There's something about a mountain wedding, with tall trees, beautiful views and a rustic lodge filled with friends and family. You'll find that at Deer Valley Ski Resort, and it fits any size and style of wedding.

Deer Valley has four choices of venues that can accommodate your wedding:

• Snow Park Lodge: The Snow Park Lodge lies at the base of Deer Valley Ski Resort. It has 15,000 square feet of banquet rooms, ranging from 800 to 3,500 square feet. There's also an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts in the summer.
• Silver Lake Day Lodge: This lodge sits midway up Bald Mountain at 8,100 feet with all the views you would expect from a secluded Deer Valley lodge. Silver Lake is decorated with wood beam ceilings, beautiful rock slab fireplace mantles, brass accents and antique furnishings. Banquet rooms range from 490 to 3,500 square feet. 
• Empire Canyon Lodge: Empire Canyon is remote and secluded, yet only two miles from the base of the mountain by road. It sits at an elevation of 8,300 feet at Daly Chutes. It features dramatic mountain views and is an outstanding choice for weddings. The lodge is appointed with granite and slate, cedar walls and vaulted ceilings with five fireplaces.
• Cushing's Cabin: The smallest venue at the resort accommodates 80 people for a more intimate wedding ceremony. It's accessible by shuttle or chairlift and features panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains. 

Catering is done by the on-site staff, who can also make your wedding cake from the Snow Park Bakery. The pastry chefs make everything from scratch and can decorate your cake with any ornament you choose. Or, leave it up to them to create the perfect wedding cake for your unforgettable day. 

Plan your Deer Valley Ski Resort Wedding today and contact us for the perfect photos of your big day.

by Opie Janzer

If you're like many women, you want your wedding to be a beautiful, memorial event. You want your pictures to be perfect. If you love the outdoors, particularly the beautiful Utah mountains, a destination wedding in Park City, Utah will be perfect for you. With an array of activities no matter the season, guests who arrive early or stay late will not be bored in Park City. For brides interested in getting married in Park City, there are several wonderful locations for the ceremony.

Utah Olympic Park

Built for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Utah Olympic Park now provides visitors with the opportunity to participate in activities such as skiing, bobsledding, and other sports. For the sports enthusiast, getting married here could be a dream come true. The Legacy Center with its views of the Aerials Pool and Nordic ski jumps or the Summer Pavilion where guests can enjoy views of the mountains provide two possible Utah Olympic Park options for a wedding. Other great locations are also available at the Utah Olympic Park with full-service weddings and even help planning the wedding.

Deer Valley Resort

Should you decide to have your wedding at Deer Valley Resort, you will know you are going to be treated well. You will have the opportunity to get married at one of the best alpine ski resorts in the world. Wedding packages include an on-site wedding planner, up to five hours of bartender service, exclusive use of the reserved lodge, and many optional services including private one hour lift rides. For those staying in Park City, Deer Valley Resorts also provides lodging discounts for the wedding party. Whether you choose to have an outdoor wedding or get married in one of the lodges, you can know it will be a day to treasure forever.  

Of course, there are many other options for places to get married in Park City including the ever popular Canyons Resort or Park City Resort. Getting married in a church, near a stream, or out in a grove of trees are also great options. You will need a quality photographer to capture the excitement and beauty of your wedding, so contact me, and we can share this wonderful day.

by Opie Janzer

If you are looking to have a wedding with a breathtaking mountain landscape that is also exclusive, elegant with a western rustic touch consider a Red Cliff Ranch Wedding located in the spectacular Lake Creek Canyon in Heber Valley, Utah. 

The ranch is spread over 200 acres of gorgeous grounds completely bordered by the amazing Utah mountain red cliffs, wilderness, aspen groves, and wild birds. The ranch features many amenites such as a classic barn that will greet you and your guests as you enter the ranch.  A very popular place to have a reception or a cocktail hour. You may choose to have your wedding ceremony outside in the grove or inside the open-air covered pavillion.  

No matter what season you choose to get married the ranch is perfect for wedding photography. Just imagine how your photos would look with beautiful fall leaves or a snow covered mountain. There are many spots that would provide a gorgeous backdrop to your photos including: the barn, pond, mountains, or perhaps in a stable with a horse. How cool would that be? You simply do not have to add beauty to this ranch to perfect your photography. Nature provides everything you need. 

