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\nDespite all the characteristics<\/a> and attributions that make up \u201cyour type,\u201d most people want a partner who will weather life\u2019s inevitable ups and downs by their side. Fortunately, Jaclyn and Nick Cucco found that in each other during their teens. \u201cI was a freshman in high school and Nick was a cool\u2014and mysterious\u2014upperclassman,\u201d Jaclyn explains. \u201cWe truly are high school sweethearts<\/a>; I suppose you could say [it\u2019s] a tale as old as time.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nHowever, three days before the couple was expected to jet off to Italy in 2019\u2014where Nick planned to pop the question<\/a>\u2014Jaclyn\u2019s father was admitted to hospice. So, they postponed their trip and Nick waited for the right time to propose. \u201c\u200b\u200bNick hid my engagement ring<\/a> in one of his suit coat pockets as he knew it was one of the only places\u2014if not, the only place\u2014 I would not look for the six months in between,\u201d she shares. \u201cNick later proposed to me on my dad\u2019s birthday on a gondola in Venice.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nThough the ongoing pandemic<\/a> created yet another curveball, the couple addressed the challenge as they always have: together. For their May 29, 2021 nuptials, Jaclyn and Nick traded in their original plans\u2014a 100-plus party in Santa Barbara\u2014for a 12-person micro wedding<\/a> at Utah\u2019s luxurious Amangiri<\/a>. \u201cWe had always loved Amangiri<\/a>,\u201d the bride shares. \u201cMy dad lived in Scottsdale and had always been an avid hiker. I felt like he was \u2018there\u2019 with me because of that. The venue<\/a> really embodied everything that Nick and I love.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nEqual parts romantic, intimate, and chic, the day was nothing short of a real-life dream. Keep reading for a behind-the-scenes look into these nuptials, as planned by Dani Blasena of HauteF\u00eates<\/a> and photographed by KT Merry<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nIt was important for the couple to incorporate their favorite inspiration<\/a> sources\u2014butterflies for her, the color pink for him\u2014throughout their special day. Fortunately, the stars aligned with his and hers gift bags<\/a>, which were distributed during the rehearsal dinner.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nJaclyn and Nick kicked off the festivities in style with a welcome party at Amangiri<\/a>. There, the bride turned heads in a breezy Zimmerman dress and butterfly earrings<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nOnce the couple pressed pause on their larger California<\/a> wedding, Amangiri<\/a> was the obvious choice. \u201cI was obsessed with the architecture, the elegant simplicity of the property, and its setting in the Utah high desert<\/a>,\u201d the bride says of the venue.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nLater, the couple hosted a rehearsal dinner<\/a>, where the bride slipped into a glitter set from Mach & Mach<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \n\u201c\u200b\u200bOur rehearsal dinner<\/a> at Raven\u2019s Nest was out of this world,\u201d Jaclyn recalls. \u201cBeing tucked away in the desert in a nook with the stars above us. We even got to witness Elon Musk\u2019s satellites from SpaceX’s Starlink Mission cruise across the sky. I have no other word to describe that whole night and experience than \u2018otherworldly.\u2019<\/a>\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nOn the big day, Jaclyn got ready in feathered pajamas from Sleeper<\/a> before putting on her wedding gown from Milla Nova<\/a>. According to the bride, the dress was covered in tulle<\/a> roses. It took over a month to sew every individual flower on!\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> I knew it was the one because it felt more \u2018me\u2019 than any of the other dresses. I literally felt like I was in a fairytale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \n\u201cWhen I put the Milla Nova<\/a> on, I knew it was the one because it felt more \u2018me\u2019 than any of the other dresses,\u201d the bride explains. \u201cI literally felt like I was in a fairytale; the absolute best version of myself. And, at that moment, I couldn\u2019t imagine walking down the aisle<\/a> in anything else.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nMeanwhile, the groom looked handsome in a custom linen suit from Dei Giovani Chicago<\/a>. Rounding out the look was a floral tie and a Rolex<\/a> watch, which he received as a gift from his father.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \n\u201cAs much as I love the desert<\/a>, I wasn\u2019t in a huge rush to actually get married in<\/em> the desert,\u201d the bride says. \u201cAt the last minute, we switched from the desert setting which most people opt for at Amangiri<\/a>, and instead got married in a nook alongside the Algae Wall. It was a perfect blend of minimalist elegance.\u201d The couple dressed up the stone-clad place with bunches of benches and lush floral arrangements<\/a> that were peppered with gilded butterflies.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe bride escorted herself down the aisle<\/a> to the tune of the Beatles\u2019 \u201cHere Comes the Sun,\u201d carrying a custom locket<\/a> on her bouquet that paid tribute to her late father.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> We included our own words for our vows, promising to love, respect, and honor one another.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \n\u201c\u200b\u200bWe included our own words for our vows<\/a>, promising to love, respect, and honor one another,\u201d she shares. “We got everyone involved by having our siblings give readings<\/a>. The whole ceremony felt genuine, pared-back, and peaceful, given the location.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe happy couple recessed<\/a> down the aisle to \u201cForever After All\u201d by Luke Combs.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nAfter saying “I do,” the couple used the stunning desert and architectural backdrop of Amangiri to take some portraits<\/a> of their attire.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThanks to the limited guest list<\/a>, the couple felt empowered to enjoy their special day to the fullest. \u201cWe didn\u2019t feel the pressure to appeal to everyone or to put on a big affair<\/a>,\u201d the bride says. \u201cUltimately, we got to be a guest and a part of our own wedding, and not having to compromise on that made it all so very worth it.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nAfter the ceremony<\/a>, guests moseyed to Amangiri’s<\/a> Desert Lounge for the reception. Earthy chargers, pink dinnerware, as well as a smattering of candles<\/a> and lush florals offset the space\u2019s sleek appearance.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nDrinks, anyone? Guests could have their choice of signature<\/a> his and hers beverages: a Prosecco-packed blueberry-basil spritz for Jaclyn and honey-sage bourbon for Nick.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nAmangiri\u2019s<\/a> catering department served up confection perfection with a textured, three-tiered strawberry<\/a> shortcake, complete with pressed edible flowers.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nAs for dinner<\/a>? Guests enjoyed a garden gazpacho, three unique salads, and a choice of aged ribeye, Scottish salmon, or roasted farm fowl.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nFor the reception, Jaclyn changed into a feather<\/a>-clad dress designed by Elie Saab<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \n“Our first dance song<\/a>, \u201cNobody But You,\u201d by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, was so special,\u201d the bride shares. \u201cWe love country music<\/a> and it has always felt so authentic to us; we\u2019d heard the song for years and we always knew that it had to be our first dance song.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> It was beyond magical being under the stars with the warm spring desert air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nMusician Nate Robinson<\/a> kept the party going with a lively setlist. \u201c\u200b\u200bThe transition into the night while the sun was setting [and]\u00a0 having live music<\/a>,\u201d Jaclyn says. \u201cIt was beyond magical being under the stars with the warm spring desert air.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by KT Merry<\/p>\n <\/span> \nThough no couple wants their wedding to be upended by an ongoing global pandemic, this loved-up duo shares that the change of plans<\/a> helped them focus on the big picture. \u201cWe actually got to be present at our own wedding, feel each moment as a couple<\/a>, and share all the details as intimate moments with those that we love the most,\u201d Jaclyn explains. \u201cRemember why you\u2019re getting married. Your wedding should not be a performance. Instead, focus on your relationship<\/a> and make it about the people you love.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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