Cristina & Sean’s Romantic, Summer Wedding
Cristina and Sean’s gorgeous summer wedding was a beautiful celebration of their love for one another. Their love story is a testament to the power of patience and persistence. Their wedding was a perfect blend of traditional and cultural elements, beginning with a romantic, mass ceremony at the iconic Cathedral of Madeleine in Salt Lake City and a lively Filipino reception at the classic Sleepy Ridge Wedding Venue in Orem, Utah.
THE CEREMONY
Even though Cristina & Sean had seen the grand Cathedral of Madeleine many times before, they were always in awe of the majestic, beautiful architecture of the building. They wanted their wedding day to feel rich with culture; filled with joy, laughter, and love as family and friends gathered to celebrate their blessed union. That is how they decided on having their ceremony at the Cathedral.
After an intentional Processional lineup led by the Lead Planner, the ceremony was a romantic and intimate affair, with the iconic interior design, art, and stained glass windows serving as a stunning backdrop as they exchanged their sweet vows. By the time the ceremony concluded, there was hardly a dry eye in the chapel.
COCKTAIL HOUR
One of Cristina & Sean’s priorities for their wedding was the feeling of elegance, style, and mostly fun. So they decided to be transported in style to their reception location, Sleepy Ridge Wedding Venue, in a vintage white car. They really wanted their reception to be a celebration of their beautiful Filipino culture and tradition, with an abundance of delicious food, music, and dance!
While the couple and the family were taking photos on Sleepy Ridge’s expansive green golf course, their beloved guests were welcome to the Cocktail Hour with passed Hors d’Oeuvres and open bar service. The bar itself was a statement piece all on its own, adorned with greenery on the top surface and with a custom crest that had the couple’s initials C and S on the front that fitted the whole timeless and elegant wedding aesthetic and color palette perfectly. Cristina & Sean wanted to keep their wedding high energy, classy, and memorable, so they opted for a fun photo booth with lots of interactive props.
OBSERVING UNIQUE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
One of the couple’s main focus points during the planning phase was the desire for their wedding to feel unique while still honoring their culture and individualities. So naturally, that is the direction that was followed as the timeline and logistics plans were created.
Once the family photos and portraits were done, the couple and their guests were treated to a traditional Filipino reception experience. They had a delicious feast and desserts while enjoying heartfelt speeches and toasts from loved ones.
Cristina and Sean wanted to observe the dove tradition where, after a brief introduction of what the releasing of the doves means as a newly wedded couple, they headed to the balcony and released two white turtle doves into the sky. The couple was welcomed back to the reception space by a Wedding Singer who serenaded the guests with beautiful singing and set the tone for the couple’s first dance and all the parent dances.
Cristina and Sean also made sure that there was plenty of time for the ceremonial money dance. They performed the money dance, where guests pin money on the bride and groom as they dance. Everybody participated, enjoyed the performance, and had a great time. The reception was easily a lively and joyful celebration, with guests dancing the night away and making memories to last a lifetime.
THEIR FEEDBACK ON WORKING WITH US
Cristina and Sean's summer wedding was a beautiful and memorable nod to their love and heritage, an event that created everlasting memories. As a professional wedding planner, it was an absolute honor to be a part of Cristina & Sean’s special day and help bring their vision and atmosphere to life. This is what they had to say about our working with them to bring their dream to fruition:
“I was so stressed out with wedding planning and finally decided to look for a Planner. I found Ayanda on Instagram and she was such a huge help in planning my wedding! She definitely lifted a lot of stress off of my shoulders.
My husband and I agree that she was worth the investment! We loved our beautiful wedding and so did our guests!”