You can choose an elegant traditional-style wedding or you can go a different approach with a western-style theme. The Red Cliff Ranch provides a unique environment that all your guests will enjoy. All you have to do is arrange the caterer, entertainment, and provide decorations.The Red Cliff Ranch will cover the breathtaking landscape.

OpieFoto will love to take part of your special day and capture every moment for you. Contact us for information on Red Cliff Ranch Wedding Photography.

by Opie Janzer

He's proposed, you accepted, together you've decided a destination wedding in Park City, Utah is perfect, and now it's time to get all the details figured out. You've got to decide on the exact location, food, pictures, and many other things. This might feel a little overwhelming if you attempt to take in all the details at once.

Because some places have rules about what food and other items you can bring, picking the exact location is a good first step. Ski resorts including Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, and the Canyons Resort are popular wedding locations in Park City. Each of these places has locations both indoors and outdoors available for weddings. When picking the exact location, it is important to know what services are and are not provided. Do they provide the food for the reception, and can you have someone else cater it? What sort of services do they provide to allow you and your wedding party to relax a little?

Park Meadows Country Club is another location you may want to consider for your wedding. It is the only in-town country club. They provide the food although you are welcome to bring a wedding cake. Other services you can get include rental of electronic equipment and dance floor rental. A wedding outside overlooking the golf course, or one hosted in the Clubhouse are two options for a Park Meadows Country Club Wedding. Of course, there are many other locations in Park City you might pick for your wedding.

If your chosen location does not already provide it, you will want to get a catering service. There are a wide range of caterers in the area. If you want sushi, check out Chef Otto Blume. For simple, healthier catering options, you may want to consider Ellie's Personal Cooking and Catering. No matter your food taste, there is a catering service in Park City to meet your needs.

Of course, obtaining your marriage license is another important part of your wedding plans. This can be done at the Summit County Clerk's Office in Coalville. No blood test is required, but both the bride and groom must come personally. Each must have a government issued ID. Your marriage license is good for 30 days anywhere in Utah.

Of course, it's also important to take care of other wedding details including pictures. Contact us, and get natural, beautiful pictures to remember your wedding day.

by Opie Janzer

Every wedding takes some organized juggling no matter where it is. When the distance between home and ceremony is big, that juggling act gets a little trickier. Here are a few ideas for how to pack for your destination wedding in Park City, Utah. You don't have to lose your mind!

Don't check your wedding dress or groom's tuxedo at the airport gate! Have your seamstress, tailor, bridal boutique, or dry cleaner specially pack your dress, veil, and tux for travel. When checking in at the gate, let an attendant know you are traveling with your wedding dress. They will be able to help you safely store your attire in flight. 

Keep it light (Decorations). One way you can save yourself some headache is to minimize what you need to pack. Consider choosing a venue that offers inclusive ceremony and reception packages. A well-thought out wedding package at a trusted venue will include decorations, centerpieces, and experienced planners. Many venues with a long history of catering to wedding parties also have close ties with other area vendors--like florists, bakeries, and photographers. Entrust these duties to your venue and you'll not only take them off your worry-list, but you'll also take them out of your suitcase.

Keep it light (Favors and Party Gifts). When you're brainstorming wedding favors and gifts for your bridal party, think small and lightweight. Guests might enjoy scented candles in small, easy-to-pack travel tins. Embroidered heirloom handkerchiefs are classy and also make for easy storage. If you're coming to Park City during the cold months, guests and/or the bridal party might enjoy scarves or shawls. These roll nicely in a suitcase. A playful bunch of skiers could have fun with personalized beanies or cozy socks. If you'd prefer to pack even lighter, consider shipping favors and gifts to the venue in care of the on-site planner a few weeks ahead of time.

Plan for the weather. The Weather Channel will give you the 10-day forecast. A few weeks before you leave, map out your time in Park City each day, including recreational activities, downtime, errands, reception, and ceremony. With the forecast as your guide, plan your (and your fiance's) wardrobe for each activity. Don't be afraid to repeat an outfit. Consider mix and match pieces to minimize the number of accessories you need. 

