Force of Nature

October 16, 2015 // Emily + Bradon

How do you pull off an elegant mountain chic wedding with touches of “Star Wars” flair? Like this, ladies and gentlemen — just like this. Emily Holtkamp and Bradon Maughn’s fall nuptials were over-the-top fun while still terrifically tasteful. And the sweetest part was that the “Stars Wars” elements were a total surprise to Emily’s super-fan groom. “Seeing him get so excited was one of the best moments of the day,” Emily says. The energetic couple met on a blind date. She found him hilarious and loved his eyes, while he thought she was gorgeous and had “great energy.” The proposal, on the other hand, was a tad more rocky. On a vacation at Zion National Park, Bradon had plans to propose with a bike ride and a romantic picnic. But when Emily turned down the outing, he had to make up new plans on the spot. They instead went on a hike to the Emerald Pools and Bradon led her to a ledge for pictures. “I tried to be funny and pretended to push him,” Emily says. “Then he really did start to fall! It scared the crap out of me!” Despite the scare, Bradon slipped down to one knee to pop the question — and had the monumental moment captured on film. When it came time for wedding planning, the pressure was on. Emily hired Michelle Leo Events to find the perfect balance between quaint and luxurious. “I’m the only girl in the family, so it had to be perfect,” Emily says. Perfect wedding, it was.

A WALK TO REMEMBER Emily’s favorite thing about her wedding wasn’t a thing at all — it was a moment. “It was walking down the aisle with my father to marry the man of my dreams,” she says.

GET THE PICTURE Themed weddings get a bad rap, but this Sundance Resort affair is a force to be reckoned with. Emily and Bradon’s wedding day gave a nod to the groom’s “Star Wars” obsession with masked ring bearers and a light sabre salute — while the color palette of navy, blush, gold, cream and greens gave a nod to Emily’s impeccable taste. The two worlds perfectly came together with the help of Michelle Leo Events. “Working with Michelle was great,” Emily says. “She knew all the ins and outs of what needed to be done for a wedding and was able to take my ideas and make them a dream come true. She was helpful in every aspect — especially when I was having a bridal meltdown!”