Taylor Votek and Michael Kurtyka’s love story began the way so many modern romances do – on Hinge, but it unfolded with a serendipity all its own. They were scheduled to meet for a first date the Friday before New York City shut down during the pandemic. “Taylor, being the responsible one, cancelled and went home to her parents’ house in New Jersey,” Michael shares.

Still, the spark held. They spoke every day “from February of 2020 until Mike proposed to stop being just ‘pen-pals’ in June,” Taylor describes. Conveniently, they each returned to the city on the same weekend to check on their apartments, finally meeting in Madison Square Park for a charming first date filled with tacos and margaritas.

The proposal took place at one of the bride’s most beloved places: her grandfather’s house on the Jersey Shore. “It was sentimental and very low-key,” she recalls. Taylor’s parents then welcomed both families for drinks and appetizers before everyone enjoyed dinner together at one of their favorite local spots to celebrate – an intimate beginning to a new chapter.

Planning a destination wedding in Arizona felt natural for the couple, who spend a lot of time in the “Sunset State” and love the mountains. Their key decision-making factor throughout planning was reputation, though they did experience one unexpected hurdle early on – “having a wedding planner tell us she was unable to execute our vision after we hired her.” Fortunately, their new team delivered beautifully. The mother of the bride, Karen, helped with final decisions, while Michael’s mother planned the rehearsal dinner.

For the look of the day, Taylor and Michael envisioned something that felt “timeless, natural-looking, and embraced being outside.” With nearly all guests flying in, they wanted everyone to experience the beauty of the desert landscape. Their palette revolved around burnt rust, sand, and warm brown tones with green accents inspired by the surrounding cacti. “We wanted everything to feel very organic and natural,” the bride describes.

"We wanted everything to feel very organic and natural."

On the wedding day, however, timing offered one memorable surprise of its own: the bride ran late simply because “we couldn’t get a golf cart up to the villa the women were getting ready in.” The slight delay did nothing to diminish the magic. At 4PM, Taylor walked down the aisle accompanied by the couple’s beloved dogs – Calvin, their spirited Yorkie, and Luna, their German Shepherd. “Our more poorly behaved dog sat at the altar looking proud,” they laugh, “while our typically perfect angel dog somehow escaped to get closer to her mommy and daddy.”

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds stepped away for a cherished moment together. “We loved having a moment after the ceremony to go to the top of the mountain to cheers with champagne and take some nice sunset photos,” the bride shares. “It was nice to just be together… and take everything in.”

Breathtaking florals became one of the standout elements of the celebration. “Taylor loves her flowers,” the groom smiles. From cascading blooms over the head table to dramatic suspended installations, the colors were “exactly what we wanted,” completing the organic, desert-inspired design scheme. As day faded into evening, twinkle lights illuminated the outdoor reception. “We love being outside… and we loved the twinkle lights making it feel like we were having dinner under the most magical sky of stars.”

After dinner, the celebration continued with entertainment that reflected their priority on music with live instruments, DJ performances, and a spirited dance floor. For sweets, a white, natural-looking wedding cake highlighted miniature statues of their dogs, a whimsical detail that guests adored. The night also included playful bar menus featuring specialty cocktails inspired by each of their pups. As a nod to their shared love of gummy candies, candy-filled goody bags awaited guests, who also enjoyed the Kurtyka Candy Shoppe – a full candy bar built into the post-dinner dance room.

Taylor and Michael ended the night with a private last dance while guests headed to the after-party that continued until 2AM beneath the Arizona sky. “It was nice to have a moment to ourselves to recap the evening,” the bride recalls.

Reflecting on the day, they would only change one thing: “Make sure everyone is on time so you don’t lose any precious moments of a day that already goes by super fast,” Taylor affirms. Their advice for future couples is heartfelt: “Take your time… do your best to enjoy it! Definitely take time to be together just the two of you and soak in the just-married feeling!”