4th of July weekend is upon us!

So we thought it was only right to celebrate with a wedding that had a slightly patriotic lilt.

Kristin and Jesse hosted their wedding in Park City Utah, with a day that was laden down in personal touches, from their shared foodie passion and love of Japanese culture, to their penchant for Prince and their adorable little pooch.

But of course, they flew the flag for all things local too, by taking in their favourite spots in Kristin's parents home town.

Captured so beautifully by Amanda of Blueberry Photography, and styled by Meredith at Bluebird Event Management, we just love how intimate and personalised this celebration was - adorned in walnuts and hydrangeas at every turn.

With impeccably chic style (Kristin in Carolina Herrera and Jesse in Versace) the couple set the tone for their modern, elegantly neutral decor with white and peach hues and silver accents.

And while one of Kristin's (gorgeous) heels broke right after the ceremony, she didn't get that stop her busting a move, as they hit the dancefloor for a first dance to one very funky tune...

Wedding Day Snapshot

Our Love Story

A mutual friend introduced Jesse and me at a party due to our shared interest in fast food: I had just finished working at Yum! Brands doing marketing for KFC, and Jesse owned a small hot dog restaurant, Zog's Dogs, in addition to working in real estate development. One of our first dates was at Zog's-we dined on hot dogs and tested new menu items in the deep fryer, including fried Hawaiian bread! It was delicious! Jesse's proposal was romantic and spur of the moment. One morning when he took our dog for a walk, he gathered a bunch of "wildflowers" (i.e. flowers borrowed from neighborhood flower boxes!) and got down on one knee to propose when he got home. I was totally surprised and delighted! Our wedding in three words? Convivial, Unique, Intimate.

Favourite Moments

The theme and venues were very special to us, as well as the menu, due to our shared interest in food. It was also fun to share our relationship with our guests by including little things like our affinity for Prince, Japanese culture, fried chicken, art, horses, our dog, etc. We took pictures at the big white historic barn that is on the way into Park City. I see it every time I visit my parents, and it always makes me feel like I'm home when I see it.

The Photography

Amanda at Blueberry Photography was the photographer at one of my best friend's weddings. Her team was so fun that day and everyone looked flawless in her pictures, so it was an easy decision to work with her. It was great to have her as part of our special day.

The Inspiration

Our wedding theme centered around symbols that unite our families: hydrangeas and walnuts. My mom's family is from Little Rock, Arkansas. My late grandmother grew beautiful hydrangeas in her yard, and including these flowers was a way to include her and honor my mother's family and Southern heritage. Jesse's family is 3rd generation walnut farmers, and he and his cousins grew up going to "camp" on the farm during the summers. Our colours were hydrangea green, blush and fawn/walnut and the style of the decor was contemporary mountain chic.

The Music

We are both big Prince fans, and Jesse introduced me to the Purple Rain movie on one of our early dates. (We spent a lot of time trying to figure out how we could get enough Purple Rain DVDs for the gift bags, but to no avail.) We wanted an upbeat, fun and non-traditional first dance song, so opted for Prince's "I Would Die 4 U". It was a big hit!

The Venue

My parents retired to Park City in 2001, so it now feels like my hometown and I love it there. The Riverhorse, located on the historic Main Street, is gorgeous and has the best food in Park City. Plus, being an equestrian, I love the restaurant's equine theme! I also really like how the restaurant has separate "zones" - a patio, a bar, a main dining room, and a separate room for a dance floor - so guests could mingle wherever they were most comfortable. We chose the Kimball Art Center for our ceremony due to our shared love of art, its light and airy interior, and its proximity to the Riverhorse-we could just walk up the street to the reception!

The Decor & Details

There was no DIY due to my lack of crafting skills! Tables were simply set and decorated with flower arrangements ranging from bouquets to single stems. Our flowers were a mix of hydrangeas, peonies and other blossoms. Walnuts were used as accents. We did not have favors, but each place setting was adorned with a walnut. A sit down dinner was served, which included a salad and the diner's choice of a duo of wild game, fried chicken, or Utah red trout. Our wedding cake was tres leches with a lemon buttercream icing.

The Refreshments

We went to Morocco for our honeymoon and it was amazing-it was an exotic and beautiful place to explore together. Neither of us had ever been, and we love going new places together. I would definitely recommend it for couples looking for a trip that is off the beaten path. We ended the trip with a few days in Paris on our way home.

The Honeymoon

Such a lovely wedding! How pretty are the simple tones for the reception decor, and I l just love how they managed to include so many personal touches throughout their entire day.

Thanks so much to Amanda of Blueberry Photography, and of course, Kristin and Jesse for sharing their utterly chic and intimate wedding with us.

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Happy 4th of July weekend everyone!