Lomond View Gardens Utah Wedding | Oklyn + Nathan

Summer Field Engagement Photos in Salt Lake City, Utah

Nathan and Oklyn’s engagement session took place at this beautiful green field and mountain backdrop, and we timed it right at golden hour. Early summer in Utah gives you that lush green grass, warm glowing light, and the dreamiest scenery for engagement photos. The sun was dipping behind the mountains and everything had that soft golden glow. I especially loved their outfits, the white and neutral against the green field is so elegant, simple, and timeless.

Most of my wedding collections include an engagement session. Engagement photos are perfect for announcements and save-the-dates, but they are also about documenting this season of life before the wedding day arrives. It is such a fun, relaxed time where we get to run around, laugh a lot, and take some really beautiful photos of you two together.

This fiancé era goes by so quickly. I love giving my couples a full gallery that lets them look back years from now and say, “Wow, we look so young and in love.” While this post only shows a small preview, my couples typically receive well over 100 photos from their engagement session so we can capture a variety of moments, movement, and genuine interactions.

I always encourage my couples to bring two outfits to their engagement session. One look can be more casual and relaxed, and the other can be a little more dressed up or formal. That way we can create a mix of photos and give you more variety throughout your gallery.

Nathan and Oklyn absolutely nailed their session, and it was the perfect way to celebrate their engagement before I photographed their wedding day. Golden hour, a green field, the mountains, and two people very in love… it does not get much better than that. Take a sneak peek at their engagements and scroll for their stunning wedding photos.

A Unique Way to Share Private Vows and Still Have Your First Look Down the Aisle

I loved how Nathan and Oklyn chose to exchange private vows before their ceremony. They still wanted the moment of seeing the wedding dress for the first time as Oklyn walked down the aisle, so we made a plan that allowed them to have both.

After we finished detail photos and getting ready photos, I had Nathan stand off to the side of the venue in a private area facing away. Then I led Oklyn over to him, and she wrapped her arms around him from behind while he stayed facing forward. She kept telling him not to turn around, even though he really, really wanted to. It was the most romantic and wholesome moment.

I always try to keep my distance when I photograph private vows so it still feels intimate. I remind my couples that I can’t hear what they’re saying anyway, so they don’t have to worry about me being there. It allows them to stay fully in the moment with each other.

Honestly, I think it made their ceremony even more special. They were able to share those personal words together first, but still keep the emotional moment of seeing each other for the first time as Oklyn walked down the aisle. The anticipation just kept building, and I loved every second of it.

Soft and Romantic Overcast Wedding Ceremony Moments

Their wedding day was beautifully overcast but still warm, which gave us the most perfect soft lighting for their ceremony. I loved capturing all the emotions throughout the day, from tears to big smiles.

One of my favorite moments was when the bride surprised her mom at the beginning of the ceremony. Her dad started walking her down the aisle, and then halfway down he stopped to grab her mom so they could both walk her the rest of the way together. The whole room was in tears, including the groom, and me.

During the ceremony, they still shared a few words with each other but kept it simple and sweet since they had already exchanged their private vows earlier.

Another detail I loved was that the groomsmen passed out pieces of paper so guests could write the couple a little piece of advice or a love note. It was such a simple but sentimental idea they’ll be able to look back on for years.

Tips for Quick and Efficient Family Photos After Your Wedding Ceremony

Because they chose to do the traditional first look down the aisle, we planned to take family photos, bridal party photos, and bride and groom portraits right after the ceremony. When you have a shorter window for portraits, the key is keeping things organized and moving efficiently.

My biggest tip for this is communication with your photographer. A couple months before the wedding, my clients fill out a questionnaire where they list the family photo combinations they want and explain their family dynamic. This is actually super helpful for me going into the day. I also encourage couples to keep their family photo list simple and not include too many different groupings, especially when we have a limited amount of time.

For this wedding, we started with the bridal party since there were more people in those groups than in the family photos. I’m still able to get lots of variety and fun moments, but we move through the list quickly so everyone can get back to enjoying the day.

If couples want a slower, more relaxed timeline after the ceremony, I usually recommend doing a first look earlier in the day. But even without one, with good planning and communication we can still move through portraits efficiently. After we finished family and bridal party photos, I took the couple around the venue to capture their bride and groom portraits in all the best spots.

Fun and Meaningful Wedding Reception Ideas to Consider

Their reception was the perfect way to end such a beautiful day. Throughout the reception I love capturing lots of candid moments. Some of my favorite details were the large prints of their engagement photos displayed around the space. It is such a fun way to include photos from that season of life in your wedding day.

During dinner, the couple went around to each table and took a photo with all of their guests. This is such a great idea because you get photos with everyone who came to celebrate you, and it is also a really time-efficient way to do it.

During speeches, I always try to capture more than just the person talking. I love photographing the reactions from the couple and their guests too. The tears, the laughter, and the little in-between moments are what make those memories so meaningful.

We timed their first dances right at sunset, and they were absolutely stunning. The light was soft and golden and made the whole moment feel even more special.

I also love adding a little personality into every gallery. When it was time for cake, I had them pretend they were both going to take a bite at the same time, but the groom had other plans and it made for the funniest moment.

We ended the night with a private last dance and a bubble exit, which was the perfect way to close out such a beautiful wedding day.

Scroll down to see some of their amazing vendors!

Vendors

Venue: Lomond View Gardens

Coordinator: Lomond View Gardens

Florals: Lee’s Marketplace

Wedding Dress: Fantasy Bridal

Photo Booth: Rocky Mountain Photo Booth