Use a checklist. Make a checklist and check it twice. There are several online tools that will help you think through everything you'll need. Here is a good one from The Knot. 

Finally, did I mention: Don't check your wedding dress at the airport gate!

I know you're going to cherish your time in Park City, and I'd love to photograph your special day! Contact me for more information.

by Opie Janzer

A dream wedding at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley sounds great to me! I love this Park City venue, and I think you will, too. 

The Stein Eriksen Lodge is five-star all the way. Cozied into the middle of a mountain in Deer Valley Resort, you'll find gorgeous scenery for your wedding day. In fact, the ballroom boasts a complete panoramic view of Deer Valley. 

Stein Erikson offers you 26,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. It's versatile enough to create an intimate wedding or a grand shin-dig for up to 500 guests. So many possibilities! You might arrange for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on the terrace beforehand. If you'd like to exchange your vows with nothing but the sky as your roof, you could have the entire ceremony on one of the decks and then venture into the new ballroom for dining and dancing. 

A few things to look forward to at Stein Erikson:

• Talented and renowned chefs to design your menu and your wedding cake;
• Beautiful guestrooms with large suites, stone fireplaces, private decks, hot tubs, and views of the mountains;
• Salon and spa services for guests, the wedding party, and most importantly...you;
• Lots of recreational opportunities (e.g. ski-in/ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor swimming);
• A free five-minute shuttle to clubs, restaurants, galleries, and shops on Park City's Main Street.

This is a great option for brides planning a destination wedding. So much of the planning can be delegated to a reliable and creative on-site team. The event staff has been very thoughtful in their partnerships with area wedding vendors. No matter what your tastes are, you can trust that the on-site planners will know how to make it happen.

The opportunites for stunning and unique photography are endless. If your tastes are elegant but a little rustic, you'll love portraits among the aspen trees. For a little fun, you might also consider some shots from the ski lift. It's a nice change of pace, and you can't help but capture the amazing scenery.

In addition to their website, you'll also find photos and videos on the Stein Erikson Lodge facebook page. I particularly like the Amber and Michael winter wedding video!  

I'd love to photograph your beautiful Park City wedding. Contact me today!

by Opie Janzer

I love the elegant simplicity of a rustic barn wedding. By using natural elements and structures that have weathered time, we're reminded to find beauty in the basics. Some might say that's a nice philosophy for marriage!

You'll find a lot of fantastic resources online and in your bookstore for creating the perfect countryside ceremony. Here are three:

1. Rustic Wedding Chic, led by founding editor, Maggie Lord, is a popular blog for couples planning a rustic themed wedding. You'll find ideas for fashion, decoration, photography, flowers, invitations, etc. You'll even find tutorials for do-it-yourself projects. Lord has just released her second book, Barn Weddings. 
2. Emmaline Bride offers a special list of 15 ideas especially for planning barn weddings. Check out the mason jar lanterns and horseshoe escort cards!
3. i love farm weddings is another charming blog. You'll find inspiring details from featured weddings as well as do-it-yourself project ideas for anything from outdoor seating to hand-crafted centerpieces. 

If you're considering a rustic barn wedding in Utah, you have wonderful options. Here are a few:

Red Cliff Ranch is a gorgeous location just 30 miles outside of Park City. An on-site wedding planner will help you navigate choices for catering, entertainment, and decor. A spacious barn seats over 200 guests.

High Star Ranch sits just 18 miles outside of Park City and boasts an open-sided hay barn. Another on-site option is the Country Store, a converted milking barn and grain silo that now comfortably hosts up to 100 guests for an intimate ceremony. The newly restored Historic House can accommodate up to 10 overnight guests.

Blue Sky Ranch is a newer venue located 10 miles from Park City. They offer several recreational activities that will keep out of town guests entertained--horseback riding, kayaking, fly fishing, ski tours, and snowshoe excursions, to name a few. The 8,000 square foot Blue Sky Arena can be arranged and reconfigured to your desires. For something more intimate and especially rustic, you might enjoy the off-the-beaten path Tavern Blue Sky.

No matter what you choose, I'd love to photograph your special day. Contact me for more information.

