DJ Tiësto Gets Married in the Middle of the Utah Desert
DJ and music producer Tijs “Tiësto” Verwest and model Annika Backes met at Catch restaurant in New York City back in February 2015. The two had a few mutual friends and hit it off right away. “We started hanging out for the next two months, and when Coachella came around, we decided the day before to go together,” Annika says. “We spent the weekend running around the festival and having the best time, just the two of us. When we didn’t get tired of each other for one second, and even flew back to New York City and still didn’t want to leave each other, that was when we both knew.”
Three years later, Tijs proposed over the Thanksgiving holiday. “We went to the One and Only in the Maldives for vacation,” Annika remembers. “Unfortunately, for the first nine days we were there it was pouring rain the whole time. Tijs wanted to wait for the perfect sunset, and finally, on our last day, the weather cleared up. Tijs pulled out all the stops and rented out the entire restaurant. I thought we were just going for a romantic dinner, but right when we got to the restaurant I knew something was up. There was a rose petal path leading to one single table, and there was a private band. They had flown in our favorite wine and champagne. I think we were both so excited and nervous that he got down on one knee soon after we got there. It was so romantic and over the top. We were celebrating the rest of the night on the beach and in the water.”
Because both Tijs and Annika travel so much for work, they set the wedding date with plenty of time to figure out exactly what they wanted, which meant they were engaged for over two years. “A city that we both love a lot is Las Vegas, so we started looking at venues there, but we soon decided we wanted it to take place somewhere remote,” Annika explains. “We explored the option of throwing a party in the desert outside of Las Vegas. But when we got into that more, we knew it was going to be too complicated to pull off. That’s when we thought of Amangiri.”
They had visited the futuristic Aman resort, in the middle of the Utah desert, for a weekend four years prior and fallen in love with it. “We love the silence and the scenery that makes you feel like you are on another planet,” Annika says. “The contrast of the architecture with the desert is a perfect balance. It looks like you are in a James Bond movie, and that’s some of the aesthetic we were going for. We wanted it to be glamorous, romantic, and sexy, while still being natural and intimate, so we rented out the entire resort for the weekend for our 80 guests.”
The desert is the place where, Tijs says, he can relax from “crazy DJ life.” “To be in a landscape that has hardly been touched by people is really special,” he adds. ”You can see all the stars at night, and the sunsets and sunrises are so special and unique. It’s pretty much the most romantic place on earth.”
When it came to the aesthetic for the wedding weekend, the goal was to create balance and harmony in this scenic setting. “We kept all of the materials contemporary and rectilinear, while the florals were wild and organic,” Annika explains. The couple worked with event planner Colin Cowie to create moments that showcased the jaw-dropping views. The ceremony and cocktail portion of the evening had a soft palette to complement the sunset, while the dinner reflected a more moody vibe accented with warm, dynamic lighting that highlighted the surrounding rock formations.
Annika wanted a dress that felt like a once-in-a-lifetime fashion moment, and she looked all over New York City before finally deciding to go with Oscar de la Renta and Berta. “Originally, I wanted to wear the Oscar during the ceremony and the Berta for the after-party,” the bride explains. “But after going back a few times for tailoring, I switched it around. The sparkle of the Berta in contrast with the backdrop of the natural desert during our ceremony felt like exactly the aesthetic we were going for. In the Oscar, you feel and look like you are floating because of the delicate fabric, A-line shape, and slight translucency, which was perfect for the after-party.”
Tijs actually likes wearing suits, but as his work doesn’t exactly call for one, he was excited that this occasion would give him the chance to go for it. “I love Tom Ford and everything he designs, so it was easy for me to pick a suit for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Annika and I are obsessed with James Bond and everything he stands for. He’s like a timeless modern masterpiece, and that’s definitely the look I was going for with my tuxedo.”
The ceremony took place on Amangiri’s patio with the desert landscape in the background. “We used only two materials to create the look—rectilinear mirror and wild, organic floral,” Annika explains. The bridal party walked on an elevated concrete aisle, beneath a series of mirrored arches that reflected the concrete structure on one side and the desert on the other. “I felt overwhelmed with emotions because we have been in love for so long and thinking about this day forever, and then it was finally here,” Tijs says. “It was more beautiful and more special than I could have ever imagined. To see everyone I love there and then to see the love of your life walking down the aisle, it is the best feeling in the world.”
The main pool at the resort was covered for the reception, but small pools on each side were decorated with endless floating candles. “We wanted to surround ourselves with fire energy, so we used literally thousands of candles to surround the space, cover the rock formations, and top the table,” Annika explains. Guests were seated at two long black lacquer tables swathed in anthracite chiffon, and the flowers were done in deep shades of burgundies and purples with driftwood accents.
