A Socially Distant Wedding with Chip and John

To Have and to Holden is our series where we interview real couples about their romance, weddings, and whatever else comes up along the way. Enjoy!

Chip and John, who both chose our Domed Profile (in custom widths!), had to quickly pivot their 2020 wedding plans due to COVID-19. Read on to hear about their "instantly unforgettable" wedding where they "wouldn't change a thing."

How did you two meet and start dating?

We met late summer of 2017 at a local bar in Hell’s Kitchen where John was working. We immediately hit it off and made it official in November.

How and when did you get engaged?

John surprised Chip during his birthday party at one of his favorite bars in Hell’s Kitchen in December of 2018. He pulled off a complete surprise!

When were you initially planning to have your wedding? Was it always going to be just the two of you, or were you planning to have a larger party?

Our wedding was scheduled for April 25, 2020 in Chip’s hometown, Kernersville, NC. We had planned a ceremony and reception that included 150 friends and family. We were looking forward to celebrating with everyone.

Could you tell us a little bit about your decision to get married now rather than waiting?

With all of the uncertainty swirling around, it just felt right for us to stop waiting and get married already! It feels good to be officially anchored to each other when everything else is adrift.

What’s one moment from your wedding day that you’ll remember forever?

We met a very small group of friends (around 7 people) at Pier 84 here in NYC, which is just a few short blocks from our apartment. It was March 20, 2020 and was the first warm and sunny day of the year. Our good friend Leanna had already gotten ordained in NC for our wedding, but she hustled and got ordained in NY as well so she could still perform the ceremony. Our friends in attendance FaceTimed our families in Florida and North Carolina so they could witness the ceremony. We expected the pier to be fairly empty, but due to the warm weather there was a fairly large crowd watching, and everyone burst into applause at the end. It wasn’t the wedding we had planned or expected, but it was instantly unforgettable and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Did you pivot any part of the celebration online? Any virtual toasts or anything like that?

We had several family members watching live via FaceTime and created a shared photo album for a larger group so people could see the pictures and watch the video.

Do you plan to celebrate again with family and friends once it’s safe to do so?

We are planning to throw a big reception/1 year anniversary party next spring on March 20, 2021. We are hoping to replicate as much of our original plan as possible, minus the ceremony.

What were you looking for in a wedding ring, and what drew you to Holden?

We wanted something classic, affordable, and reliable. We were so excited when we learned that Holden was willing to do even more customization than the website offers and LOVED that each ring was made to order here in NYC.

What does love mean to you?

Love means security when you feel unsettled, laughter when you’re happy, and support when you’re sad. It means allowing and encouraging each other to be the best version of themselves.

Want to be featured in our next post? Shoot us an email at help@hiholden.com!