VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — From the vows to the first kiss as husband and wife, between 1993 and 2014 couples in Hampton Roads got married in a group setting on Valentine’s Day.
Jimmy Ray Dunn was the man behind the plan to celebrate the holiday to the max when he worked for the country radio station, 97.3 The Eagle.
“What’s more Valentine than a wedding?” said Dunn. “So we said, 'OK let’s have a wedding,' and then I said, 'Why don’t we marry lots of people? Whoever wants to get married, let’s do that.'”
Years later, thousands of people have him to thank this Valentine’s Day for the grand celebration and memory on their anniversary.
Joanne Sampson is one of those couples.
“The rest is history, it’s been 18 years,” said Sampson.
She said it was a non-traditional wedding. “I’m not your traditional girl to get married in the church with the white dress or anything like that,” said Sampson.
A country radio station hosted it in a different venue, with country music celebrities each year.
For her year, it was at the “food court at Patrick Henry Mall, and Mark Willis sang in our wedding that year.”
Years later, the big moment shared by strangers is even unifying new friends as they reminisce on social media.
“A friend of mine now was married the same day we were. He was one (of the couples at the wedding) in (sports) jerseys,” said Jeremy Hunger. “He posted it this morning on Facebook and I was like, 'Holy moly, that’s us in the background!'”
Now it’s a fond memory these lovebirds wish they could live all over again.
“It was really good, and I wish they still did it.”