Throuple with four kids explain what happened on their wedding day

A woman who has spent 15 years in a relationship with two men has revealed exactly what happened on their wedding day, opening up about the criticism the throuple has faced and why she still chooses to share her story publicly.

Alexia Shrout, who shares her life with partners Doug Shrout and Jake Shrout-Mchaffie in Maumee, Ohio, told UNILAD the family has never shied away from the judgement of others.

"Of course we have faced criticism and judgement," she said. "People can't really picture what it's like to have a poly family. But then they come over and many comments have been 'wow you guys are just like a normal family.'"

She said the reaction wasn't always so warm, particularly around the time all three of them decided to get married.

"We did have a couple of family members that refused to come because they didn't agree with it," she explained. "We lost some friends over it when we first got together."

Alexia Shrout shares a 15-year-relationship with partners Doug Shrout and Jake Shrout Mchaffie in Maumee, Ohio. (Supplied)

What is it like being married in a throuple?

Despite the fallout, Alexia said the trio went ahead with a full ceremony, and she's since had strangers reach out after hearing about it.

"I have told our story to people and many people have come out to me and stated they are poly," she said. "However, they don't live it out loud because they don't want to be judged. So I like telling my story because it helps make people not feel so alone."

She said one question comes up more than any other. "Alot of people have asked us 'yeah but are you legally married?'" Alexia said.

"My response is always 'I don't need the government's permission to have a wedding or make vows.'"

The ceremony itself, she said, was no different from a traditional wedding in almost every respect.

"We had a full wedding," she said. "Invited over 100 people. Had a father daughter dance. Had a groom and mom dance. Cut the cake together, said our vows together. Hired a DJ. Rented out a space. Rented tuxes, bought a wedding dress."

The only thing missing was legal recognition, since only one partnership can be legally registered at a time under current regulations.

"Legally only means the government is involved now," she said. "Pass on that."

Alexia said the family has also had to deal with more direct hostility. In one incident, a man in a bar owned by her mother reportedly made derogatory comments about a video of the family that had previously gone viral, not realizing who she was, only for her sister, who was working behind the bar that day, to have him thrown out.

The family is raising four children together, including an eight-year-old daughter named Tegan. (supplied)

How does a three-parent household actually work?

Day-to-day, Alexia said the household runs on a divide-and-conquer system. Doug and Jake both leave early for work, while Alexia, who owns her own business, has a later start that lets her handle school runs and doctor's appointments. All three adults pay their income into a single shared account, with bills automated to cut down on day-to-day admin.

The couple's four children include two older sons, aged 21 and 18, who have since moved out, an eight-year-old daughter named Tegan, and a teenage boy the family formally adopted a month ago after fostering him for six months.

The throuples marriage is not legally recognized, as only one partnership can be legally registered at a time under current rules (Supplied)

Alexia said she handled much of the paperwork and home inspections during that process, with Doug and Jake stepping in when needed.

Bigger decisions, she said, are always made together, including her choice to buy into a business despite it meaning less time at home.

"I only moved forward with buying into the business because everyone was willing to sacrifice," she explained.