A Salt Lake City wedding sits between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains, with four distinct seasons and a wedding culture that often involves more than one event on the same day. Here is how to plan the timeline, choose a season and make sure the photographs are ready for an album.
The shape of a Utah wedding day
Many weddings in Utah involve a ceremony, often at a temple or church, followed by a reception or open house later in the day. Because the ceremony and reception can be in different places, with hours between them, the day has natural phases that benefit from a written schedule.
Temple ceremonies are private, and photography takes place on the grounds rather than inside. That makes the exterior portraits, the family gathering and the walk out after the ceremony the key photographic moments. Ask your photographer to plan around them and to confirm any rules at the location ahead of time.
Leave breathing room between events. A ceremony that ends at noon and a reception that begins at six gives you time to rest, change clothes and take portraits without hurrying, and it keeps the energy up for the evening.
Choosing a season along the Wasatch Front
Late spring and summer are the busiest. June and July bring warm, dry days and long evenings, although afternoons can be hot. September and early October are comfortable, with cooler nights and color on the canyon hillsides that photographs well.
Winter weddings are possible and can be beautiful with snow on the mountains, but they bring cold, short days and the occasional challenge getting around. Spring can be changeable, with rain and wind arriving suddenly. Whatever you choose, keep a plan for both heat and cold.
Venues and settings in the valley
The Salt Lake area offers historic buildings downtown, garden venues, mountain-view lodges in the canyons and event centers with large banquet rooms. Some couples drive up a canyon for a ceremony with mountain backdrops, while others stay in the city for convenience.
Because the mountains are so close, travel for portraits is easy. A short drive can give you pines, rock and alpine views, but remember that elevation changes the temperature quickly, so bring layers for the wedding party.
Ask each venue about their policies for decor, music and end times, and confirm parking and accessibility for older relatives. In Salt Lake City, a venue near public transit or with ample parking can make life much easier for guests who are traveling in from across the valley or from out of state.
Timing portraits and the receiving line
If your reception is in the evening, you may have a gap in the afternoon. Use it for portraits in softer light, and give yourselves a short rest before guests arrive. A receiving line or open house can run long, so keep a quiet minute to eat and drink water.
Share a family grouping list with your photographer in advance. In a day with many relatives, a clear list keeps formal photographs short and leaves more time for relaxed, candid frames.
Turning the gallery into a keepsake
When your photos arrive, choose the images that tell the story from morning to night and upload them to the Folio Forever album designer. Smart Auto-Layout creates every spread, you can edit anything, and you approve every page before printing. Albums come in 12x24, 16x24, 15x30 or 20x30 inches, in classic or lay-flat binding, from $240 with 15 spreads and a photo cover.
A 20-page wedding magazine at $70 is a lighter option and a good gift for relatives. Printing takes 5 to 7 business days after approval, and delivery to Utah is tracked.
Dry air, altitude and comfort
Salt Lake City sits at about 4,200 feet, and the air is dry. Guests from sea level may feel the altitude, and dry air makes water, lip balm and moisturizer more important than they sound. Put water stations at the ceremony and the reception, and warn out-of-town guests to drink more than they think they need.
Dry air also affects flowers, cakes and hair. Talk to your florist and baker about how their work holds up through a long day, and schedule outdoor time for the coolest part of the afternoon.
Questions
Are photos allowed inside temples?
Temple ceremonies are private, and photographs are generally taken on the grounds. Confirm the specific guidelines for your location before the wedding.
When should I start designing my album?
Start when you receive your gallery, ideally within a few weeks, while details are fresh. You can work at your own pace and approve each page before printing.
Can I order extra copies for family?
Yes. You can order magazines or a second album from the same photos and ship them to family.
Planning an album from your Salt Lake City photos? Design it online; you approve every page before it prints. See wedding album sizes and prices or the 20-page wedding magazine.