An Early Summer Payson Temple Sealing and White Shanty Wedding Day

Lila and Paycen were married at the Payson Utah Temple in the first week of June and celebrated that evening at The White Shanty in Provo, surrounded by a big, joy-filled bridal party and a room full of family who clearly adore them.

If you’re planning a Payson Temple wedding or a reception at The White Shanty, this real Utah wedding is full of ideas (and a few planning tips).

The Temple: A Timeless Backdrop

Lila and Paycen’s portraits at the Payson Temple were absolute perfection, from the temple’s cream stone and spire behind them, and a big dip kiss on the lawn, to Lila’s veil catching the breeze. It’s proof that you don’t need an elaborate concept to get gorgeous photos; a beautiful temple, great style, and good light do most of the work.

Pinterest idea: the dip-kiss on open temple grounds is a classic pose for a reason! It works in nearly any light and gives you a dramatic, veil-in-motion shot every time.

Lila & Paycen’s bridal party was SO much fun. The bridesmaids in mismatched blush, pink, and pale yellow dresses and groomsmen and even younger siblings included, cheered and laughed their way through photos outside the temple. A big bridal party like this makes for genuinely joyful, candid images, but it also takes real time to photograph well.

Planning tip: if you’re having a large bridal party, build in more time than you think you’ll need for formals on your wedding day timeline. Between wrangling everyone into place, capturing full-group shots, and still getting the couple’s individual portraits, a bigger crew means a longer (but very worth it) timeline.

The Ring Ceremony: A Sweet Tradition for Utah Temple Weddings

Because sealings inside the temple aren’t photographed, many Utah couples plan a separate ring ceremony afterward. A short, public moment at the reception venue where family and friends can actually watch the couple exchange rings. Lila and Paycen did exactly that at The White Shanty, standing beneath a simple greenery-draped arch while their guests looked on.

Planning tip: if you’re marrying in the temple, talk to your officiant or a trusted family member about doing a brief ring ceremony at your reception. It gives guests who couldn’t be in the temple a meaningful moment to witness, and it gives your photographer a beautiful, candid ceremony to capture for you.

This also allowed time for Lila and Paycen to take some more couples and bridal party portraits outside of the White Shanty’s picture perfect doors.

The Reception: String Lights and a Simple, Sweet Cake

The White Shanty’s soaring white rafters and string lights gave the whole reception a soft, romantic glow, from the ring ceremony straight through the first dance. A simple two-tier buttercream cake with piped detailing sat alongside a framed engagement photo, a small, sentimental touch on the dessert table.

The Sparkler Send-Off

As the night wound down, guests waved glow sticks on the dance floor before lining up outside with sparklers for one last kiss goodbye, a lively, well-lit send-off to close out the day.

Planning a Payson Temple or White Shanty Wedding?

Lila and Paycen’s day is a wonderful example of how a classic Utah wedding (temple ceremony, ring ceremony, reception with all your favorite people) can still feel completely personal and fun. If you’re getting married at the Payson Temple, The White Shanty, or anywhere in Utah, I’d love to help you capture it.

Carys Haslam Photography is currently booking 2026 and 2027 Utah and destination weddings. Reach out at caryshaslamphotography@gmail.com or follow along on Instagram @caryshaslamphotography for more real weddings like this one.