Justin and Matthew's '70s-inspired bash

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"It was immediate with Justin," says Matthew. "I always looked forward to when I could see him next—I admired how selfless he was and how he valued his family and friends."
Photography / Jacqueline Connor Photography

By Lara Ceroni // Photography by Jacqueline Connor Photography

Justin Smith and Matthew Boyd may have a modern romance, but their wedding hallmarked a return to ’70s nostalgia–and a lot of groove.

"Our story is a tale as old as time," laughs Justin. "Matthew and I met on Tinder (in 2018), had drinks on our first date and the conversation was instantly easy—I never felt like I had to hide any of who I was."

Photography / Jacqueline Connor Photography

Not only was Justin happy they shared so much in common, but he immediately noticed what a caring person Matthew was. It struck a chord, and while online dating may have changed the way we meet, how we fall in love remains the same: It starts with a spark.

"It was immediate with Justin," says Matthew. "I always looked forward to when I could see him next—I admired how selfless he was and how he valued his family and friends."

The pandemic proved a formative experience for the couple, and months after moving in together, conversation around marriage started swirling.

"One day, while sitting on the couch, we decided to get engaged," says Matthew. "We started looking for our rings that night and then told our family and friends."

Day-of details

Twenty months of planning later, Justin and Matthew tied the knot at Seneca One Tower in downtown Buffalo in June 2023. One of the city’s most iconic buildings, Justin and Matthew knew it was their spot. Working with Syrie Roman, a wedding planner at Social Maven, the couple was drawn to the architecture of the building and the fact it was flexible on vendor choices, so they could plan their wedding a la carte.

Two hundred guests enjoyed Italian favorites from Occasions by Osteria, rolled cigars with Buffalo Cigars and posed in the photo booth with Bflo Photobomb. Justin and Matthew built their wedding theme inspired by the interior design of the space and the decade the building was designed: the ’70s. The influence showed in the orange, yellow and green floral varietals and heirloom blooms supplied from Bōtan and their bespoke chocolate brown suits.

It was essential that every touch point in the venue had flowers (“We tucked flowers into every corner we could find,” says Justin) and that their suits, while remaining relatively traditional, had some personality. A close friend made the cake: a classic, tiered white cake adorned with, you guessed it, some of the thousands of flowers that filled the space.

Outside of the look and feel, the pair wanted their wedding to be fun—a lot of fun.

“Maximizing the fun we could have on our wedding day was paramount to us,” says Justin. They hired Silver Arrow Band, a high-energy troupe that will play anything from funk and Motown to rock and pop, knowing dancing was a priority.

“We still have people tell us that it was the most dancing they had ever experienced at a wedding, which I must admit was a big goal of ours going in,” says Justin.

Matthew concurs: “Walking down the aisle at the end of the ceremony was a particular bright spot, but now it was time to party, surrounded by so many people we love in one place. It was exactly what we wanted.”