This Mountain Wedding is a Real-Life Winter Wonderland

By Lydia Brooks

Falon Miskelly & Carter Cowman
January 1, 2021

When college sweethearts Falon Miskelly and Carter Cowman met on a spring break ski trip in Colorado, neither of them was expecting to find their future spouse. As fate would have it, three years later they returned to the mountains, this time in Utah, for their New Year’s Day nuptials. The couple promised forever underneath the snow-capped mountaintops of Deer Valley, an ode to the first time they met.

Falon wanted her all-white wedding to feel organic and to play off the beautiful alpine scenery. Together with her mom, Geri Miskelly, and planner, Ivory & Vine Event Co.’s Karli Spangler, she created a day full of texture and asymmetry, using different tones to bring the neutral affair to life. An important part of this plan was the lack of greenery in the floral arrangements. “We wanted to stay away from a Bohemian vibe, which is tricky,” says florist Hailey Khan of Venus and Co. Instead, she created a whimsical hanging display for the tented reception, using various types of orchids and dried florals.

For Falon, the day turned out even better than she could’ve imagined. “Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she reminisces. “It was absolutely perfect.”

Miskelly Carter Cowman Popping Champagne

Staying True to You

In our age of Instagrammable weddings and picture-perfect Pinterest boards, brides and planners alike can feel the pressure to conform to a certain standard. But planner Karli Spangler worked with bride Falon Miskelly to create a day that was uniquely suited to her. For Karli, this meant finding a way to keep a monochromatic look interesting. Many white weddings include lots of greenery, a detail of which Falon wasn’t a fan. Instead, she found ways to incorporate different materials and textures that stayed true to the color palette. For Falon, this meant including details that felt personal to her, and leaving out the ones that didn’t. During the planning process, she had a conversation with her mom about incorporating the something old, new, borrowed, and blue tradition. “We thought about it so hard, and just realized that we are not those people,” says Falon.

Miskelly Carter Cowman Bridal Preparation

Prepped to Party

Falon and her bridesmaids spent the morning of the wedding enjoying hair and makeup services—a moment of much-needed pampering following the New Year’s Eve–themed rehearsal dinner the night before. The brides and her attendants all wore faux fur stoles to protect them from the chilly mountain air, while guests were treated to a hot cocoa and tea bar to keep warm during the outdoor ceremony.

Guests: 125

Recessional Song: “I Love You I Do” by Jennifer Hudson

First Dance Song: “Something Like Olivia” by John Mayer

Cake flavor: Bourbon Vanilla

Honeymoon Destination: Riviera Maya, Mexico