Some temple grounds just photograph beautifully, and Oquirrh Mountain Temple is one of them — pale stone, gold doors, and that tall facade against a clear Utah sky. I photographed an Oquirrh Mountain Temple wedding this October in South Jordan, and these Oquirrh Mountain Temple wedding photos are the ones from the steps, the gardens, and that joyful exit before the reception continued at Sagewood venue. One of my favorite frames from the afternoon is the groom lifting his bride on the front steps, with the facade rising behind them and her veil in the air.

Why I Love an Oquirrh Mountain Temple Wedding

An Oquirrh Mountain Temple wedding has a look I never get tired of. The building sits in South Jordan with a lot of open sky around it, so portraits have room to breathe. The gold doors catch the light, the steps give you a classic place to stand and walk, and the gardens — roses, autumn trees, and clean walkways — feel soft against all that stone. I also love how quickly you can move from a grand, wide frame of the facade to a closer portrait without ever leaving the grounds.

This couple came out of those gold doors smiling, and the energy stayed high from the first frame. I always try to be ready for that exit, because it is one of the truest moments of the day — the first breath of fresh air, the first look at the people waiting outside, and the first chance to just be newly married in the sunlight. A few minutes later, guests gathered on the plaza and cheered while the two of them kissed with the House of the Lord behind them. If you are planning your own day here, leave a little time after the ceremony just for that — the doors, the steps, and the people who came to celebrate with you.

Portraits on the Temple Grounds

Once the group photos wrapped, we slowed down for portraits. I love a wide frame on those front steps, with the full temple rising behind you and the dress catching a little movement as you walk. We also made time for a kiss on the steps, then walked the gardens for quieter portraits among the trees and roses. You don’t need a complicated posing plan here. Walking, a forehead touch, and a few still, happy portraits are usually enough when the background is this strong.

Those garden portraits are some of my favorites from the day. You still feel the temple in the background, but you also get faces, a little fall color in the trees, and the kind of close, happy frames that look beautiful in a home or an album. If you have photographed at other temples, you already know the light moves quickly on the stone. Here, late afternoon was generous, and we used every bit of it before heading to the reception.

From the Temple to Sagewood Venue

Because Sagewood venue is also in South Jordan, the drive from an Oquirrh Mountain Temple wedding to the reception is a short one. That is a gift on a wedding day. We could stay on the grounds for portraits and still arrive at the venue with time for a ceremony, dinner, and dancing in the same building. For another look at this temple, you can also see this earlier Oquirrh Mountain Temple wedding on the blog.

Book Your Oquirrh Mountain Temple Wedding Photos

Want to see how the evening looked after these portraits? Here’s my sister post from the reception at Sagewood venue. I’d love to be your Utah wedding photographer for temple portraits and the celebration that follows. If you’re planning a South Jordan day, visit my South Jordan wedding photographer page, then contact me and let’s save your date.