Old Fashioned Carnival Fun

With pink cotton candy, popcorn and a soda fountain, MiKell and Josh’s carnival wedding personified the couple’s fun meeting, engagement and courtship.

MiKell and Joshua

Salt Lake Temple

What do you like about Josh?

MiKell: I love Josh’s outgoing personality. He is hilarious and fun to joke around with.

What do you like about MiKell?

Josh: MiKell is VERY outgoing, fun and easy to talk with.

How did you first meet?

Josh: We met on 600 South and Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City. MiKell was with all of her girlfriends on her way to go country dancing and I was headed to the bowling alley to meet up with my friends. After catching each other’s eyes, we began to talk as we stopped at each traffic light—and before we went our separate ways she yelled out her number across three lanes of traffic!

How did you propose?

Josh: It started at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake where she was for the day. An employee surprised her with a rose and a note that read:

“MiKell—Because you are my only one and always up for having fun, I have made a hunt for you, with clues to tell you what to do. Read the hints I made with care. I have left them everywhere. They may lead you to some of our favorite spots to show you that I love you lots.”

Following several stops around town, MiKell was led to Lagoon where she was instructed to follow a nature path east of the theme park. After walking a few minutes through the trees, I was waiting for her with a dozen roses and perhaps the most important question of our lives.

What was your reaction to the proposal?

MiKell: I knew it was coming soon, but I didn’t know exactly when or how. As soon as I read the first note, I knew the time was finally here and I was so excited! The scavenger hunt was really fun and each place I went I was hoping I would finally get to see Josh. It made me very anxious.

How did you prepare for the wedding?

MiKell: My Mom and sister were my wedding planners and it was wonderful to have their help. We had all the main things planned very quickly. We picked my wedding dress, reception place, rehearsal dinner location, videographer, photographer and scheduled our temple time all in the first day. It was fun to plan our wedding and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing Mom and sister. 

What was the weather like on your wedding day?

MiKell: The weather was beautiful. It rained in the morning, but by the time we went to the Temple the sun was up and it was hotter than ever!

How was your temple experience?

Josh: I loved the ceremony. It was the most amazing feeling to have MiKell by the hand and to know she is going to be there with me eternally.

MiKell: I just loved the ceremony at the Temple. I could not help but smile and cry all at the same time.

How would you describe MiKell on your wedding day?

Josh: BEAUTIFUL! I just wanted to grab on and never let go (which I tried, but she kept complaining about me pulling on her veil and stepping on her dress). She was the most stunning bride ever.

Who was in your bridal party?

MiKell: My sister was my maid-of-honor and my three best friends were my bridesmaids. They wore cute champagne dresses. My flower girls were my one-year-old niece and my little sister.

Josh: My best man was Steve, also known as “Stiffler” and I had four groomsmen – all in tuxes.

What were your flowers and wedding colors?

MiKell: My wedding colors were a very pale pink and champagne. We used pink roses, tulips and carnations in all different shades of pink.

What food did you serve your guests at your carnival wedding?

MiKell: We had a fountain with running pink chocolate served with strawberries, marshmallows, apples and pretzels. We also had a cotton candy machine serving pink cotton candy. Then we had a soda station with pink lemonade, lime rickies and a special blue fizz drink. Our main dishes were pretty mini hamburgers, hot dogs and grill cheese sandwiches with dainty french fries. We also had popcorn wrapped in cellophane to hand out to each guest. It was certainly a carnival feast!

What activities and entertainment did you have?

MiKell: We had a photo booth for our guests to take their pictures in. We also had a person painting watercolor portraits of the wedding, which guests loved to watch. Our wedding video played in a little movie theater room we called the "Webb Theater." It was projected onto a big white screen and the room had plenty of seating, so our guests could sit down comfortably and watch our video.

What special touches did your carnival wedding have?

MiKell: Throughout the reception floor, there were park benches covered in flowers. We also used hanging white lights to go along with the carnival feel.

Did anything funny or unexpected happen?

MiKell: During the middle of our reception, the cotton candy machine decided to set off the fire alarm, which sent us and our guests hiking down 23 flights of stairs. At least we got to take a few pictures on the big red truck with the firemen!

How would you describe your wedding experience?

MiKell: Fun, exciting and unforgettable

How did the day end?

MiKell: The day ended at about 10 PM. Josh and I walked between the guests through an isle of sparklers and into a carriage ride.

Did you go on a honeymoon?

MiKell: Josh and I went to Cancun Mexico after our wedding. It was beautiful and so relaxing!

What would you like to tell your children and grandchildren about your wedding day?

Mikell: It was the best day of my life! The Temple is better than you will ever imagine!

 

Wedding photojournalism by Joshua Brown Photography, www.joshuabrownphotography.com