“Larissa and I fought for marriage equality for Illinois,” Shayna said. “We never thought we would get married but certainly thought everyone should! And then, I proposed to her at the finish line of the Tough Mudder race. After 15 years together, we loved our family and friends coming together to celebrate. It was the first time our families met only because everyone lives in different states. It was love at first sight with our families.
“Larissa’s dad passed away, but we are happy to have his partner, Scottie, in our life. He is truly part of our lives. As he walked Larissa down the aisle, he wore a beautiful picture of Marvin (Larissa’s dad) by his heart. Our gay married friends told us they cried more at our wedding than their own.”
The wedding was a mix of nightclub, wedding traditions and craziness, including the artsy hosts passing tissues in the middle of the ceremony. “It was absolutely unforgettable,” Shayna said.
Photos provided by Scott Bradley, Jimmie Lisak and TG Warford