No Lack of Fireworks

No Lack of Fireworks

Jacqui & Matt

Matt and I met golfing in Houston, Texas, where we currently live and are building our dream home. A mutual friend from Wyoming invited us to play in a golf tournament, and we remained friends for over three years before going on our first date in July of 2018. (To this day, Matt accuses me of standing him up for a golf date the morning of our first date. I still deny that vehemently!) 

We were both the light of each other’s lives after an extremely difficult few months. I lost my sweet dad in April of 2018, and Matt’s two grandfathers passed within a month of each other, that June. 

I grew up in Casper, Wyoming, and Matt worked in and around the Wind River Range for a couple of years. The Jackson area became dear to our hearts, with its amazing beauty and wonderful community. We visited every year in December for an annual ski trip (2019 was especially memorable, as I ruptured my ACL that season at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort).

We also made it an annual tradition to celebrate the Fourth of July in Michigan, on Matt’s grandparents’ property—one that has been in the family for over 80 years. In the summer of 2020, completely unbeknownst to me, Matt planned to propose during the holiday fireworks. Unfortunately, the state of Michigan banned fireworks that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he tried really hard to come up with a Plan B. I even mentioned to his mom that week that I thought he seemed distracted by something. 

The back of family property faces directly east and has an open water view with amazing sunrises, so I asked Matt if we could wake up one morning to watch the sunrise together. With subdued excitement, he asked me what day I would like to get up early. I picked Thursday, July 2. We planned on fishing with his dad that day, so we’d have to wake up early anyway. 

We set our alarm for 5:30 a.m., and when it went off, he told me I could keep sleeping if I was too tired (LOL!). Of course I said, “No, let’s get up,” and I proceeded to make coffee while he moved chairs to the deck down by the water. After a few moments of sitting by the water enjoying our coffee, I asked if we could stand up and take a selfie. So, we snapped a few photos while Matt acted super cute and cuddly, refusing to let me sit back down. (I, of course, just thought he was feeling lovey.) Next, he looked at me, said he loved me, and gave me a kiss. I look up at him and said, “I love you, too.”

After that, he asked, “You do—you love me?” 

I looked back at him and said, “Of course I do!” and he immediately dropped to his knee and said “Well, then will you marry me?” 

Surprised, I gasped, “Oh my God! Are you serious?” I began crying, and then asked again “Are you serious, Matthew Kyle?” 

He replied, “Yes, Jacquelyn Marie, I am serious. Will you marry me?” 

I said, “Yes!” (Matt loves to mention how I said “yes” before he even broke out the ring, but when he opened the box, it contained the most beautiful ring I could ever have imagined.)

We both envisioned our wedding day as timeless and romantic. After booking the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club (our top pick for a venue), we decided to go with neutral, soft tones for colors, so the décor did not overtake the breathtaking Teton views and the amazing outdoor setting. We worked for over 14 months with our vendors to get everything just perfect, and they were incredible! 

The day was magical.

After waking up at the Amangani, we ran to the balcony to check if the lingering forest fire smoke had cleared. Our prayers were answered, and we were greeted with an incredibly clear view of the Tetons. We then made our way to the resort’s spa, where I booked a 90-minute couple’s massage. It was an amazing start to what would be the absolute best day of our lives. 

After that, Matt and I went our separate ways. Matt departed the hotel to get ready with his dad and his best man, while all the girls joined me in our suite at the Amangani. We captured our first look out on the balcony there, with the sprawling Teton Range in the background. 

Our ceremony was filled with laughter and tears, as we danced our way into the reception. We continued our union as husband and wife with more dancing, surrounded by our closest friends and family. It was a day that dreams are made of, and we would both relive it tomorrow if we could.

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Advice for Couples 

Enlist the help of an amazing planner who can guide you to the best vendors. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to vendors right away, and get them to commit to your dates. We found that many of the area’s vendors are more relaxed with their timeline than we were with ours.