Vintage Vows: Julia & Greg's Y2K Wedding

Looking for timeless inspiration for your big day? We’ve hunted down old wedding wisdom that is sure to wow your guests. We’ve decided the best way to go forward is to look back. As they say, history repeats itself. Trends come and go, but which wedding traditions stand the test of time? We’re interviewing brides from all over the country to hear about how they celebrated their 20th century nuptials, what they’d do again, and what details they would opt for in this millennium. The wedding industry has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, and we’re on a quest to figure out what is truly important versus what is industry fluff.

Our first feature is Julia and Greg’s Y2K wedding in Boulder, Colorado.

Gregory Charles Davis and Julia Ann Porter tied the knot at the turn of the century in Boulder, Colorado. Their early fall nuptials took place at St. John’s Episcopal Church, followed by a reception at the Red Lion Restaurant on Boulder Creek in Boulder Canyon. The reception location was chosen as an ode to the couple’s mutual love for the mountains, Julia’s German heritage and European background and Greg’s fondness for fly fishing.

Although the creekside restaurant is no longer operating, it holds dear sentiment and the memory of an iconic party for the Davis’s and their 85 guests. Along with their photos (and feature in Colorado Bride Magazine), Julia shared the details that made their big day remarkable. Here’s our round-up of what we would steal from the Davis’s vintage vows.

Old School Advice – Why We Love this Wedding

From guest entertainment to personalization, Julia and Greg created an intimate yet lively multi-day celebration of their love. Personal touches like a custom video at the rehearsal dinner, glass chiming, an organized song battle and non-matching bridesmaid dresses created a unique and memorable affair. Julia focused her energy on cultivating a party atmosphere rather than fixating on flower arrangements and small details.

Favorite Memory: Creating the Party Atmosphere

Julia’s favorite memory from the big day engaged the guests and created the perfect party atmosphere.

“When the wedding festivities were in full swing on the dance floor my sisters organized the singing of ‘Paradise by The Dashboard Light’ (Meat Loaf). The guys were on one side of the floor and the women on the other–literally screaming their respective lyrics at each other. It was awesome–everyone participated.”

Size Matters

The age old question is what is the best number of guests. The US average is 167 and while the guest list depends on your budget, venue and timeline, Julia gave us her insight on why she loved her mid-sized (now considered small) wedding.

“We had 85 guests when all was said and done and that was a PERFECT number. Just intimate enough and not too big to talk to everyone.”

It’s a Weekend Thing

“We were lucky people weren’t too hungover for the wedding.”

Why have one party when you can make it a weekend? With guests coming from here, there and everywhere, the Davis’s decided one day of celebration was not enough. The couple planned three days of events to celebrate their union. This turn of the century tip holds true today. A weekend of festivities is the perfect way to connect with what makes the occasion so special, the joining of two families and having quality time with the ones you love the most. Traditionally, out of town guests are invited to the rehearsal dinner, but why stop there? Many bridal parties are opting for a get together several days before the wedding, just the boys and girls. A welcome party is a great way to get everyone involved before the big day, and a morning after brunch with family and close friends is a brilliant way to bid adieu before heading home.

“Most of our guests came from out of town and hung out with us for 3 nights. A BBQ/campfire at our house in Denver on night one, rehearsal dinner and pretty much a bachelorette party on night two, then the wedding on day three. We had a large wedding party of all very close friends.”

Father knows best – Enjoy the Day! Have fun!

It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the planning process. Right before she walked down the aisle, Julia’s Dad reminded her of the real (and most important) reason they were all there.

“My Dad said to me right before we walked down the aisle that this was a happy occasion for celebration and I should be all smiles. I loved that because I smiled all day instead of crying despite all the heightened emotions on such a big day.”

Who Wore What: Different Dresses & Tailcoats

Julia was ahead of her time by having her bridesmaids choose their own dresses rather than opting for matching garb. It was important to her that each member of her bridal party felt comfortable and confident standing by her side. Giving the bridal party the freedom to choose (within parameters) is a great way to be mindful of each member’s budget. Being a bridesmaid adds up, and if buying a dress is required, it is nice to have something each individual likes and could wear again. Additionally, bridesmaids of different body types are able to choose a style that they feel comfortable in. It is difficult to find one style of dress that is the right color, flatters everyone, and is affordable. Looking for bridesmaid inspiration? Here are our favorite dresses of the moment!

“I let each bridesmaid pick their own dress style. It just had to be floor length and bare shoulders. They were all happy in their outfits and got to wear a style that flattered their features.”

“The men wore tails. What man doesn’t look totally hot in tails! And one Scottish friend wore a kilt. Loved.”

“Tail,” or tailcoat, is when the back of the coat is much longer than the front. The back is elongated and split into two “tails,” and it’s considered to be a little more formal. Think: men’s jackets in Bridgerton, or Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice. While the guys in these period pieces are extremely handsome, I have to disagree with Julia on this one. Tailcoats feel a little stuffy, and, honestly, a nice fitting suit that’s the normal length in the back looks way more polished. While the bridal party outfits look timeless in these photos, the groomsmen look is a little dated. Modernize your groomsmen with a sleek tuxedo if you’re going for a formal flair or make it more casual with well-fitting suits. Check out our guide to finding the perfect suit fit here.

