A Winter Wedding at The St. Regis Deer Valley Inspired by 1920s Havana and Gilded Age Glamour
Rebecca was training for her job as a professional slackliner, preparing for competitions and performances, when she first met Ryan on Santa Monica Beach in November 2017. Near the pier, there is a beautiful place called Slack Park where locals and visitors go to train, walk, hang out, or simply watch the spectacle of people defying gravity as they balance and bounce on their slacklines. Rebecca specializes in a type of slacklining that looks like aerial acrobatics mixed with tightrope walking called, tricklining—an extreme version of slacklining where she sets the slackline up 5' high and 80' long, and then tightens the line until it turns into a bouncy tightrope that she can use to bounce into the air, performing flips and twists before landing back on the line.
Ryan was visiting a mutual friend who was learning to slackline. Their friend introduced Ryan as someone who would "reinvent the internet," which earned a slightly incredulous laugh, as Rebecca didn't think much of this random guy wearing a hoody and hanging out at the beach at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday. The feeling seemed to be mutual, as she looked “relatively ridiculous” with her zinc sunscreen, trucker hat, windblown hair, and baggy clothes that protected her skin from the sharp line.
However, Ryan kept coming back to the park and learned to walk a slackline. His progress and dedication impressed Rebecca, just as her tricks and prowess in the sport impressed him. Eventually, they became friends. They would chat after their training sessions, watching the sun set behind the Santa Monica mountains. Chats turned into conversations, which turned into dinners, drives along the PCH, and movie nights. Three months later, the two had deepened their connection, fell in love, and became best friends. Eventually, their relationship led them to traveling the world together, building businesses together, and taking a snowy walk down the aisle in Park City, Utah.
A Winter Wedding with Gilded Age Glamour
The couple’s wedding planning process was equal parts creative, fun, and stressful with “just enough chaos” to make it memorable.
“From the beginning,” Rebecca explains, “we knew we didn't want to plan a single ‘event,’ but rather an entire weekend experience that felt immersive, transportive, and deeply personal. With friends and family traveling from all over the world, it felt important to create space for connection beyond just one night. Choosing a winter wedding was initially a practical scheduling decision, but it quickly became the creative catalyst for everything else. Once we embraced the season, the vision came into focus: a 1920s Havana speakeasy meets Gilded Age glamour, layered into a snowy mountain setting. That contrast—fire and ice, warmth and sparkle—became the throughline for every decision. Working with our planners was an absolute dream. They helped us take very specific ideas (hidden doors, champagne walls, tarot-inspired tables, cinematic moments) and turn them into something cohesive and elevated rather than overwhelming.”
Both Rebecca and Ryan were deeply involved in the wedding planning details, from original musical numbers, to signature cocktails, to immersive moments. Still, they trusted their vendor team to execute their vision to the highest level, which allowed them to enjoy watching everything unfold.
“If there was one guiding principle throughout planning,” Rebecca adds, “it was this: How will this make people feel? Every choice was made with guest experience in mind—surprise, delight, warmth, laughter, and that feeling of being fully swept up in something special.”
Getting Married at The St. Regis Deer Valley
When the wedding day arrived, it felt like time had slowed down. With the celebration taking place at The St. Regis Deer Valley, the stage was set with the most idyllic, winter wonderland setting.
“There was excitement, of course,” describes the bride, “but more than anything, there was a sense of cohesive joy and gratitude. Standing there together, surrounded by mountains, snow, fire, flowers, and the people who have shaped our lives, it felt grounding and profound. When it began to snow, just as the ceremony started—completely unplanned—it genuinely took our breath away. Huge, beautiful flakes gracefully floating and tumbling down on us. Guests later asked if we had arranged it, which still makes us laugh. It was one of those moments that felt undeniably magical.”
As a nod to his grandmother and Scottish roots, the groom walked down to the aisle to “Fight Song/Amazing Grace” by The Piano Guys, which opens with bag pipes. The bride’s song was a custom designed piano mashup of the F1 theme song and “Amazing Grace.” Along with the couple being major F1 fans, Ryan is a race car driver and 2x champion of McLaren Trophy Europe, as well as the founder and owner of AIPEX—an AI powered race car and technology company.
“It felt less like a wedding and more like a collective memory—warm, wild, elegant, and full of love.”
Keeping with their inspiration from a 1920s Havana speakeasy, cocktail hour was designed to feel like stepping into another world. Guests entered through a hidden speakeasy door—complete with a playful "bouncer"—and were immediately immersed in candlelight, live music, casino tables, champagne walls, flair bartending, and richly layered décor. Gold accents, velvet textures, orchids, antique mirrors, vintage curios, and tropical touches all glowed against the winter backdrop, creating an atmosphere that felt both sultry and celebratory. Food played a huge role in the experience, and the catering team at The St. Regis Deer Valley delivered a wedding menu that was comforting, indulgent, and abundant. From cozy cocktail-hour bites like tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese, to a rich, elegant, seated dinner and late-night snacks that fueled hours of dancing, every course was designed to keep the energy high and the mood warm.
For the reception, everyone transitioned into a stunning, candlelit tent that was draped in fabric and featured an opulent, jewel-toned color palette. Warm string lights cascaded overhead, crystal chandeliers added sparkle, and hundreds of candles reflected off mirrored and metallic accents, creating an intimate, golden glow. Despite the snowy mountain setting, the space felt warm, enveloping, and effortlessly romantic—a perfect contrast to the winter landscape just beyond the tent walls.
“If there's one thing we'll always treasure,” Rebecca shares, “it's how the weekend transformed a group of individuals into a shared experience. By the end, it felt less like a wedding and more like a collective memory—warm, wild, elegant, and full of love.
“We just got back from our anniversary weekend in Bal Harbor, Florida. We stayed at The St. Regis as a nod to the St. Regis Deer Valley, and drank some of the drinks from our wedding and honeymoon as we watched our wedding video, reminisced on the last year, and planned what dreams and goals we would tackle in year two of our beautiful marriage.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location & Catering: The St. Regis Deer Valley; Planning & Event Design: Michelle Leo Events; Floral Design: Artisan Bloom; Rentals: All Out Event Rental, Diamond Event Rental, Utah Vintage Rentals, Spark Event Rental; Lighting: All Out Event Rental; Linen: BBJ; Cake: Annie's Cakes; Wedding Dress: Leah Da Gloria; Bridal Salon: Bridal Reflections; Hair: Kali Chris Hair; Makeup: Kristen Packard Artistly; Groom's Attire: Tom Ford; Groom's Watch: IWC; Bride's Engagement Ring: Graff; Groom's Engagement Ring: Bennions Jewelers; Paper Design: Twelve30 Creative; Entertainment: Echo Talent - DJ Rob, Skylark Entertainment - Casino; Dance Floor: Utah Wraps; Cinematography: Jared Wortley Films; Photography: Megan Robinson Photo