When Courtney Carlsson’s friend from college married Nicholas Bottino’s friend from school, their friends conspired together to ensure Courtney and Nick would meet during the wedding weekend in Puerto Rico.
Sure enough, Courtney and Nick’s paths crossed. He remembers it well, “Between music, dancing, and her being impressed that I spoke French, the sparks flew; and we started a relationship shortly after we both got back to London.”
Two years later, Nick prepared to propose; but the COVID-19 lockdown prevented him from getting the ring he knew Courtney deserved. Plus, he wanted to custom-design one himself and ask the question in the Himalayas like he originally intended. In the meantime, he purchased a temporary placeholder sparkler from one of her favorite jewelers. While on a stroll with their dogs at Courtney’s father’s home, Courtney turned around to find Nick on one knee.
The wedding would be the first big event after lockdowns and more lax travel regulations, so Courtney and Nick hoped the weekend could be an adventure for their guests. They were instantly drawn to Tarifa, Spain. Nick grew up in the area, and Courtney spent summers here at her family home. “It’s a beautiful, laid-back surfing town at the southernmost point of Europe just across from Morocco,” Courtney shares. “When we nailed down the location, finding a venue was swift.” Cortijo El Aguilon, a farmhouse perched by the sea, was everything they wanted: laidback, elegant, naturally beautiful, and big enough for their closest family and friends to spend the night. One side faces the grand fields and mountainscape; the other showcases the sea and views of Africa.
Opi Kaur from Open The Door Events understood Courtney and Nick’s vision entirely. “She created the most beautiful landscape for our celebration of love, working with the natural beauty of the land and the architecture of the Cortijo,” Courtney notes. “She did a truly fantastic job.” Florals La Boheme arranged the blooming flowers. Kreativ Wedding photographed the event and captured every priceless moment.
While she hoped for a bespoke gown, Courtney knew timelines would be slowed after 2020. “I wanted to choose a gown that made me feel truly bridal, for me that was something a little dramatic,” she explains. A tailored and modern Leah da Gloria gown fit the vision precisely. She complemented it with an intricate custom veil by Hermione de Paula. The mantilla featured hand-embroidered wildflowers, the bride and groom’s star signs, and a private message for Nick’s eyes only. Her bridal party donned sustainable jewel-tone dresses from The Own Studio.
For the after-party, Courtney showed up in a vintage Happy Isles sequin look. “Despite the travel ban in the U.S. at the time, I was determined to make a trip to Happy Isles happen, and I did!” she says victoriously. After her Mexico City bachelorette trip, she flew to Los Angeles and visited the salon in person.
Courtney’s “something borrowed” was all of the incredible jewels from her mother’s collection. No one in Spain seemed to match Courtney’s modern beauty style, so she flew over Quelle for makeup and Victoria Ralph for her hair.
Nick kept his groom’s look classic and sophisticated with a bespoke morning suit custom from the Cad & the Dandy. He paired the outfit with a vintage Hermès tie from his father and silver cufflinks from his bride. His ushers matched in morning suits with Turnbull & Asser windsurfer pocket squares and Roderick Charles lobster ties.
In early September 2021, guests sat on wooden benches among the open expanse surrounded by wildflowers and mountains. A string trio serenaded. The couple’s black lab, Odin, was also in attendance, while Nick’s brother and best man, Xavi, watched over him. Everyone stood under the sweltering sun with bated breath, waiting for Courtney and her father to walk down the aisle.
Courtney’s sister sang her version of Rascal Flatts’s “Bless The Broken Road” before several friends performed poetry and recited lyrics. Father Paul, who married Nick’s parents and even baptized him as a baby, officiated the ceremony. Courtney confided to Nick that she completely forgot her vows and was just going to improvise. Nick laughed it off and decided he’d leave his hand-written promises in his breast pocket to complement his soon-to-be wife.
The newlyweds joined their guests in the courtyard for dirty “bottinis,” Palomas, kombucha and vodka detox cocktails, Champagne, canapes, and oysters. The strums of a Spanish guitar sounded in the background. While the sun set in the distance, the party moved to the orange grove for dinner. The long dining table accommodated more than 100 people, as they ate underneath the stars.
“It felt like magic getting to sit on a single table with all of the people we love the most in the world surrounding us,” Courtney recalls. She and Nick closely deliberated over the food selection of their favorite dishes like tuna tartare and squid ink pasta. The lechon and leche flan were served as an homage to Courtney’s Filipino heritage. The playlist was just as carefully curated as the menu with tunes like the Flamingos’s “I Only Have Eyes for You” and Etta James’s “At Last.” The tender toasts were another highlight with the best man, groom, bride, and father of the bride delivering speeches. Nick’s personal favorite moment was when Courtney’s mother interrupted her father and said a few impromptu words that ended up being a truly excellent toast. The bride and groom sliced into their Aquarela Cake confection.
Mr. and Mrs. Bottino shared their first dance to Jon Batiste’s “What a Wonderful World.” This was a full circle moment for them because when they were newly dating, they saw him perform live at the House of St. Barnabas in London’s Soho neighborhood.
With DJ Ruben Gomez on the turntables, that night released the pent-up lockdown frustration and energy. It had been a difficult year for all but ended with well-deserved dancing, late-night sliders, and churros.
