Real Weddings

Real Utah Wedding: Kara Leigh Grenfell & Tyler Alden in Park City

With twoolf July 1, 2016 Published in the January 2016 issue of Park City Magazine

NAMES Kara Leigh Grenfell and Tyler Alden LIVE IN Brooklyn, New York; they moved from Park City one week after the wedding. OCCUPATIONS She’s a first-grade teacher; he’s a grad student in business finance at NYU. HOW THEY MET While on LDS church missions in Tacoma, Washington HOW HE PROPOSED They climbed a tree in Central Park in NYC and he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life going on adventures with her; during their engagement they traveled through Africa and Europe and walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. WEDDING TIME Luncheon: 2 p.m. Ceremony: 6 p.m. Reception: 7 p.m. NUMBER OF GUESTS Luncheon: 150; Ceremony/Reception: 450 WEDDING STYLE Natural, organic, authentic, ethereal, peaceful, and family-focused COLORS Light fog blue, lavender, succulent green, and hints of violet and poppy pink HOW THEY MADE THE DAY THEIR OWN They were both raised in the LDS faith, but during their courtship their beliefs shifted and they left the church. In their secular ceremony they emphasized the transitional journey they had been through together. LUNCHEON MENU Caprese salad appetizers; lemon herbed chicken, broccolini, and beet salad, served family-style; marscapone cream and berries RECEPTION MENU Passed hors d’oeuvres; food stations: sushi, kebabs, meats and cheeses; mini ice cream cones CAKE Naked vanilla cake with buttercream LATE-NIGHT SNACK Cookies and milk MOST UNEXPECTED MOMENT The wedding party surprised them with a puppy. FIRST DANCE “Almost Like Being in Love” by Nat King Cole FAVORS Stance socks GRAND EXIT They rode away on his motorcycle through a crowd of cheering, sparkler-waving friends. THE DAY IN THREE WORDS Authentic, creative, well-planned HONEYMOON Stein Eriksen Lodge

"We poured our hearts into our ceremony. To emphasize our spiritual journey, we wanted the words we spoke to completely represent our love for one another. We wrote every inch of our ceremony together." —Kara Leigh