Park City is the perfect setting for a gorgeous (and fun!) destination wedding. Taste of Park City called The Canyon Resort one of the area's "most beautiful and hippest wedding venues." I must say, I agree.

Nestled in the Wasatch Mountain Range, Weddings at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, are stunning and are put together with great attention to the character of the couple. Spend a few minutes on the resort's wedding blog and you learn there is something to fit every style. If you want to wear colored bow-ties and ski down the aisle, you can do that. If you want creme brule and smores instead of cake, you can do that. Inside, outside, huge party, cozy gathering...you can do that.

The resort offers four different venues on the grounds, plus a host of other options (e.g., restaurants and smaller lodges), each catering to unique preferences for landscape, setting, and party size. If you're looking for rustic but elegant, you might prefer the Red Pine Lodge or the Lookout Cabin. (Check out the view from the Lookout Cabin!) For a more formal setting, consider a ballroom at the Grand Summit Hotel. Depending on the venue you choose, your guests may be treated to a gondola ride or amazing views from the Orange Bubble Express Lift.

If you're planning a destination wedding, spearheading a planning team from a long distance can be daunting. The Canyons Resort understands this, however. They know what they're doing and aim to take burden away from the couple. The resort offers several in-house packages--decor, menu, lighting and sound. They even offer spa packages as special treats for the couple and the wedding party. The Red Pine Lodge offers an all inclusive package that covers all of the above.

The Canyons Resort is the largest ski resort in Utah. As such, there is plenty to keep your guests entertained for your entire wedding weekend.

I'd love to photograph your one-of-a-kind Park City destination wedding. Contact us today for more information.

Check out Beck and Curry's casual and colorful wedding!  I shot these in May at a lodge in Deer Valley ski resort in Park City, Utah.  Flowers were created by Every Blooming Thing and catering by the yummy Red Ingunna.

by Opie Janzer

Yesterday, I shot a pin up style maternity session at the great salt lake.  Utah has a ton of great location for photos and the lake is beautiful if you can get over the smell and bugs.

by Opie Janzer

Meagan and Lance had their vintage themed wedding reception in a family friends backyard.  They had a beautiful ring ceremony for those wedding guests that couldn't make it to the temple sealing inside the Mount Timpanogos Temple.  The decor was rustic with a white farm fence, cows, and an Indian tepee.  For their centerpieces they had some great vintage decor!  The tables has white and light pink linens along with small vases with roses and candles.  They had an open house style reception and served meat pies and fresh fruit.

by Opie Janzer

Meagan and Lance had their wedding in July at the Mount Timpanogos Temple located in American Fork Utah.  It was a warm and windy summer day!  Meagan wore a stunning vintage wedding gown she found online.  Their wedding colors were shades of pink with cream and light grey.

 by Opie Janzer

Stepanie & Levi

Stunning groomal session shot in American Fork canyon!  For this shoot I used an off camera flash and it added so much drama to the photos. 

Hair and Makeup: Versa Artistry
Dress: Lily Bride Designs

by Opie Janzer

Liz + Kevin
June 22, 2012
Caternia

Jamie and John

Johnson Mill

100 N Johnson Mill Rd 

Midway, UT 84049

Crystal + Mason

April 27, 2013

Millennial Falls

12375 S 1300 E

Draper, UT 84020

Spring 2013 Women in Weddings Lucheon

Tuesday, May 14th

La Caille

9565 Wastach Blvd

Sandy, Utah

Yesterday, I photographed Molly and Ryan's bridal/groomal session at the LDS Jordan River Temple in South Jordan, Utah.  It was such a warm and beautiful spring day for Utah.  The perfect weather for bridal pictures.  Molly had a red rose bouquet and Ryan had a red rose boutineer with stunning modern wedding dress and black suit.  I was able to capture all the colorful tulips at the Jordan River Temple along with the flowering purple trees.

Molly and Ryan had their temple sealing on April 27th at the LDS Jordan River Temple in the afternoon but wanted some additional bride and groom pictures in May.  Congrats guys!

by Opie Janzer

Add caption

Check out Crystal's beautiful bridal session shot at La Caille a few weeks ago.  Crystal's dress is dramatic and modern with a stunning long train.  I photographed their modern wedding 2 weeks ago at Millenial Falls in Draper, Utah.

by Opie Janzer

Head on over to Utah Bride Blog to check out Jane and Dane's beautiful art gallery wedding.

