You may remember the Vow Renewal Hubby and I planned back in 2010? Leading up to the day, every detail was shared here but TODAY I can finally reveal the full story! Why the wait you might be wondering? Well, the editors at Destination I Do Magazine graciously offered to feature the our renewal story and today the issue hits newsstands! I am a very patient girl, but holding onto these stunning images taken by Lindsey at Green Apple Photography has tested my will. All good things come…
So let me tell you a story, one befitting this very romantic day. All hearts and frills aside, I want to share a love story. One that is my life. A story we were blessed to celebrate in an enchanted place.
It is a cliché, I know but we were high school sweethearts. I first spotted Adam when I was in 9th grade, he was in 11th and honestly it was love at first sight. We were friends for some time but never apart since that first meeting so many years ago. We have the cheesy prom pictures to prove it…
We first traveled to Utah on a cross country drive after our wedding in 2000. Never before had we felt such a connection with a place other than our hometown. Sharing this beloved place with our very closest friends and family seemed a meaningful way to thank them for supporting us during the first 10 years of our marriage.
Gorgeous film images from Lindsey taken just because.
After painting Zion for years in varying seasons, I knew the red rock landscape and desert flora would inspire every last detail of the event. Immersing our guests in the visual language of color, texture and spirit that is so indicative of Southern Utah was of the utmost importance to us.
Adam and I wrote our original wedding vows and decided to restate them at our vow renewal. Also an excerpt from the Apache Wedding Prayer, originally read by my beloved uncle (known as Unkie to all) was re-read in memory of him by my mother. She read from our original wedding program, her cherished copy. Lastly the pewter chalices we toasted with at our original wedding were used in a water ceremony inspired by a reading from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.
Our outdoor ceremony was nestled at the edge of the Virgin River near Temple of the Sinewava , Zion National Park. As the spirited waters of the Virgin River rushed by, our guitarist played on to create a lovely mood we all seemed to revel in. A favorite portion was the antler ceremony where each guest received a terracotta charm, by Paloma’s Nest on which they were to write their wish for us. At the ceremony they were asked to read aloud their wish and then hang the charm from a found antler situated nearby.
Adam and I exchanged redesigned wedding bands that day. Gold from each of our original wedding bands was melted down to create the new pieces featuring a relief interpretation of my southwest landscape drawing. Our new rings are identical to one another in tones of white and yellow gold and for us represent a commitment to the next phase of our life together!
Betsy Dunlap is a calligraphy artist I admire so when beginning work on invitations, I knew we needed to collaborate. The invitations featured Adam’s favorite Zion painting of mine created about 2 years prior to our renewal. Betsy’s script of our names was infused into the design along with a bold palette of cobalt blues, red and ochre. Shimmery inks were added by brush to each card highlighting the strong striations of color seen in Zion red rock.
Programs simply said “10 years” paired with my simple sun and cloud watercolor. Save the dates were my first hand painted letterpress project which you can read more about here…
There is more to this story so check back later this week for more on the celebration dinner, gorgeous blooms and our day after session!
Finally, I want to say a special “love you” to the Hubby, my dear Adam on this Valentine’s day. None of this would be meaningful or possible without you. You are my kindred spirit in this lovely, messy, beautifully crazy life. I imagine our next 10 years and look forward to every step.
Ceremony Location- – Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah :: Event Date: May 15, 2010 :: Photographer – Lindsey Stewart, Green Apple Photography :: Celebration Dinner Site: Bit and Spur Saloon, Springdale, Utah :: Floral Design – Angie Jessup, By Bloomers St. George, Utah :: Calligraphy – Betsy Dunlap :: Bride’s Cameo Necklace – Custom from Frontier Plunder, Springdale, Utah :: Re-Designed Wedding Bands – Custom from MarcCo Jewelers, Luzerne, PA :: Teracotta Favor Bowls and Charms – Custom by Paloma’s Nest :: Linens – LaTavola Linen :: Officiant – Sharon Vollett, Salt Lake City, Utah :: Guitarist – Rustin Reber, Enterprise, Utah
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