Posted on Jul 23, 2015
By Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn
Jay and I are back from Tennessee now and the second Gentle Barn location in Knoxville is running smoothly. One of the things we did before leaving was to host a wedding at The Gentle Barn. It was one of the greatest honors of my life.
Two women came to The Gentle Barn Tennessee to visit and fell in love with the animals. They had been together for thirteen years but never dared to dream that they could ever wed. A week later the Supreme Court ruling came in and all of a sudden they realized that they could get married. They e-mailed us and asked if they could be married at The Gentle Barn Tennessee and if I could officiate. I was thrilled!
They lived in Georgia but their family and friends traveled the five hours to Knoxville to witness their union. The wedding was held in the breezeway of the barn and all the animals were witness to the ceremony. After their vows, everyone fed carrots to the horses, hugged Dudley and Destiny, and gave tummy rubs to the pigs. It was a magical day.
Just forty-seven years ago, Dr Martin Luther King lost his life in Tennessee trying to create more love and equality. Now, standing in the same state, love was able to be expressed through these two beautiful women. This marriage gives me hope of the love and freedom we have yet to attain for animals. We have come a long way, and perhaps soon we can have more love and equality for all beings. It might take awhile, but in the end, love always wins!
Written by Ellie Laks
Founder, The Gentle Barn