Salt Lake City Wedding Venue - Tracy Aviary + Botanical Garden - Cianna + Josh - Utah Wedding Photographer
downtown Salt Lake City wedding venue:
What you Need to Know about Tracy Aviary + Botanical Gardens
Salt Lake City is an amazing place to get married both for locals, and for couples bringing friends and family together from all throughout the U.S. and beyond! Whether you’re a born and raised Utahn, or a transplant like myself, getting married in Salt Lake City offers a ton of wedding venue options with different scenery and range of budget options. The redrocks of Southeastern Utah get a lot of love, but northern Utah surrounding Salt Lake City has a totally different landscape – you’ll be overwhelmed by gardens, greenery and tall pine trees! Couples looking for a gorgeous venue, easy to access for guests with a historic backdrop should check out The Chase Mill at Tracy Aviary & Botanical Garden.
Photos in this post were associate shot for Jacquelyn Nytes .
Cianna and Josh had such a wonderful celebration here at the Aviary. It’s a place they really enjoy together - the aviary is in the heart of Salt Lake and is a unique way to spend the day out in nature. Cianna also raved about the coffee shop on-site: “it’s got great… everything, really!” she said. Next time I’m there I can’t wait to check it out!
What makes Tracy Aviary & Botancial Garden a great Wedding Venue:
Located in the heart of Salt Lake City, this Utah wedding venue has an incredibly romantic, unique amphitheatre-style ceremony area tucked outside the beautiful faded brick building. The building’s three stories provide plenty of space for a couple getting married. The top floor of the restored Mill is perfect for a group to get ready together, with tons of natural light and LED mirrors. On the main floor, exposed wood beams feel rustic and warm, and there’s plenty of room for dancing and a dessert table. Below there’s additional space for another group to get ready along with restrooms for the couple and guests.
In the late morning, Cianna started getting ready with her bridesmaids. The crew came from southern California, Wisconsin, and beyond to be by the bride’s side! The 6 girls took full advantage of the great natural light on the top story of the restored building as they did hair and makeup. A full-length tri-fold mirror in the corner helped them see every angle, and on the opposite wall mirrors bordered with LED lights were perfect for tricky moments with false eyelashes! On the bottom level, the groom, Josh, and his close friends got ready as well. He wore straight-legged pants with a subtle green-blue plaid pattern, with a blazer and brown oxfords - it was classic and at the same time, something just a little bit unique that showcased his personality.
Before the ceremony, we arranged for Cianna and Josh to see each other for the first time and they were both so excited and nervous! It was really sweet to document these moments. Once they saw each other, they immediately relaxed and felt less flustered! The ceremony took place in the concrete sub-level amphitheater next to The Chase Mill. Cianna walked with her mother down one staircase towards Josh waiting down below. It was such a unique space - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ceremony quite like it! After a short and sweet ceremony, we took couples’ photos around the aviary and botanical gardens, stopping in awe of peacocks and owl exhibits along the way. Later Cianna and Josh grabbed food- their caterers were The Smoked Taco and Bruges Food Truck. All I gotta say is: NOM! so good!
After dinner and an outfit change (a lace jumpsuit, cowgirl hat + boots FOR THE WIN!), the newlyweds rejoined a western/disco-themed party inside the Chase Mill for cocktails, toasts, and dancing! As the night came to a close I got to thank Cianna and Josh for letting me be part of this special day + I truly hope it’s not the last time we’ll see each other — they were such fun, easygoing, light-hearted people to work with! The night ended with friends and family that had traveled from all over the United States to be with them on their day + there was just so much love, it was incredible!
Read reviews of this top-rated wedding venue on Wedding Wire and The Knot.
Where is Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, Utah’s state capitol, is located in Northern Utah. It’s a quick and easy flight from major cities - less than 2 hours to fly from Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA, Denver, CO, or Jackson, WY. For a road trip, Salt Lake City is a day’s drive away from places like Yellowstone National Park (321 miles), Denver (520 miles), or the Grand Canyon (522 miles)! Before the colonization of Salt Lake, this area was home to the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute and Ute Native American tribes.
how to get to tracy aviary + botanical gardens
If your guests are coming from out of town, they can easily fly into Salt Lake City International Airport – this venue is a quick 20 minute drive east of the airport. As the 21st busiest airport in North America, Salt Lake City has hundreds of daily flights from both regional and international airports.
