Posted by Shira Savada, Real Wedding Editor
Jodi and Jon's snow-filled winter wedding in our new issue is chock-full of charm and fun on the slopes. Kelsey and Alison, of Alison Events, who helped plan, design, coordinate, and pull-off the whole winter wonderland weekend gave us some behind the scenes photos. Here's Senior Event Producer Kelsey's account of the wedding, starting from their initial scouting trip out to Utah.
Jodi and Jon were such a fun couple to work with. They came to us already having booked the Sundance Resort for their wedding. One of their prerequisites for a wedding planning team was that we enjoy snow sports since it was such an integral part of the destination and of Jodi and Jon's relationship. Thankfully, Alison and I both love the snow and jumped at the chance to do a snowy winter wedding (especially since we could hit the slopes during our down time). We made sure to bring vendors who felt the same and spent all of our mornings tearing up the mountain together.
When we visited Sundance for the first time, we were blown away by the rustic beauty of the property. All the buildings blend into the natural surroundings and feel like they've been there forever. We were thrilled at the beautiful blank canvas we had to work with. After speaking with many local vendors, we realized there weren't as many event resources as we are used to in California. To fill in the blanks, we shipped some items from California and had the local rental company build us ceremony benches and purchase other furniture pieces we needed. All the local vendors were amazing team players and helped us pull together the look and feel of the wedding. It was a great collaboration.
Jodi and Jon wanted a welcoming, cozy atmosphere for their wedding weekend, and we kept that in mind for all three days of events. They kept their guest count under 100 to achieve an authentic sense of intimacy. All the guests stayed at Sundance and spent their days on the mountain or enjoying other activities the resort has to offer, like glass blowing classes, snow shoeing, and sledding. To start everyone’s stay on the right foot, we placed welcome gifts in each cabin. All the men received Sigg flasks and bottles of scotch, and the women received a pair of Ugg boots. In addition, everyone received a bag of local goodies from the Sundance General Store (shown below), including handmade lollipops and popcorn.
Jodi and Jon started the weekend off with a bang on Thursday evening with an informal meet and greet in one of Sundance's most famous drinking establishments, the Owl Bar. It's a local favorite and has live music most nights. Friday everyone spent the day on the mountain, then gathered for a rustic buffet dinner and marshmallow roast; locally acclaimed musician Kalai sang and played guitar throughout the evening. Saturday was the big day, but even the bride and groom hit a few runs before getting ready. Guests were treated to hot chocolate and hot toddies as they entered the ceremony are, which we decorated with handmade benches, white linen pillows, and a large wreath accented by candles. Guests then moved on to the cocktail and dinner area. Hanging barn lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate feel along with the warm toned linens and cozy lounge furniture. We found a pair of vintage skis for guests to sign in lieu of a guest book and placed them on a wall surrounded by Jodi and Jon's family ski photos. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner and mini sweets buffet. After dinner, everyone danced the night away and hammed it up at the self-portrait station Thayer set up.
We had a blast from start to finish. Not only were Jodi and Jon so sweet and inspiring, but the vendors we worked with were all incredibly talented and fun to collaborate with (here we all are for a fun photo opp with the happy couple, below). We hope to return to Sundance for many more events in the future. And congrats to Jodi and Jon, who are expecting their first baby together any day now!
From: Emily Brakeman | 1/8/10 at 3:03 pm
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