Ewen Reynolds, 45, killed Zac Evans, 19, in the car park of a Gloucestershire pub in January 2015.
His friend, Keaton Jones, 23, survived the attack but was left badly injured.
Reynolds was found guilty of murder and attempted murder last month.
Mr Evans was described in court as a "lively, charismatic, energetic and wonderfully funny young man".
Hi mother, Sylvia Evans, read a statement to Bristol Crown Court ahead of sentencing describing the impact of his killing.
She said that Reynolds, a former car dealer, had driven to The Pike and Musket pub in Tuffley in the early hours of 24 January "with the intention to take lives".
The 45-year-old claimed he was defending himself with the 60cm (23in) blade when he slashed Keaton Jones and Zac Evans following a disagreement between Reynolds' wife, Nicola, and Abbie Wood, the girlfriend of Mr Jones.
The court heard the blow to Mr Evans was so savage that it nearly decapitated him. He died almost instantly.
Describing the moment she saw her son's body in the car park, Sylvia Evans said: "Our lovely son was dead on the floor and I wasn't able to hold him or make it right", adding: "I couldn't save Zac, his life was brutally taken in 15 seconds".
The court also heard a statement from Mr Jones, who survived the attack.
He said he had been left with scars on back and neck, suffered flashbacks and panic attacks, and lives in fear of being attacked again.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Porter, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: "This shocking incident is a reminder of the fateful consequences of people carrying or using weapons.
"I hope if nothing else Zac’s tragic death and the sentence of life imprisonment given to Ewen Reynolds today can act as a deterrent to ensure such an incident never happens again."
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