For information on renting the three-story historic building for a wedding, engagement session, or a reception with family, contact rentals@tracyaviary.org
about the aviary
Open 363 days a year, The Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens is the oldest aviary in the nation according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Bird lovers, history buffs, and nature enthusiasts can visit 7 days a week. The Aviary also offers special events, like Breakfast with The Birds and Wine Takes Flight.
P.S. Check out more awesome Utah and Salt Lake City wedding venues on these directories: Wedding Wire | Wedding Spot
The History of Chase Mill
The Chase Mill was originally built in 1852, and Utah’s famed Brigham Young assisted building owner Isaac Chase in the development of the sawmill and gristmill (which is why you’ll find his initials on the face of the building). In 1882, the building and the surrounding area, now known as Liberty Park, was gifted to the state of Utah.
things to do around salt lake city
There’s so much more to do around Salt Lake than the typical “shop, dine, stay” you’ll see on tourism ads. No matter what time of year you’re planning to get married, you and your guests will have plenty to see and do to make awesome memories together! During cooler times of the year, Antelope Island is a must. It’s only 30 minutes north of Salt Lake and is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels. Downtown, visit Trolley Square for shops supporting independent artists and crafters — in August you can attend a huge Craft Fair called Craft Lake City!
DRESS SHOPS AROUND SALT LAKE
In need of a wedding dress? Salt Lake City has several shops for wedding gowns, veils, and accessories. Visit Chantel Lauren . I especially LOVE their Western collection - gimme that fringe! Chantel Lauren also has wedding and honeymoon-oriented sleepwear, lounge clothes, and swimsuits! Visit their flagship store in Salt Lake City. The Bridal Studio is another beautiful store for wedding and elopement inspiration catering to Salt Lake City clients. I think this shop has a great variety of design-forward dresses that range in styles from edgy, avant-garde to soft, sexy and understated.
where to get coffee in salt lake city
For my fellow coffee addicts - find a great cup over at Three Pines Coffee or Publik Coffee Roasters. And if you’re headed a little further north, my go-to shop is Daily Rise! Stop by their downtown Ogden location for the tastiest crêpes.
SLC events + attractions
It’s not often you’ll find hikes immersed in nature, so close to a city skyline - but Twin Peaks and Ensign Peak are both exceptions (and there are probably many more around Salt Lake City!) Avenue Twin Peaks has several different routes weaving around natural landforms ranging in difficulty, so you can spend a few hours or nearly the entire day hiking! Ensign Peak is a short but very steep hike that begins one mile north of the state capitol building. It’s notable as the spot colonizer Brigham Young and the other founders of SLC visited after arriving. Here, they began planning the settlement, using the advantage of the heightened perspective looking out onto the valley below.
The Capitol building is located in downtown Salt Lake on Capitol Hill - in the Spring if you’re lucky you’ll catch the blooming Cherry Blossom Trees! Nearby you’ll see The Eagle Gate Monument, various art and history museums, working farms, and of course the iconic Mormon temples. Many of the buildings and historical monuments are thanks in part to the Mormon church, such as The Church History Library, which offers genealogy research far beyond the reaches of its Mormon members - all are welcome to explore their lineage here.
a little outside of salt lake you’ll find…
4-ish hours north: Bridger-Teton National Forest — this is a MUST visit! There is a popular airport in Jackson, WY, but you may have to make a connection through Salt Lake City to get there. It may be worth a scenic road trip instead!
4-ish hours east: Grand Junction, Colorado! My husband and I along with our pups recently drove through GJ and loved it. Stop at Highline Lake State Park, Colorado National Monument, and Grand Mesa.
4-ish hours south: Moab! Explore Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse State Park.
2-ish hours west: Bonneville Salt Flats — crusty, flaky, salt-soaked earth stretches endlessly in this alien environment. Stock up on supplies and gas before visiting because the desolate + minimalistic environment doesn’t offer much for an unprepared down-and-out traveler, but don’t let that deter you from visiting. It’s stunning! It’s a place that draws athletes, car competitions, and more. For more information on this strange, beautiful place visit the VisitUtah website!
For more information on getting married in Utah, check out these posts next:
Elope in Moab, Utah
See this real mountain elopement in Northern Utah
Utah’s Best Mountain Wedding Venues
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