Special details

Glass Chiming

Take something old and make it new. Guests requesting the newlyweds kiss by tapping their glasses has been a longstanding tradition. Nowadays, however, the practice is much less common. We love the fun twist Greg and Julia had on this old custom that involves the guests, boosting the mood of the reception and encouraging them to get to know each other.

“Greg and I made a rule that we would not respond to knives clinking against glassware to kiss, if the guest wanted us to find each other and kiss, their table had to sing a song with the word ‘love’ in the lyrics. Everyone participated and it was seriously hilarious. The single friends table sang ‘Love Stinks’!”

Rehearsal Dinner Personalization

The rehearsal dinner is an excellent time and place to honor the two families coming together and highlight the journey the lovebirds took that ultimately brought them together. You could run a slideshow in the background, put together photo albums for guests to flip through or, take a clue from the Davis’s and show a video.

“At the rehearsal dinner, Greg’s best friend Rob had a friend of his who was an MTV producer create a video of pictures of Greg and I from childhood. It was put to music. There was not a dry eye after it was played.”

What do you love about this wedding? Let us know in the comments!

Did your vintage vows wow? Submit your wedding to be featured to kathryn.dickson@wedmayhem.com

Planning

18 min

The Ups and Downs of Long Distance: Learning to Take the Leap through Sky and Lucinda

By Rachel Becher

Meet Lucinda and Sky, a couple that represent their love in such a genuine and wholesome manner that onlookers cannot help but be taken by their youthful infatuation with each other. They operate as individuals as well as a couple through a wistful romanticism, and their carefree bliss exudes through their interactions together.

The couple met four years ago while they were in New Zealand training for ski racing, and locked eyes when they were both at dinner. This chance meeting led to circumstances that neither of them anticipated, and put them on a path that has led them to the ultimate connection. For Sky, when he first saw Lucinda, it was “love at first sight.” This view is apparent in the way he glances at Lucinda and how he attentively watches her as she speaks.It is clear the spark is just as strong today as it was that first time he laid eyes on her. Sky asked Lucinda out on a coffee date due to their shared adoration of caffeine (Lucinda playfully describes Sky as a “coffee snob”), and Lucinda admits that at the time she didn’t realize she was on a date. She also didn’t realize that she was about to take the first step towards finding the love of her life. On their first “official date,” after their coffee meetup, Lucinda realized she returned love for Sky when she saw him play guitar for the first time. Because Sky was from Alaska and Lucinda lived in the United Kingdom, initially they thought their encounter was fleeting. However, after starting to spend some time with each other, they came to realize that this moment was more than a chance meeting. Their relationship developed, and even though the two lived on opposite ends of the world, Sky knew that Lucinda was something special. The thought of separating after their time in New Zealand seemed bleak, however their connection was strong enough that they decided to embark on the task of a long term relationship.

The pair stayed apart for a month initially, and throughout their relationship they ended up staying apart from each other for a maximum of four months. Their wisdom and experience in this matter is worth sharing. Sky and Lucinda do not claim that long distance was easy by any stretch of the imagination. With Sky moving from Colorado to Alaska and Lucinda moving from France to the United Kingdom, the couple was facing a nine hour time difference. Lucinda recalls staying up until 2:00 am just to speak to Sky. This trust and resilience within each other led them to strengthen the foundation of their relationship, even to the point where they both profess that they worked just as well apart as they do together.

After their period of distance, the couple moved into a studio apartment in Colorado, taking the next step and truly committing to their journey together. With the spread of COVID-19, the two found themselves stuck in a small space together, very much the antithesis of their long distance relationship. They made friends with another couple in their building, and through their shared experience they were able to survive the storm of the virus.

The hallmark of this couple is their unrelenting dedication through times of hardship. Sky unfortunately suffered from a skiing accident in which he had to have multiple surgeries. During this process, Lucinda drove him to and from his procedures and remained by his side to assist in his recovery. Truly a team who rolls with the punches, Lucinda even drove four hours to Sky when his car broke down on his way to Steamboat and burst into flames. When faced with so many daunting challenges, marriage must appear to be a breeze compared to the hurdles that they have already worked through together. What remains so impressive about their relationship is their unwavering trust for each other and the firm belief that the difficulties will always be worth the struggle if they come out together on the other end.

When it comes to long distance, arguably the couples’ greatest challenge, Lucinda was candid in saying it’s, “never going to be fun.” But the advice Sky and Lucinda offer is poignant. They maintain the best way to survive long distance is always to have a plan to meet, even if it is five months in the future. This mindset reassures that one day you will be back in the arms of the person you love, even through the bitterness of separation. Their closing words remain true of any relationship, but exhibit that they share the same mindset that has contributed to their success together. They encourage people to take the leap into their relationships and trust their gut when it comes to risks. Inhibitions have only held these two back, and by truly embracing each other they have soared to new heights as a team. “You won’t know until you try,” Sky offered. Their experience is one to admire and appreciate. Their connection is proof that through effort, dedication, and a little bit of fate, love can survive any distance.