Olivia and Hayden got married at the Provo City Center Temple in September! They got ready at a nearby airbnb, and had their first look there before driving over to the temple together. After their sealing, they celebrated with their family and friends during their temple exit, took some family photos in front of the temple and the gazebo windows, and took their wedding portraits around the temple grounds.

Getting Ready and First Look at their Provo Airbnb

The Provo City Center Temple in September

Liv and Hayd had their wedding September 18th at the Provo City Center Temple, and there was still plenty of greenery and florals all around the temple! The weather fluctuated quite a bit, as is normal in Utah in the late summer and fall. In the morning, things were partially cloudy. We had some pretty ominous storm clouds at the temple during their sealing, but the sun came out just in time for the temple exit! But when we got to their wedding venue later that night, it was stormy and rainy and windy and pretty dang cold. Definitely be prepared for any kind of weather if you’re planning a September sealing!

Temple Exits at the Provo City Center Temple

This was a question that came up during this wedding, because the bride and groom’s family came up from Texas and wasn’t familiar with this particular temple! At Provo City Center, there is an underground parking lot that most people park, with an entrance to the temple there, as well as steps up to the temple grounds. After the sealing (which can be as short as about 30 minutes, or significantly longer if things are running late) guests exit from the back doors of the temple, by the fountain. From there, they’ll typically have at least 15 minutes to mingle and wait while the couple changes out of their temple attire and finishes getting ready.

When they are ready, the couple will usually be lead underground from the main temple to the gazebo in the middle of the grounds. Usually the warning before they come up is the mother of the bride (or whoever was helping her with finishing touches!) coming out through those gazebo doors! The couple will also exit from the gazebo. This can definitely be confusing for guests, so make sure to let them know that’s what they should expect!

Family Portraits at the Provo City Center Temple

The Provo City Center Temple is a busy place! I try to balance finding nice lighting with beautiful backgrounds and making sure not to disturb other patrons and wedding parties. I try to keep things quick as part of that as well! There are several places for a large group photo: in front of the fountain, on the back steps (behind the fountain), on the front steps of the temple, and on the front lawn of the grounds. Besides those areas, I also love the view of the temple from the west side, down the steps (pictured further above) and will sometimes use that if other spaces are too busy.

For smaller groups, we typically have more freedom and will use available shade wherever we can find it. For weekday weddings and other non-peak days when it isn’t too busy, we can usually use the shade of the gazebo! I love this space especially because of the beautiful architectural details and the fun colors in the reflections of the windows, but there are plenty of other good spots around the temple grounds that we’ll use if there are other weddings going on and needing to use the gazebo after us.

Olivia & Hayden’s Wedding Portraits on the Temple Grounds

Sample Timeline for a September Wedding at the Provo City Center Temple

7:15am | Sunrise

9:30am | Breakfast with families

10:00am | Begin Getting Ready

11:00am | Photographer Arrives

12:00 pm | Groom portraits

12:15 pm | First Look (inside Airbnb)

12:30pm | Couple Portraits, Bride portraits

12:45pm | leave for temple

1:00 pm | Couple arrive at temple

2:00pm | Sealing

2:30pm | anticipated earliest sealing end time

3:00pm | anticipated latest sealing end time (within normal range)

temple exit

large group photo

family photos

couple portraits

FAQs for Getting Married at the Provo City Center Temple

Where will the couple exit the temple?

The Provo City Center Temple sends couples out through the gazebo! They will typically go through the underground parking garage to get there.

What is the best time of day to schedule our sealing at the Provo City Center Temple?

The best time of day changes throughout the year, but is generally before 9am or after 2pm. Again, that will change depending on the month you get married. A 2pm sealing in June is very different from a 2pm sealing in December.

How long does a temple sealing ceremony take?

30 minutes is pretty normal, plus another 15 or so before the couple actually exits. There can definitely be fluctuation depending on if the temple is running behind, if there are any issues with paperwork, how many other weddings are going on that day, etc. I usually arrive at the scheduled start time, and anticipate the exit being 45-90 minutes after that.

Where can we park at the Provo City Center Temple?

The Provo City Center Temple has a small above-ground lot, some nearby spots on Center St, and an underground parking garage to the west of the temple. Most patrons and guests park underground!

Looking for a photographer for your Provo City Center Temple Wedding?

I’d love to get in touch! Learn more about weddings with me, find info about engagement sessions, or reach out to me via my contact form.