With Rhode Island and Minnesota becoming the 12th and 13th states in the U.S. to allow gay marriage, many couples made last-minute preparations for a midnight marriage on Wednesday night, when the law would come into effect, so they could be part of history, and be among the first to marry on what is being called “Freedom to Marry Day” in Minnesota.
At the Mall of American, for instance, Holly Bartelt and Amy Petrich from southeastern Minnesota attempted to be the first couple married at the Chapel of Love, setting up the ceremony early so they could be pronounced married just moments after midnight.
“We’d like for them to be able to to say they are the first married in the state, but for sure they’ll be able to say they’re one of the first,” said chapel owner Felicia Glass-Wilcox. She also noted that the couple had four more gay couples booked for the next few days.
Marriages had been arranged for Minneapolis City Hall, St. Paul’s Como Park, the Mall of America’s Chapel of Love, and various courthouses, as many couples endeared themselves to the new laws and became a living part of history, commemorating the change in government policy regarding gay marriage.