Heartfelt Hydrangeas

Have you ever seen a more cover-worthy Utah mountain wedding? Staring at these photos all day simply isn’t enough, we had to have them staring back at us all year, which is why we chose it for one of our 2025 Utah Valley Bride magazine covers!

Sophie and Coulson’s love story goes way back. Like, carpooling-to-school-as-kids kind of back. They were once childhood neighbors, sharing rides to school until life took their families in different directions. Fast forward to their college years, where Sophie was studying at Stanford, while Coulson was at Harvard.

During the pandemic, Sophie took a gap year and moved to Boston for work, where she reconnected with Coulson through their church congregation. A friendship grew, leading to a slow-burn romance that turned into love across a thousand miles. Eventually, Coulson moved to California for Sophie, sealing their future together. And on New Year’s Day, Coulson popped the question, and Sophie said yes!

By the time July rolled around, it was time to say I do at a beautiful Utah mountain wedding, surrounded by loved ones who traveled from all over the world to celebrate with them.

Special Moments With Friends and Family From All Over

The festivities began with an intimate rehearsal dinner the night before their big day at Coulson’s parents’ house, where his mom, Tiffany, had planned a beautiful evening. “It was so special, such a sweet night.”

Their Utah mountain wedding day began bright and early, with Sophie prepping with her hair and makeup crew for a morning sealing ceremony. The temple ceremony itself was deeply meaningful, but what made it even more special was that friends and family who’d never been to a temple before came to support the newlyweds, waiting outside to greet them.

“We didn’t go to college in Utah so most of our friends were from outside of Utah. We had people from all over the country, all over the world come.”

The day before their wedding, many of their guests faced delayed or canceled flights due to the global IT outage, but somehow, almost everyone managed to arrive on time—a true wedding day miracle!

“It was so cool when Coulson and I came out of the temple, all of our really close friends and our families were there. All of our friends who were not familiar with our religion were there because we had really emphasized that it was so important to us. That was honestly one of the best parts of the day for me and Coulson. It was special.”

Utah Mountain Wedding Ring Ceremony

After the sealing, Sophie and Coulson parted ways for a few hours to get ready for the ring ceremony and reception. Sophie enjoyed some quality time with her bridesmaids, who got ready at her family home. She had put together sweet little gift boxes for each of them, complete with jewelry and shoes, adding a personal touch to the morning. “It was honestly such a nice, relaxing, fun time.”

To include friends and family who couldn’t attend the sealing, Sophie and Coulson hosted a ring ceremony at Sophie’s best friend Liberty’s house, which happened to be just down the street from her parents’, and where the reception was. The setting was beyond picturesque, with the Wasatch Mountains standing tall in the background and incredible florals framing the bride and groom.

While she was wedding planning, Sophie didn’t know if she wanted to have a ring ceremony at all. “We were already having a big wedding and I was kind of worried about going too over the top. But it was so perfect and so amazing. I 100% do not regret it—I think for any LDS bride, you should do that. It’s what you dream about when you’re a little girl and so being able to have that experience too, it’s really fun.”

And of course, we can’t forget to mention that stunning wedding dress straight out of our dreams. It’s giving modern princess meets chic fashionista in the very best way.

Bridal Party Parade

Afterward, the bridal party and guests led a parade down the street—yes, you read that right, a parade—to Sophie’s family home for the reception, led by Sophie and Coulson in a bride-ified golf cart. “It was the most beautiful golf cart you’ve ever seen.” Festooned with scalloped fabric and delicate blooms, it was a mini-parade of joy, setting the perfect tone for the celebration, we mean party, to come.

Who knew a wedding parade could be so much fun?

The reception was a dream and a half. Guests were first treated to a mocktail hour on the family’s tennis court, where Laurie, Sophie’s wedding planner (aka her “fairy godmother”), created a custom soda bar with playful drinks inspired by the couple’s favorites.

“We had the Dirty Diet Coke and the Founder drinks from Swig, but we called them different names, after Coulson and I. I was worried about the mocktail hour being too long, but it went by so fast. It was so nice just to be able to talk to everyone who came to support us. The mocktail hour was so beautiful.”

Before guests arrived, Laurie took Sophie, Coulson, and Sophie’s parents for a sneak peek at the reception setup. Sophie’s jaw dropped. “It was breathtaking. I feel so spoiled—I’m lucky that I got this wedding.”

Utah Mountain Wedding Reception with a Stunning Backdrop

The reception was held under a white, open-air structure that felt intimate for their guests as it framed the events of their Utah mountain wedding. “I couldn’t have dreamed of anything more beautiful.”

There were charming details everywhere, including tiny, rechargeable lamps that matched Sophie’s bridesmaids’ dresses—which were custom-made out of the most gorgeous fabric we’ve ever seen. After Sophie’s mom welcomed everyone with heartfelt words, and a prayer from her dad, guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner. The evening was filled with delicious food, laughter, and beautiful toasts.

“We had some of the yummiest food ever, and it went by super fast, but it was so fun because my entire bridal party took up one long table. The actual table setting was just gorgeous, and it was everything I could have ever asked for and more.”

It’s everything we could have asked for too!

And of Course, a Dance Party

After dinner, it was time for dancing! Sophie and Coulson’s first dance was to “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by James Taylor. Coulson and his mom danced to “What a Wonderful World,” while Sophie and her dad kept things lively by grooving to the Will Smith version of “Just the Two of Us”—a choice that delighted the live band, who had never been asked to perform the rap version! The father-daughter duo had even prepared some fun choreographed moves, making it a crowd favorite.

“They nailed it! Like the whole rap portion—everything!”

“It was so much fun—it went by so fast that I did not have a care in the world for anything else going on. I almost forgot to change into my dancing dress.”

When Sophie finally did change into her second dress, a custom gown adorned with delicate, sparkly hydrangeas (hand-sewn on by her grandmother), it was time to cut the cake. Hydrangeas, Sophie’s favorite flower, were subtly woven throughout the wedding decor—from the napkins to the menus to the wedding cake itself. And we’re going crazy for every hydrangea detail.

Savor Every Moment

The evening ended with a splash—literally. Coulson and his groomsmen jumped into the family pool as the night wound down. Sophie nearly joined, but her grandmother, who had lovingly sewn each hydrangea petal onto her dress, kept her on dry land. We’d like to personally thank her for that—protect those hydrangeas girl.

The evening closed with a sparkler send-off under a starry sky, and as the couple departed, they were surrounded by the love of friends and family who had stayed to the very end—every bride’s hope for her reception!

For brides-to-be, Sophie’s advice is to savor every part of the journey. “It goes by so fast. Take in the people around you and be grateful for every moment.” Sophie also encourages future brides to remember that the day is about marrying your best friend, and to breathe through the busy planning process, finding joy in the little details that make your wedding unique.

From childhood neighbors to lifelong partners, Sophie and Coulson’s love story was literally meant to be. Their wedding day, full of personal touches, unforgettable moments, and hydrangea-filled decor, was a perfect start to their forever. And we’ll never get over her stunning dress!

This gorgeous Utah mountain wedding is one we love so much, that we just had to put it on our 2025 magazine cover. If you’re as obsessed with it as we are, feel free to get your own copy!