Katie Thurston Ties the Knot with Jeff Arcuri While Facing Breast Cancer Challenge (Exclusive)

Comedian Jeff Arcuri and former Bachelorette Katie Thurston have officially tied the knot, as exclusively reported by Us Weekly.

Just two days prior to their intimate backyard wedding held at home on Saturday, March 22, Arcuri inadvertently revealed during an interview with Thurston at Us’ New York City office that they were set to marry.

When inquired about how Thurston’s recent stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis has impacted their relationship, Arcuri shared, “You might think it would create more tribulation or issues, but it has united us more than ever, which is why we expedited the wedding. … We’re getting married in two days.”

Thurston became emotional recalling Arcuri’s “heartfelt sentiment of being there for me” — committing to be her husband before she begins treatment on Thursday, March 27. (Thurston will participate in the I-Spy breast cancer trial, which focuses on personalized treatment based on individual tumors. Following this treatment, which may include multiple rounds of chemotherapy, she will undergo surgery.)

“It was incredibly sweet. Naturally, we wanted to plan a wedding, and there are many emotions tied to chemotherapy and health uncertainties ahead,” Thurston explained. “One night he said, ‘I want to show you that I still love you and that I’m in it for the long haul. Let’s get married tomorrow.’ We arranged for our parents to come in from Michigan and Washington State, got our marriage license, and a friend volunteered to officiate.”

After exchanging their vows at home on Saturday (with their dog, Charlie, and family present), they celebrated with dinner at Da Andrea. The couple plans to hold a larger celebration featuring personalized vows once Thurston triumphs over cancer. She remarked, “It was such a kind gesture of him to marry me on Saturday, truly embodying the phrase ‘in sickness and in health’. He is consistently showcasing that he is committed to our relationship.”

Arcuri solidified this sentiment. “I want to be there with her in the hospital, saying, ‘My wife is inside.’ It carries more weight,” he emphasized. “I cannot imagine being apart from you during this journey.”

Thurston (who appeared on season 25 of The Bachelor and starred as the season 17 Bachelorette in 2021) met Arcuri through Instagram, having sent her friend a clip of the stand-up comedian exactly one year before their wedding.

“If you’ve ever browsed through his page, it’s impossible not to fall for him. His personality is so genuine and charming,” she reminisced. “On March 22 of last year, I sent a video to my friends, saying ‘future husband,’ not realizing I was actually manifesting him. So, when picking a wedding date, it had to be March 22.”

After countless hours on the phone — averaging between three to six hours each day — the couple met in person for the first time in Los Angeles on May 5, 2024, and they were engaged by August.

“I’ve had my share of relationships, much like you have — on TV,” Arcuri laughed, then grew earnest. “Early in a relationship, there’s often a sense of dishonesty or aspects left unknown about each other. I never felt that with her; I’ve always felt like an open book around her. There’s nothing I would hide.”

Thurston agrees that they’ve both shown their true selves from day one.

“You’re the first person who doesn’t mind my silliness,” Arcuri noted. “I dance and sing, and she’s the only one who encourages me, captures it on video, and jokes about it rather than rolling her eyes. I just adore that; you make me feel normal.”

The couple also utilizes humor as a coping mechanism for Thurston’s diagnosis.

“He’s been great at matching my mood. People say, ‘You’re so strong.’ I may seem that way,” Thurston conveyed to Us. “But I have days of sadness too. Some days, we’re playful and make jokes that might be considered inappropriate. His ability to match my energy has been incredibly supportive. He has attended every appointment with me and has been there for every IVF shot.”

Before starting the trial, Thurston underwent fertility treatments at RMA of New York.

“Chemotherapy can affect reproductive health and increase the risk of infertility. Since we want kids eventually, we thought, ‘Let’s do IVF as a precaution.’ We spent two weeks prioritizing our reproductive health before moving forward with breast cancer treatment,” she shared. “RMA was fantastic. While they don’t specifically specialize in Oncofertility, they understand that patients with cancer may want to pursue IVF. Some doctors discourage it or instill fear, insisting, ‘You need to focus on treating the cancer.’ Many women don’t realize they can dedicate time for reproductive health planning. We successfully retrieved 17 eggs, six of which became embryos.”

At the conclusion of their conversation with Us, Arcuri expressed admiration for his bride’s openness about her journey.

“She often walks into a room after receiving messages from people who say they got tested because of her. She’s transforming her experience into something positive,” he remarked. “She feels fortunate to use her platform to help others through her experience.”