PRINCEVILLE, HI — On screen, the rugged world of Taylor Sheridan’s television empire is built on dust, sweat, cattle, and high-stakes Western drama.
But off screen, actor Sterlin English just traded his cowboy hat for a lei in what can only be described as a picture-perfect real-life fairytale.
The Dutton Ranch star officially tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart, Jayden Utash, in an intimate, breathtaking ceremony in Princeville, Kauai. Surrounded by towering emerald mountains, cascading waterfalls, and their closest friends and family, the couple exchanged vows in paradise—proving that even the toughest onscreen cowboys are absolute softies when it comes to true love.
A Small-Town Texas-New Mexico Romance Worthy of a Screenplay
Long before Sterlin English stepped into the Hollywood spotlight, his heart belonged to the girl next door—literally. Growing up in New Mexico, English and Utash lived just miles apart, their families intertwined through deep small-town roots and years of shared history.
In fact, before English ever caught Utash’s eye, he was simply her older brother’s best friend.
“I thought he was just the coolest, and I loved that he was a cowboy, but he didn’t pay much attention to me when we were little,” Utash admits with a laugh. “Then, when I got to college, he asked me out on a date and I was kind of nervous. He’s best friends with my brother—that was the biggest hurdle! And our families were so close, but thankfully, it went exceptionally well!”
What started as a friendly crush blossomed into a deep, enduring relationship that withstood the pressures of Hollywood rising stars and changing schedules. Just one day before the massive red-carpet premiere of Dutton Ranch, English popped the question, capping off a whirlwind courtship with a ring they designed together.
“We actually designed the ring together, but I didn’t see it in person until he proposed,” Utash shares. “I had the idea of what it might look like, but seeing it in person was so much better.”
English added a subtle, deeply personal touch to the custom band that only the two of them would know about. “It’s got the ‘J’ and the ‘S’ initials engraved right inside of the band, which makes it extra special for us.”
The Veil of Secrecy: The Dress and the Big Day Prep
While the couple collaborated seamlessly on the engagement ring, the wedding dress was a completely different story. Utash kept her bridal look strictly under wraps, leaving English in the dark until she walked down the aisle.
“People are absolutely correct when they say that the hardest part about wedding planning is not telling your person what your wedding dress looks like,” Utash laughs.
Unlike many brides who spent months searching through dozens of bridal boutiques, Utash’s hunt for the dream dress was shockingly effortless.
“I actually did not try on a whole lot of dresses before I picked it out,” she reveals. “I think I tried on two other dresses before I picked out this one, and I just was, like, ‘Oh, this is the one!’ I just knew. I didn’t have to go to ten different stores and pick out something super crazy. The dress is very me and very pretty, so I was beyond excited to wear it.”
Saying “I Do” in a Green Chapel in Paradise
When it came time to select a location for the big day, Utash knew instantly where she wanted to marry the love of her life. Her family had spent years vacationing on Kauai’s picturesque north shore, and a hidden architectural gem had always captured her imagination.
“My family has vacationed in Hawaii for years, specifically in Princeville on the north side of the island. There’s this little green chapel nestled in a valley surrounded by giant mountains and waterfalls—it’s absolutely magical,” Utash recalls fondly. “I’ve told my mom for the longest time that it would be so fun to get married in that church. When we were planning the wedding, I suggested Hawaii and Sterlin immediately said, ‘Whatever you want.’ So I thought, ‘We only get married once—we have to do it.’”
For English, who had surprisingly never visited the Hawaiian islands despite his busy travel schedule, the decision was an easy one.
“I was so excited, not just for the ceremony, but for the reception and getting to experience the island for the very first time,” English shares.
Following the romantic chapel ceremony, the couple hosted an intimate, open-air celebration at The Terrace Hanalei, a stunning restaurant perched upstairs in a local square with unobstructed views of Kauai’s legendary mountain ridgelines.
“We set up a dance floor and had an incredible DJ,” English says. “The food was spectacular—they did a custom four-course meal with dessert, so we actually skipped the traditional wedding cake altogether. We’re not really big cake people anyway, so it suited us perfectly.”
Wellness, Saunas, and Soft Openings: The Honeymoon and Beyond
Instead of jumping on a long, exhausting flight after a night of endless dancing, the newlyweds opted to stay right where they were, moving straight into relaxation mode at the world-renowned 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
“For the honeymoon, it’s amazing that we don’t have to travel after the wedding—we can just relax,” English says. “The resort is a gorgeous wellness sanctuary. We’re both really into health and wellness, so it’s perfect. They have saunas, cold plunges, and the whole property is completely open-air, including all the restaurants.”
Once their tropical paradise getaway wraps up, the newly married couple plans to pack their bags and head back home to their roots in New Mexico to slow down, spend time with family, and settle into domestic bliss with their dog.
“We’re going to come back to New Mexico for a while,” English explains. “I have a place here, so we’ll move back and see what happens next with filming. We’re not really tied to any particular place right now, to be honest.”
For Utash, moving back home after years away is the ultimate cherry on top of an already incredible season of life.
“I haven’t lived in New Mexico since before college, so I’m really looking forward to it,” she says. “It’s my sister’s senior volleyball season, and there are lots of fun family things going on. It’ll be so nice to just be back home together as husband and wife.”