chloe + tyler // an epic desert wedding in Moab from A Little Long Distance on Vimeo.
The goal of Honeymoon Always has always been to make the most of your adventure, make the most of your travels, make the most of your moments- together. Recently, Chloe and Tyler, one of the founding couples of Honeymoon Always, tied the knot in a three day wedding weekend that embodied the adventure and connection we always write about in a beautiful celebration in the wild and rugged desert of southern Utah.
As two Salt Lake City natives, they had fond memories of hiking to waterfalls in the outskirts of Moab, trekking to Delicate Arch at sunrise, and escaping to the desert for weekends away when they first started dating. When it came time to choose their wedding location – Moab was the top of the list. When they found Under Canvas Moab – there was no turning back.
Under Canvas Moab is a 40-acre desert haven about 7 miles outside of the town of Moab, Utah. As just one location of several throughout the country, this property ain’t just any old campsite. This is certified, grade A glamour camping – Glamping, with 40+ canvas tents on the property furnished with chic, comfortable and luxurious beds, wooden floors, and some even have indoor plumbing! The lobby is home to a gorgeous fire pit, and endless coffee and tea. The firepit hosts live music and marshmallow skewers ready for you to roast – this place is undeniably dreamy with the magic and adventurous vibe of Moab intertwined throughout. People come here on their actual honeymoon, and these two wanted that exact spirit for their wedding.
Friday
Chloe and Tyler began their magical matrimonial weekend on a Friday in May by taking over the entire property. All current guests checked out, and their 150+ wedding guests checked in. They decorated the lobby, they placed party favors in each tent and they set up their tables, stage and decor for the weekend with the help of the INCREDIBLE Under Canvas staff. If you are considering Under Canvas for an event, a holiday, a honeymoon or even a wedding, we cannot recommend the beautiful property and their considerate and compassionate staff more highly. I mean look at this place!
As everything started to come together, these two skipped away with their jaw-droppingly amazing photographer Brandy Nichols, to take their last photos as an unmarried couple around the campsite and in the teal hills literally down the street from Under Canvas – Can you get over these views?! We just cannot!
Their wedding party grilled for their guests as everyone rang in the wedding weekend with BBQ, drinks, and good vibes, and also bundled in blankets! To say the spring desert weather can be temperamental is an understatement, as temperatures dropped almost to freezing during the evenings of their wedding weekend. Unseasonably chilly for May, and it even snowed the following weekend! Kudos to these wedding guests as everyone enjoyed the sunshine in the day and bundled up with blankets, coats and their log burners in their tents to stay warm at night. An adventurous hurdle, but one that didn’t stop these two from enjoying their special day. Honeymoon always right?
With bundled bodies in the crowd, the wedding weekend kicked off with speeches – by Chloe the Bride, the maids of honor and the best men (they each had three and are very sentimental so this took a while)… As the sunset behind the red rocked hills, their friends and families laughed, cried and raised their glasses to love.
In an effort to keep the party going, and frankly to stay warm – the soon-to-be-spouses and their guests hit the dancefloor. One of the best parts of an Under Canvas wedding? The open-air dance floor without a curfew. In a string light and starlit night, these two and their friends set off their wedding weekend with a bang by boogieing as the moon came up.
Ok, folks, that’s just day 1.
Saturday – Wedding Day
As the Saturday sun rose on their wedding day, Chloe and Tyler met their guests out on a flat spot on property (where their ceremony would be a few hours later!), and guests joined them for sunrise yoga. With mats on the ground, (ala Under Canvas) and the warm sun shining down, everyone was able to unwind and work off some of the excitement from the night before!
After a round of catered breakfast burritos from the delicious Benitos in town, guests who wanted to, joined the happy couple on a hike to Corona Arch – a stunningly beautiful 3-mile hike to an arch outside of any national parkland. Look at this place!
Guests enjoyed the day as Tyler and Chloe headed back to camp to primp, polish and prep for the main event! With the gorgeous Under Canvas tents affixed with generators and bathroom facilities with power nearby, their wedding party – dubbed the Love Lot – was able to get ready, sip champagne and laugh and cry under the desert sun. Tyler’s Ted Baker suit and Chloe’s Leanne Marshall dress were absolutely perfect!
Tyler and Chloe opted to do a first look and see each other before the ceremony. They wanted to have a moment with just the two of them, to read letters to each other and bring them back to why they were here in the first place; their adventurous, wild, passionate love. Across the street from the camp, their photographer had scouted out a stunning location for this special moment atop a red rock desert vista. After reading their letters (and shedding many a tear) these two were ready to seal the deal.
One of their best friends officiated the wedding and both of their parents walked them both down the aisle. They passed rings around in a bag made from Chloe’s grandmother’s wedding dress to have the love squeezed into them by their guests. With vows, they wrote themselves, and tears they couldn’t contain – these two said their I’ do’s as the beautiful La Sal mountains laid the most beautiful backdrop to their ceremony.
The reception had more speeches, more champagne, a delicious buffet of farm-to-table cuisine by the one and only Moab Private Chef. Beautiful wine goblets adorned the table and each guest had their name hand-drawn on a tiny paper airplane.
After dinner, there were first dances, and parent dances surrounded by sparklers as the night melted into the dancefloor and disco ball. Friends and family from around the world boogied their hearts out as the full moon came up over the mountains to bathe everyone is its stunning lunar light.
WHAT A DAY!
Sunday
With two hours of sleep under their belts, Chloe and Tyler got up at 5:00 a.m. with their adventurous photographer Brandy Nichols and their dedicated and genius videographer Josh Helton of A Little Long Distance, to shoot some footage in Arches National Park. They drove into the park as the sun came up, and started to warm up the 40-degree national park. Chloe and Tyler, slightly hungover and on cloud nine, slipped back into the wedding clothes for their first photoshoot as a married couple and my oh my these photos are incredible.
After their photoshoot, guests grabbed some snacks, packed up their things and said their goodbyes. With filled hearts and tired eyes, the happy couple said their thank you’s and squeezed their loved ones as they ventured home.
These two road-tripped back to Austin with their happy hearts and a newlywed glow to head back to work, save more PTO, and plan their own honeymoon sometime soon!
Vendors:
- Photo: https://brandynicholsphoto.com/ | @brandynicholsphoto
- Videographer: https://alittlelongdistance.com/ | @alittlelongdistance
- Venue: https://www.undercanvas.com/camps/moab/ | @undercanvasofficial
- Catering: https://moabprivatechef.com/ | @moabprivatechef
- DJ: @hans.harris
- Florals: http://mannafloraldesign.com/ | @mannafloraldesign
- Dress: http://www.altamodabridal.com/ @altamodabridal | https://leannemarshall.com/ | @leannemarshallofficial @hauntedheadfashion
- Suit: https://www.tedbaker.com/ | @ted_baker_menswear
- Tie: https://www.thetiebar.com/ | @thetiebar
- Makeup: @willowropner.makeup
- Bride rings: https://www.elizapage.com/ | @elizapagejewelry
- Earrings: https://stickstonestyle.com/ | @stickstonestyle