‘You’re going to want to enjoy it when it gets closer to the wedding, so let’s do stuff now.’ It turned out to be really good advice!”
Perks of a Planner
Gabby’s favorite part of the wedding planning process was that Hailey was able to communicate with the vendors for her. “We felt like we knew Hailey, so we felt comfortable just going to her with questions and then she could get it done quickly and professionally.”
“When it came down to picking the flowers or the cake, it was nice to feel like I could talk to Hailey about what I like and what would be a good idea. It was nice being like, ‘Hailey, knowing what I want for my wedding, what do you think?’”
“You could run ideas by her, and you didn’t have to deal with a million emails from other vendors. It was super nice knowing that when in doubt, we could just send Hailey a quick email.”
Gabby got all of her dream vendors without having to do all the hard work of finding them herself! When it comes to River Bottoms Ranch, they know how to get it done—and do it magically.
Vows and Views: A Magical Midway Ring Ceremony
Gabby and Sam split their celebrations into two unforgettable days. On July 18th, they tied the knot in an intimate LDS ceremony at the Draper Temple, followed by a cozy rehearsal dinner—and then July 19th was the ultimate party.
Gabby, her bridesmaids, and the mothers of the bride and groom enjoyed a relaxed morning getting ready together, while Sam spent time with his groomsmen in the groom’s room—complete with video games.
“It was really relaxing, and it was nice because we had broken it up into two days. By that point, I was already actually married, which is kind of funny. But it was nice knowing I was already married, so I could just enjoy the wedding day stuff.”
The day featured stunning details, from a heartfelt ring ceremony—Gabby’s favorite part—to a seated dinner and an open reception.
“We both knew when we got engaged that we wanted to put a lot of emphasis on the ring ceremony because we could have more friends and family there than we had in the temple. We did vows, and it was my little girl dream come true. I walked down the aisle with my dad, and it was all so magical. The view at River Bottoms was stunning—it felt like I was in a movie. The ring ceremony was definitely the best part.”
For Gabby, it was the smaller details that made her Midway Utah wedding all the more magical.
Every Detail Matters In a Dream Midway Utah Wedding
“I think you always hear how stressful wedding planning is, and there is going to be stress—even with a planner. But I didn’t expect how many little things would stress me out.”
While Hailey and the team at River Bottoms Ranch took care of the big things and the coordination, it was the small decisions that Gabby got caught on. “At the end of the day, I’m glad I gave my opinion and spent time thinking about them. It made it into my dream wedding.”
Details like her dreamy flowers—and the slide show sent from her florist with the smallest variations between designs—are what made Gabby’s dreams come to life.
“I almost said, ‘Whatever you want,’ which would have been beautiful, but my mom told me to just sit down and think about it. Even though it felt overwhelming to say, ‘Oh, I like slide A and slide three—let’s combine those,’ it was so worth it when I saw everything put together. It turned out exactly how I wanted!”
Remember Your “Why”
When reflecting on the wedding planning journey, Gabby encourages other couples to focus on their “why.”
“Remember why you’re getting married,” she says. “It seems like such an obvious thing to say, but sometimes you get caught up in the planning and forget. It was sweet when we did stuff together, but even when we weren’t, it was nice to remember why I cared about the details. It made the whole process more special and less stressful.”
Gabby and Sam’s wedding at River Bottoms Ranch was a beautiful blend of thoughtful details and moments that felt straight out of a dream. From the seamless planning with Hailey to the picture-perfect Midway Utah wedding backdrop, their celebration was a reflection of their love and vision brought to life.
With every detail—big and small—falling perfectly into place, Gabby and Sam created a day to cherish forever—and we’re definitely cherishing it too. Their story is proof that with the right venue, a stellar planning team, and a focus on what truly matters, your dream wedding can come to life in a magical way!
Contact River Bottoms Ranch to bring your own dream wedding to life!
Planner : Hailey Bonny
Venue : River Bottoms Ranch
Photography : Ashlee Brooke Photography
Videography : Kale Fitch Films
Florals : Lizy Bowden Floral
Hair : Kali Chris Hair & Makeup
Makeup : Kristen Packard Artistry
Dress & Veil : Alta Moda Bridal
Cake : Flour & Flourish
Food : Culinary Crafts
DJ : Rob Bennion Music