Graycee and Parker: Deseret Peak Temple

I had the loveliest evening with Graycee and Parker during their formal session at the Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele. Graycee looked darling in her dress from Ivy City Co. I buy so many of their dresses for me and my girls. So fun they have wedding options too.

One of my absolute favorite things is when couples plan a pre-wedding formal session at the temple where they’ll be sealed. Not only does it make the wedding day timeline flow so much more smoothly, but it also creates a calm, meaningful experience where you can truly soak it all in. If I could offer just one piece of advice to my temple couples, it would be this: schedule your formal session before your wedding day!

Temple weddings typically take place earlier in the day, which means portraits often happen around midday — when the sun is high and the light can be harsh. The most soft, romantic, glowy light happens during golden hour — the last couple of hours before sunset. Since that dreamy lighting usually isn’t available on the wedding day itself, a pre-wedding session gives us the chance to fully embrace it.

And let’s be honest — Utah weather loves to keep us guessing. Taking care of your formal portraits ahead of time gives us flexibility and peace of mind, so we can create beautiful, stress-free images without worrying about unexpected surprises.