Your Wedding Day Schedule Part Two

by Chauntelle Janzer

Today I met with a bride that is having her wedding in June.  She didn't know what time her ceremony was going to start but did tell me that she has the venue from 3:30pm to 10:30pm.  Most brides assume the venue coordinator will help with the wedding day schedule but I've found that isn't the case. You need to hire an independent utah wedding planner to help with schedule, day of coordinator, and decor.  I've found it's best to give yourself one full hour to get ready before the ceremony at the venue.  This is assuming that your hair and makeup are already done and your putting your dress on at the venue.  So we decided that 4:30pm would be the ceremony time.  Most ceremonies are about 30 minutes long so you can building the rest of your wedding day schedule based off of the ceremony time.  After the ceremony is picture time and cocktail hour.  I like to start with the largest family group photos and go from there until it's just the bride and groom.

 Here is the sample schedule we put together today:

Wedding Day Schedule 6-7 hours

3:30pm Getting Ready

4:30pm Ceremony

5:00pm Group Pictures and Open Buffet

6:00pm Bride and Groom Eat

7:00pm Open House Reception with Receiving Line

8:00pm Toasts and Cut Cake

8:30pm 1^st Dance and Open Dancing

9:00pm Bouquet and Garter Toss

9:30pm Send Off

This is the wedding package that we found is the best one for the above wedding:

Collection Two

• 7 Hours Coverage

• 2^nd Photographer OR Bridal Session

• Engagement Session

• 10x10 Leather Album – 20 Page Credit

• High Resolution Negatives

Should you see each other before the ceremony?

THE FIRST LOOK:  It's a new age, so it's no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. What's more, there are actually some pretty big advantages to a first-look session prior to the wedding. Not only are the bride, groom, bridal party and family in top form, the bride and bridesmaids' hair and makeup are fresh, and the groom and groomsmen are still comfortable in their tuxes.

If you do decide to go with a pre-ceremony formal portrait approach, be sure to set aside 15 minutes of private time for just the two of you. These private moments, before you start taking more formal, posed portraits, are often the most special for the bride and groom. You are able to hold each other or exchange gifts, relax and think about the moments to come. This time together also serves as a break to calm your nerves. This pre-ceremony atmosphere creates a smooth, steady flow through your day's events. Getting this step out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests.

On time and terrific: Because I prefer to shoot these group shots when everyone is ready and fresh, right before the ceremony, meeting at the designated spot 15 minutes before formals ensures an on-time arrival. Since our most important goal is getting you to your wedding on time, please set aside 60-90 minutes for group pictures to ensure maximum results.

Adorned and fabulous : Make sure all flowers and boutonnieres are delivered on time and affixed to family members and to the wedding party 30 minutes before scheduled group pictures. Have hair and makeup teams arrive extra early since those tend to cause a delay more than anything else.

Formal then fun:  Because I prefer to keep the number of groups to 20 or less for more intimate group shots, we always start with the largest groups of family and break it down after that to allow for mingling. As time permits, I love to include a picture of the bride with each of her bridesmaids and the groom with each of his groomsmen.

If you have ideas for any can't-miss portrait groupings you would like to see photographed during this time, make sure to include them on your group shot list and give me that list 2 weeks prior to the wedding. I'm happy to work with you to capture all of your special moments!

by Chauntelle Janzer

Jane + Dane
April 6, 2013
15th Street Art Gallery

I photographed Emily and John's Engagement photos at The Great Salt Lake.  The first part of the session we shot a more casual outfit next to the boats and rocks for more cool toned photos.  Then Emily wore a orange-red dress and we shot with romantic back light in the yellow grass.  These two had their wedding in Florida and a reception in Salt Lake City at the Utah Museum of Natural History.

by Opie Janzer

Emily and John had their wedding in Florida and a reception at the brand new Utah Museum of Natural History. This is the cover of the album they ordered for the Salt Lake City reception.  It's a beautiful Coffee Table style album with a modern gray textured cover.