Do you love the idea of getting married in the midst of snow-topped mountains, in a meadow surrounded by aspen groves and wildflowers, or in a vintage farmhouse?  Utah may be the place for you! There are several destination venues to choose from, including ski areas or the back country, for any size celebration.  No matter what venue you choose, you'll most likely want find that artist/documentarian who offers unique and artistic rustic mountain wedding photography. 

If you love the outdoors, a mountain wedding is a perfect choice: you don't have to decorate, you can simply augment what nature has provided. Consider Park City, named in 2008 as one of the 20 'prettiest towns' in the United States by Forbes Traveler. According to the Taste of Park City, the top wedding venues in the area include the Canyons Resort, Deer Valley Resort and the Sky Lodge. You can also hold your wedding at one of many city parks, national forest land or rustic barns that private owners lease out for such events.

The first thing you'll want to consider is your photographer. The following are some tips for choosing a photographer.

• You'll need someone who enjoys and is experienced with working outdoors. Is your photographer comfortable traveling to the summit of a mountain or into the back country forest? What about chair lifts and ski slopes? In addition, studio photography and outdoor/nature photography require some different skill sets. If your photographer is just starting to do mountain photography, she may need to pack a little experience under her belt.
• The photographer's shooting style is another important consideration. Traditional wedding photos were posed pictures with formal backgrounds. The trend today is a photo journalist style, which New York Magazine describes as “candid, documentary style photography with a touch of fashion and editorial”. Couples want their big day documented just like any other newsworthy event, and the fashion and editorial components can be part of packages that include engagement and boudoir photography.
• Interview several photographers, and choose someone you feel comfortable with. You'll be working closely with this person, so your comfort level is important.
• While interviewing photographers, find out what kinds of packages are available. The idea of the photo-journalistic style of wedding photography is to capture a story beyond what can be conveyed in posed pictures (although some traditional pictures are usually included.) If you like the photo journalistic style, discuss with the photographer what kinds of pictures you want to be sure to capture, since this type of photography is spontaneous and not predictable like traditional wedding photos.

Keep in mind that when you choose a non-traditional outdoor venue, you'll be responsible for selecting your vendors—caterer, florist, photographer—since these types of venues do not typically offer wedding “packages”. 

If you're interested in finding out more about mountain wedding photography, or if you need help finding a photographer, please contact us.

by Opie Janzer