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Legal Wedding

Once Igor and I decided to get married, I wanted to get married sooner rather than later. And not wait long to move in together, combine bank accounts, and other things you do when you commit to being life partners.

But just when Covid couldn’t get more bothersome, I tried to plan a wedding. I’ve envisioned my wedding ever since becoming a wedding photographer & a non-negotiable element of those daydreams was being surrounded everyone we care about. However, we had decided to get married before the vaccine was announced, so throwing a big party in the near future didn’t look possible.

Therefore, we decided to get legally & church married within a few months and have the 100+ person wedding later.

When we started planning the smol wedding, I was like “we should go to the Bonneville Salt Flats, duh.” But I was informed that only tourists go to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Locals don’t drive long distances to the middle of nowhere… Apparently 😒

So we had our small wedding in downtown Salt Lake City. We got ready at my parents’ downtown condo which was really personal. And definitely warmer than the Salt Flats for a January event!

Caili Chung Photography Salt Lake City Mini Wedding Downtown

My wedding dress was actually the first dress I tried on. I wanted some princess poof because there aren’t nearly enough opportunities to be princess poofy. And this has sparkles in the skirt ✨

I told my mom I wanted to buy her dress, but she complained that I’m lazy & would take too long. So she bought this blush one herself 😒 She’s the only person in my life who calls me lazy haha. But I love the dress she chose for herself & I think she looks stunning in it.

I am not a jewelry person. Luckily, my grandmother saved the day & mailed me a bunch of her bling – turning me into a sort of human Christmas tree. And she likes emeralds.

I asked my florist to incorporate pinks and greens to match my mom’s dress & grandma’s jewelry. And Rachel Osgusthorpe knocked it out of the park.

Did a first look with daddy. And doggy.

As you can probably imagine, wedding photos were a high priority for me. And I knew I wanted Breanne long before Igor and I ever got together. She did not disappoint!

Igor and I did a first look by a bookshelf mural that I’ve always loved. And then we went around downtown SLC for more bride and groom photos.

We planned to have a small ceremony at a photography studio. It was very simple and intimate – only our parents were present.

I got permission from the State of Utah to have my dad be our officiant, so he started our ceremony by giving a speech. Then Igor & I exchanged vows and rings. I cried instantly during my vows and was able to get Igor’s dad choked up, too. When Igor started saying his vows, Igor’s mom interrupted him to tell him “fix your posture” and that was one of my favorite parts of the day.

Both of our moms signed the legal marriage paperwork as our two witnesses. Then we took family photos & all got dinner together.

Unfortunately, there was a mixup with the photographer so this ceremony went uncaptured. But luckily, we still got professional family photos 🙂