1. Spring is just right around the corner and that means The Bridal
Extravaganza team is in full gear putting together the biggest
wedding show of the Spring season. Over 120 wedding
professionals will gather at The South Towne Expo Center on April
14th to help brides who are in the planning process of their
weddings get some amazing ideas.
The Spring Bridal Extravaganza also means that one lucky couple
will be winning a dream honeymoon to the all inclusive El Dorado
Royale in the Mayan Riviera – Compliments of All Points Travel.
This is an amazing Adults Only, All Inclusive Resort that will take
your breath away.

2. Here are a few other reasons to attend The Spring Bridal Extravaganza.
Thousands of Dollars In Prizes Will Be Given Away At The Show
The First 150 Brides Who Arrive Will Receive A Complimentary Two Night Get
Away
Musical Guests, Guest Speakers, Food Sampling, The Latest Trends and Styles
Fashion Shows From Some Of Utah’s Best Wedding Gown and Tuxedo Designers
No Running Around Town, Everything You Need Is In One Location
Check out our highlights from last years Spring Bridal Extravaganza – Compliments
of Kale Fitch Films

3. Special thanks to Claire Marika Photography for sharing this beautiful pronovias
arpa wedding with us. We want to wish Marissa and Benson the very best as they
start their new lives together.

4. About the Wedding
bride & groom: Marissa Brown and Benson Empey
how you met: We met while we were at BYU: We attended the same ward and I was
interested in him. I asked him out on a date and he turned me down, which I found quite
frustrating because I didn’t know he already had a girlfriend. Luckily, they broke up a a
few months later and we started dating. He was afraid that I would turn him down in
revenge when he asked me on a first date, but I was still secretly smitten and said yes.
wedding date: August 13, 2011
location: Salt Lake City (LDS Temple and Private Residence)
colors: pink, green, and cream
themes: tea party/garden party
best part of the day: Watching my nieces and nephews devour cone after cone of cotton
candy.
special details: Book centerpieces because I love reading; teapot vases; cupcakes made
by the bride and groom. Most of the things at the reception were old or used or already
in the family because we wanted the event to have a vintage feel. We wanted it to be
personal and have the feeling of us, of things we loved, instead of being shiny and new
and impersonal.

5. bridal gown & accessories:
● The lace veil was a family heirloom (also worn by my mom, sister, and aunts)
● My pearls were a wedding gift from the groom from the Philippines
● My shoes were Kenneth Cole and I made the shoe accessories
● As far as the pronovias arte goes, I actually bought it used from KSL. The girl I
bought it from said it was a Pronovias, but the tag was cut out when she made
alterations to it. Not a very glamorous story for a wedding blog :)
● I also had an heirloom cameo that held the ribbon on my bouquet.
bridal party attire:
● Bridesmaids pronovias astarteJ.Crew
● Matrons: shirts- J.Crew, skirts were custom made
● The mother of the bride dresses were custom made
● Benson’s suit was Ralph Lauren.

6. Vendors
florist: Natalie Affleck
catering: homemade by family- my mom, Jaynie Brown, made almost all of it.
cake artistry: Lace cake by Cake-a-licious
event designer: Natalie Affleck
decor/rentals: Tent from Diamond Rental; Most of the other decorations were things we
already owned. My sisters and I spent the summer collecting vases, tea pots, and other
things from different shops. The books were from my parent’s and a neighbor’s libraries.
photography: Claire Marika Photography
videography: Claire Marika Photography
favors: Candy bar of the bride and groom’s favorite candy, including homemade
caramels made by the bride and the bridesmaids. The guests selected their own candy
and it was held in a paper cone made of old sheet music.
invitations: Designed and hand-illustrated by the bride; letterpressed by the bride and
groom; calligraphy on the envelope by the bride and the maid of honor (Emily Brown)