Happy New Year!
Can you believe 2026 is already here? Whether this is the year you’re tying the knot or anticipating that engagement ring any day now (Valentine’s Day, perhaps?), we’re so happy to “ring” in the new year with you.
This is the first official newsletter from Utah Valley Bride this year, so we figured we’d make some introductions:
Hey, I’m Sydnie!👋🏻
I’m the Editor-in-Chief for UVB, and I’m so happy to be the one to bring you allll the tips and tricks right from our team, our favorite vendors, and other brides right here in the state we all love. Our job here at UVB is to show you all the possibilities when it comes to wedding planning. Whether you know your way around petals and buttercream, or you don’t know the first thing about where to start after popping the question, we’re here to make your wedding dreams come true.
And we’re here for all the moms, maids of honor, and besties looking for inspiration, too!
What to Look For:
Vendor Updates
Events
Recent Articles
Insta Inspo
Magazine Sneak Peeks
Preferred Vendor Recommendations
+ More from Team UVB!
Take it from us, no matter your budget, color palette, or where you plan to say I do, you can have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Let us show you how!
XOXO, Sydnie Poulsen, UVB Editor-in-Chief
Vendor Updates
Welcome welcome 2026! The beginning of the year is always so exciting, with planning your calendar out, making vision boards, and setting new goals!
We’ve set a lot of our own goals this year, both for and outside of Utah Valley Bride, and we feel so motivated and excited to make those happen! What are some of your New Year goals and resolutions?
If you haven’t heard already… Our 2026 Magazine Launch Party is only a few weeks away!
This year is extra special because we are celebrating 25 years of Utah Valley Bride, which means it’s our silver anniversary. Picture glistening backdrops, an anniversary cake-cutting, guests gilded in silver gowns…the works.
Tickets are very limited, so make sure to snag one soon if you’d like to celebrate with us!
You can get your tickets here!
Our First Bridal Show of 2026
February 25, 2026 at Siempre in Draper
Grab your fiancé, wedding planner, mom, and bridesmaids, and get your free tickets! Enjoy the night full of freebies, discounts from all kinds of wedding vendors, and enter a giveaway or two. It’s a fun date night and a way to check off your wedding to-do list all in one.
Vendors, here’s a little inside scoop… This is our biggest bridal show we’ve ever hosted. And it’s right after those Valentine’s Day engagements. Both floors of Siempre’s gorgeous venue will be teeming with brides and couples and their mothers and brothers all night. If you’d like to reserve a booth for this show, email Micah at team@utahvalleybride.com to snag it before we’re sold out!
2026 Vendor Meetups!
This year we’re implementing vendor meetups! These will be a way to connect with other members of our wedding vendor community to hang out outside of just working. They can be anything from co-working at a coffee shop, to a trip to the aquarium, a bike ride up the canyon, playdates for vendors with cute kiddos, book club, movie nights, etc. Literally, anything.
If you have ideas for meetups you’d love to see, let us know! Email Sydnie or Micah (emails below) if you have ideas or really don’t want to miss our next one.
Our first official vendor meetup this year will be on Monday, January 26th, at 11:00 am at The Coffee Shop in American Fork. Add it to your calendar here.
Marketing Tip of the Month: Start the Year with a Social Media Reset ✨📝
January is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset, especially when it comes to your marketing. Before jumping into new trends or content ideas, take a moment to audit what you already have.
A social media audit at the start of the year gives you clarity. It helps you see what worked last year, what didn’t, and what’s worth carrying into the new wedding season.
For wedding vendors, a January audit can help you:
• Identify content that actually led to inquiries and bookings
• Spot patterns in posts that were saved, shared, or commented on
• Make sure your profiles reflect the weddings and clients you want in 2026
• Set intentional goals instead of posting on autopilot
How to do a simple year-end social media audit:
- Review Last Year’s Content
Scroll through your posts from the past year. Which ones performed best? Which ones felt flat? Pay attention to common themes, formats, or topics that consistently resonated. - Look Beyond Follower Count
Focus on meaningful metrics like saves, shares, comments, profile clicks, and inquiries. These numbers tell you if your content is doing more than just looking good. - Audit Each Platform Separately
Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms all behave differently. Take note of where your content performed best and where you may want to adjust your strategy this year. - Benchmark for Inspiration
Look at vendors in your niche whose content you admire. This isn’t about copying, it’s about noticing what types of posts they repeat and how they connect with their audience. - Create a Clear Action Plan
Choose two or three changes to focus on in 2026. That could mean posting more educational content, updating your bio, leaning into video, or batching content ahead of busy months.
A thoughtful audit now sets the tone for the year ahead. A little intention in January can lead to stronger content, clearer messaging, and better bookings all year long.
Every second Monday of the month, Carys is hosting business education classes and discussions, free for all Preferred Vendors! Each class is at 11:00 am and the topics will build on each other throughout the year. Our job is to help your business grow and help you reach the clients you dream of. We can’t wait to see you there!
January’s class will be all about re-centering on your “Why” as a business owner.
This month Sydnie celebrated the new year with a vision board!
Here’s how to make your own: Simply gather 30-40 photos you love from Pinterest, download them and print at your closest Walgreens, and cut and glue to your heart’s content. Put it somewhere you’ll see every single day to remind yourself of your goals this year.
Sydnie also loves this idea from TikTok for creating a bingo card with the same idea, and last year, instead of a physical vision board, she made a digital one on Canva and used it as her lock screen all year.
If you make one, take a picture and email it to Sydnie so she can see it!
This month we’re giving a shout out to Stefen Huskinson from Wooden Horse Catering. To know Stefen is to love him! Not only is his food incredible, but he is the most generous, funny, and amiable person you’ll meet. He loves visiting Nashville and playing Mario Kart. Together with his wife Jazmin, they make Wooden Horse Catering about more than just great food; it’s about the experience of working with them
“It’s the whole reason why people are gathering; it’s for the couple. That’s why we try to make our options as various as possible, but also on our end, make sure the quality will be there and everyone is happy with what they’re receiving, whatever it is.”
Stefen has an exclusive article in the upcoming magazine all about choosing a buffet vs a plated dinner at a wedding, so be sure to check that out when you get your copy!
Connect with Stefen: IG, Facebook, Website, Email
We’ll see you soon! Oh, and happy New Year.
With love, Team UVB
For questions about social media content and submissions contact Alli at hello@utahvalleybride.com.
For questions about publications contact Sydnie at writer@utahvalleybride.com.
For questions about upcoming events, or to receive copies of the 2025 & 2026 magazine, contact Micah at team@utahvalleybride.com.
