What Are Bridals

This Magazine Monday, we’re diving into our glossy page feature all about bridals. So what are they? And why do Utah couples love them so much? Then check out our Pick Your Perfect gown selection below to decide which styles you want to try out!

Utah Brides and Couples Love Bridals

You know the tradition, it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. But is it really? In the days of first looks and bridal sessions in advance, we’d say it’s more of a convenience (and a great excuse) to wear your wedding dress more than once.

In addition to wedding day photography, many Utah photographers and videographers will have packages that include a bridal portrait session separate from your wedding day. That’s basically what bridals are: another photo session where you get to get all fancied up again!

In Utah, it’s more popular than not to don your bow tie and veil a few weeks or even a month before your actual wedding day for your bridal portraits, and there are a few different reasons.

For LDS couples especially, it’s popular to book a bridal session with a photographer before the day of their wedding ceremony at the temple, and as a result, Utah bridals are where couples will do their first look. Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want a first look moment with a stunning red rock, evergreen, or poppy field backdrop?

You can still get that moment where your future spouse sees you for the first time in all your bridal glory, and you’ll get that iconic coming-out-of-the-temple shot we all know and love. Bridals and first look sessions in advance are also a great way to capture photos you want to have printed and on display at your wedding.

It’s Not Just for Your Typical Utah Bride

But you don’t have to be a religious bride to want to do your bridals on a different day than your wedding. If your heart is set on having that first look moment as you walk down the aisle, but you want to take your couple’s portraits on a beach somewhere, or in a stunning mansion somewhere else, who says you can’t take your bridals after your wedding?

Or even better… Have your first look on your wedding day, and take your Utah bridals before the ceremony starts!

To do a first look or not to do a first look: take the quiz on page 48 of your copy of the magazine to see the pros and cons of having a first look!

Taking your bridals beforehand (or after) helps you get all the shots you want, without the stress of getting them all done on your wedding day when you have a million other things to do. And who says you can’t do both? The more the married-er.

So what do you think? Are you team bridals, or would you rather take all of your photos on your wedding day?

Pining For You

Grace and Bryson’s Utah bridals have us pining for our own romantic galavant through the evergreen trees. And that flower field? Utah really knows how to show off a bride and her contagious joy.

Utah Bridal Photos Vendors

Photography: Tessa Weight Photo

Wedding Day Planning + Coordination: Burton Design & Events

Video: Dana Film Co. + ProducedByKula

Couple: Grace + Bryce Robinson

Gown: Frankie Jane Couture Bridal

Veil: VeilsbyRebecca on Etsy

Floral: Merci Floral

Hair: Brooke Ray Hair

Makeup: Morgan Fay MUA

Suit: Mr. Mac

Rentals + Decor: Olympus Tents and Events + Moonlight Lighting + Diamond Event & Tent +All Out Event Rental +All About You Rentals

Stationary: Andrea Leaver Design

DJ: Taylor with Best DJ in Utah

Live Music: Utah Live Bands

Catering: Marvellous Catering + Charcuterie Club

Cake: Quinton Kitchen

Transportation: Intermountain Golf Carts

Live Sound: True Audio

Pick Your Perfect: Wedding Gowns

She’s All This vs. She’s All That

You got the ring, now it’s time for the gown. It’s arguably the main event… Aside from you, of course. From frills to feathers, the options are quite literally endless, and everything is customizable. Here’s our biggest advice for choosing a gown: go with the one that you feel the best in. Of course you’re going to look amazing; you are the bride after all. But what the camera will capture, apart from the sparkles and the train, is the confidence you radiate when you’re feeling like a million bucks. These dresses show off a wide range of tastes, proving that no matter what kind of bride you are, there really is a perfect dress for you out there.

Drop Waist Gorgeous

Every time we see a drop waist, we simply have to do a little happy dance. Amaya’s dress took every perfect thing about a classic silhouette and made it even more couture with a waistline like that. P.S. This dress made the cover this year!

Photo Vendors

Photography: Riley Kathleen Photography

Planning + Coordination: Elated Events

Video: Emily Rain Yamada

Content Curator: Hannah Isabelle

Couple: Amaya + Keini Muramoto

Gown: The Perfect Dress Bridal

Floral: Holladay Blooms

Venue: Twenty & Creek

Suit: Birdy Grey

Rings: Olive Ave Jewelry

Rentals + Decor: Candles Utah

Catering: Caley’s Catering

Memorial Charms: Lacie’s Charms

Overskirt Obsession

We’ll never be over the overskirts. Seriously, why not choose a gown that has two looks in one? You get all the drama of a ballgown bride with all the sensation of a sultry silhouette.

Photo Vendors

Photography: Allichelle Photography

Couple: Hannah Flores + Marcus Giov

Gown: Pritchétt Bridal

Floral: Forager Floral Design

Venue: La Caille

Suit: DC Tuxedos

Manicure: SueBee Nailart

Calling In the Classics

Esther’s dress is everything we’re loving about the classical Greek- and Roman-looking bridal silhouettes: a snatched, structured bodice and asymmetrical pleats that have us pleading for more.

Photo Vendors

Photography: Jenny Pearl Photography

Couple: Esther + Trevor Port

Gown + Veil: Pritchétt Bridal

Floral: Mayela Poulson, The Bride’s Mother

Hair + Makeup: Esther Glee

Jewelry: Anthropologie

Catching a Snowdrift

Listen, we all know Utah has the greatest snow on Earth… And here’s proof that we have the greatest brides on Earth, too. This dress is everything we love about a winter wedding: the delicate details are as unique as a snowflake!

Photo Vendors

Photo: Ashley Paige Photography

Model: Savannah Rhoton

Gown: AW Bridal

Hair: Alyssa Braeann Beauty

Makeup: Makeup by Megstracy

Perfect Petals

The texture of Keanne’s gown looks like a million perfect little flower petals came together to make our dress dreams come true. And that boning in the bodice? She’s giving royalty in a look like this.

Photo Vendors

Photog + Video: Jackie Siggard Photo & Video

Planning + Coordination: Karla Edlinger Events

Couple: Keanne Savage + Broc Hansen

Gown: Renee Atelier

Floral: Karla Edlinger Events

Venue: La Caille

Hair: Brooklyn Gilmour

Makeup: Cherisa Burbage

Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

Rings: Princess Bride Diamonds + J. Brooks Jewelers

DJ: Peak Sound

Live Music: String FX

Catering: Magleby’s

Cake: Chikiblue Cakes

Party Bus: Luxury Limos Utah

Love That Lace Lately

Lace is big lately, and we’re more than thrilled about it. This gown has everything we love about it and more, with a mock neck and underlining that really makes it pop. And the best part? It’s backless!