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Groovy B.C. wedding a throwback to Woodstock 91Ƶ69

Couple hosts themed wedding 50 years after legendary festival
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James Rockwell and his wife Lidia are photographed with the guests of their themed Woodstock wedding. (Taylor Leigh Photography)

Fifty years after missing out on his dream of attending Woodstock, a White Rock man got to live out the long-awaited experience last Saturday, tie (dying) the knot with his fiancée on the golden anniversary of the famous music festival.

A righteous event that spun a counterculture movement into three days of 91Ƶsex, drugs and rock n91Ƶ roll,91Ƶ Woodstock 1969 still stands for many purists, including James Rockwell, as the Woodstock.

For five decades, anniversary concerts have been held around the globe, each one falling short of what the original music festival 91Ƶ held in mid-August on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York 91Ƶ brought (and meant) to the 91Ƶflower power91Ƶ children of the 91Ƶ60s.

That spirit of love and connectivity was celebrated in Crescent Beach over the weekend 91Ƶ exactly 50 years after the legendary event.

Rockwell, dressed in a 91ƵBeatles91Ƶ wig 91Ƶ and looking as if he just walked up to the ticket-booth at Woodstock (before the fences were kicked down by hordes of unexpected people) 91Ƶ exchanged rings with Lidia Klimek, who wore a groovy teal dress with knee-high white boots and held a bouquet of sunflowers, at Blackie Spit on Aug. 17.

91ƵWe celebrated the wedding in a Woodstock fashion. We called it a Love-In,91Ƶ Rockwell told Peace Arch News, adding that their themed wedding received total buy-in from their guests.

About 35 people turned up to the ceremony 91Ƶ each person dressed in more 91Ƶshagadelic91Ƶ fashion than the last.

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Wedding guests rolled in decked out in tie-dye and far-out jewelry, carrying signs that read 91ƵGroovy,91Ƶ 91ƵSave the Planet,91Ƶ and 91ƵLeave Vietnam as a Tourist.91Ƶ

Rockwell described it as 91Ƶfabulous.91Ƶ

91ƵIt was amazing to see how creative everyone was and how authentic everyone was. You couldn91Ƶt even tell who your friends were when they came up because it was so well done,91Ƶ Rockwell said.

At the reception, the traditional white tablecloths were replaced by tie-dyed colours. The walls paid tribute to the legends: Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa.

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No detail was spared, down to the pen used to sign the marriage certificate, which was was shaped like a mushroom.

Unfortunately, when Rockwell was 16 years old, he missed Woodstock 91Ƶ69. He was en route to the concert from Nova Scotia, but 91Ƶhad a little border trouble.91Ƶ

91ƵAs a young hippie at the time, I was anxious to join the experience, now 50 years later, my friends made it come true,91Ƶ Rockwell said.

Asked if the themed wedding made up for the missed festival, Rockwell was quick with his response.

91ƵIt did. There was just a lack of drugs at this wedding. Last time, there was plenty,91Ƶ he laughed.

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White Rock91Ƶs James Rockwell and his wife Lidia got married at Crescent Beach on Saturday in a Woodstock-themed wedding. (Contributed photos)


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