After mutual friends of ours started dating we quickly found out they each had a friend that HAD to meet. Skeptical that the one gay human they knew would be the perfect match, Matt and I avoided meeting each other for months. Eventually, we met for pizza and beer at Atomic Cowboy East Colfax in Denver. We learned that anything starting with pizza and beer can only lead to good things because one date led to another, which led to hanging out day after day, and we still are 5 and half years later.

We dedicated our wedding day to not only celebrating each other and the families and chosen families that have supported us, but to also being grateful to and learning about those who paved the way to make marriage equality an experience in our lifetime. We’re so lucky to live in a time when this possibility exists. Our ceremony was short, sweet, and authentic to us, which meant the overall event felt elegant, but fun. We made the day what’s true to us, not what others though our ceremony or reception should be. And we forged ahead with that plan and loved every minute of it. We share this advice with every groom planning a wedding.

We shouldn’t have been surprised because so many married friends told us how fast the day goes by. But it FLEW by and I wish I could do it over and over again. I thought I’d have more time to hang out with everyone invited, but there were so many people to hug, chat, and dance with that we didn’t get as much time with all 200 of our loved ones with us that day. Also, for two people who are total foodies, we could barely eat throughout the day. Too excited!

Since our anniversary, we cannot stop looking through the photos from our engagement session and wedding day. We wanted to share these photos in hopes of inspiring other LGBT couples planning for their big day!

This July we celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary. We followed @mensvows throughout our entire engagement and still do to this day. We are obsessed with all of the photos, ideas, and LOVE that gets shared on Men’s Vows.

Grooms: Joey (@joeydenoncourt) and Matt
Date: 7/7/18
Location: Larkspur, CO
Venue: Spruce Mountain Ranch
Planner: Erin Hehn
Photography: Friends & Lovers Photography - @friendsandloverphotography (Chelsey Pas)
Catering: Footers Catering
Bar: Peak Beverage
DJ: Tasos Hernandez (TH Entertainment)
Rentals: Event Rents
Florist: Project Floral
Cake: Azucar Bakery
Lighting: Lighting and Design by Scott
Stationary: Yellowdog Printing
Hotel: Hilton Denver Inverness
Hashtag: #joeyandmattrimony