Victoria & Julie

Victoria Kay & Julie LaFleur on April 26, 2019

By Sydney Dauphinais / Originally published in the August 2019 edition of Newport Life magazine

Victoria Kay and Julie LaFleur say there was no exact moment when they fell in love. The couple developed their feelings slowly and with patience, gathering years of collective experiences together.

The pair met in the ROTC program at the University of Notre Dame, where Julie served as Victoria’s advisor and exercise partner. On their runs, exuberant questions from Victoria gradually gave way to vulnerable conversations about faith and values. They were close friends for five years, road-tripping through Iceland, taking mission trips to India, and spending long nights on Victoria’s purple couch, sharing their deepest fears and dreams. Not yet comfortable coming out, and afraid of tainting their invaluable connection, the two remained friends until 2015. “Ultimately,” says Victoria, “we fell in love when we gave ourselves permission to.”

“I didn’t know I was in love, but sometimes it takes looking in the rearview mirror to know what being in love is.”

In 2017, when Victoria was finishing her graduate program, she thanked Julie for her support by planning a perfect day in Newport. They ran the Cliff Walk, had breakfast at Rosemary & Thyme, visited Rough Point, lunched at Larusso’s, and went to the Newport Art Museum — things they had talked about doing, but had never done. That night, under a blanket fort in Julie’s living room, Victoria gave her a scrapbook filled with their letters, then pulled out a ring and proposed. But Julie panicked and said no, knowing that some friends and family wouldn’t take the news well.

Fast-forward to March 2018. Julie and Victoria rented a cabin in New Hampshire. Julie felt ready to make their engagement public, so while roasting marshmallows around a campfire, she proposed, and the women began planning their wedding.

Faithful to tradition

The moment they saw photos of Kay Chapel online, the couple knew it was where they wanted to marry. Julie and Victoria connected deeply over their faith, and they loved the chapel’s stained glass windows and wooden pews. After the ceremony, they exited the chapel under an arch of swords held aloft by six Navy men.

An old wives’ tale

The wedding day forecast called for a torrential downpour. Citing an old wives’ tale, Julie’s aunt suggested hanging a rosary outside their bathroom window to keep it from raining. Miraculously, skies remained clear until the indoor reception later that night. “We’re not going to say it was the rosary, but we aren’t going to say it wasn’t, either,” Victoria says.

Where are they now?

Victoria and Julie honeymooned in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, at the Azul Beach Resort. The two now live in San Diego.

Featured Vendors

Photographer: Jen & Katie Photography
Rehearsal Dinner: The Woodbine Cottage, McGrath Clambakes
Ceremony Venue: Kay Chapel
Reception Venue, Caterer, Cake: The Newport Beach House
Bridal Gown: Precious Memories
Hair & Makeup: Ali Lomazzo Beauty
Nails: Star Nails & Spa
Flowers: Blooming Blossoms
Officiant: Jason Miller
Bridal Party Transportation: Viking Tours of Newport/The Wedding Trolley
Ceremony Music: La Bella Musica
Reception entertainment: Disc Jockey Boston
Videographer: Clear Vision Videography
Guest Accommodations: Hotel Viking, Newport Beach Hotel
Linen/Décor Rental: Peak Event Services