A wedding or sealing location can mean so much more than simply being a beautiful place to take photos.
Sometimes, it is connected to generations of family history.
That was especially true for Quin and his wife during their formal session at the Manti Utah Temple.
Quin’s grandfather painted murals inside the temple. Because of that family connection, the Manti Temple already held a special place in their family story. They wanted to celebrate their sealing with formal photos in a place that meant so much to Quin and his family.
I loved getting to document that connection for them.
Choose a Location With Meaning
There are plenty of beautiful places to take wedding formals.
But when you have the opportunity to photograph somewhere that already has personal meaning, it makes the session even more special.
For Quin and his wife, the Manti Utah Temple wasn’t just a stunning backdrop.
It was connected to his grandfather’s work and to his family’s history.
That gave their formal session another layer of meaning.
Years from now, these photos won’t just remind them what they looked like on their sealing day. They’ll also remind them of the place and family history surrounding that day.
Your Formal Photos Can Tell Part of Your Story
Formal photos don’t have to be completely separate from the story of your wedding or sealing.
The location, architecture, details, and even the way you move through the space can help tell that story.
When I photograph formals, I want to create the classic portraits you’ll always want to have.
But I also want to pay attention to the little details that make your session specific to you.
For Quin and his wife, that meant photographing them at a temple that was deeply connected to his family.
The Manti Utah Temple Is an Incredible Setting
The Manti Utah Temple has such a distinct presence, which makes it a beautiful location for formal portraits.
The architecture gives us plenty of opportunities for both classic and more editorial images.
But beautiful architecture is only part of what makes a location special.
The best locations are the ones where you have a personal connection.
That is what made this session so meaningful to me.
Think Beyond the Perfect Background
When couples plan formal photos, it can be tempting to choose a location based entirely on what looks beautiful in photographs.
And yes, I absolutely want you to love how your photos look.
But I also encourage couples to ask another question:
Does this place mean something to us?
Maybe it is where you were married.
Maybe your family has history there.
Maybe it is the place where you got engaged.
Maybe it was part of your childhood.
Maybe it simply feels like you.
Those connections can make your photos feel much more personal.
A Family Story Worth Photographing
I loved hearing the story behind Quin and his wife’s choice to have their formal session at the Manti Utah Temple.
Knowing that Quin’s grandfather painted murals inside the temple made the location feel even more significant.
It wasn’t just where they chose to take their photos.
It was a place where their own story and their family’s story came together.
That is one of my favorite things about photographing weddings and temple formals. Every couple brings a history with them, even if you can’t see it in a photograph at first.
My job is to document the beautiful parts of the day while also giving space for those personal stories to come through.
If you’re planning Manti Utah Temple formal photos and want your portraits to feel meaningful as well as beautiful, I would love to help you document your day and the story behind it.
Bri is a Utah photographer, wife, and mom of three who embraces the quirky, playful, and imperfect parts of life. Her artistic eye and passion for finding joy in the little things make her work feel authentic and full of personality.
She specializes in product, family, senior, and wedding photography throughout Davis County and Northern Utah, with a particular talent for bringing bath, beauty, and home products to life.
November 9, 2026
Brianna Siddoway
