• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Lesbian couple slams dream wedding venue after receiving ‘heart-crushing’ email

Home> News> US News

Published 16:15 14 Jan 2024 GMT

Lesbian couple slams dream wedding venue after receiving ‘heart-crushing’ email

The gay couple received an unexpected response

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Two brides were left heartbroken after their dream wedding venue didn't turn out they way they'd hoped.

Ali Waggy and Jessica Robinson had their hearts set on wedding at The Barn at Grace Hill in Kansas, and had been in frequent communication with the venue's owner.

After viewing the barn, Waggy and Robinson fell even more in love with it and were just a question away from asking for a contract to finalize their decision, when they received an unexpected email.

Amanda Balzer - the owner of The Barn - said she wanted 'an open and honest line of communication' and had to let Waggy and Robinson 'know who we are and where our heart is'.

"While our deeply held religious belief keeps us from celebrating anything but marriage between a man and woman, we desire to serve everyone equally and do not want to keep anyone from using our building who would like to," the email went on.

Advert

"Our hearts are to serve, regardless of race, creed, color, origin, sexual orientation, gender or marital status, while maintaining our convictions and beliefs as well."

Balzer continued to note that 'all couples legally permitted to marry in the state of Kansas are welcome to use The Barn', but felt the need to move forward with the brides-to-be 'in the most authentic way possible'.

Ali Waggy (left) and Jessica Robinson (right) had their hearts set on the venue.
Facebook

Following the devastating email, Waggy shared a screengrab of it to her social media as she asked people for different venue recommendations.

Advert

The Facebook post shared on January 8 has since generated hundreds of comments; some of which shared alternative venues, while others fumed at The Barn.

One person went as far as labelling the email as 'vile'.

They said: "This is absolutely vile of them. I am so sorry you have to put up with this."

A second added: "This was completely unnecessary to say... people do suck. I'm sorry!"


Advert

"Holy crap! That's insanely messed up! Sooooo glad we didn't go with them... I hope you guys find somewhere beautiful that acknowledges your love and marriage," a different person went on.

Waggy herself has since spoken out about it and described Balzer's message as 'heart-crushing'.

"Honestly, I just started crying hysterically, and it was pretty awful and heart-crushing," she told The Wichita Eagle.

Waggy and Robinson are now looking for an alternative place for their nuptials and hope to marry next year.

Advert

UNILAD have approached The Barn at Grace Hill for comment.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook

Topics: News, US News, LGBTQ

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 7 mins ago

    Concerning theory why Burger King employee was fired after running entire store alone for a shocking 12 hours

    Nykia Hamilton worked at the fast-food chain's Columbia, South Carolina, branch when she was told she was getting the axe just a month later

    News
  • an hour ago

    Expert shares terrifying reason some people fall in love with psychopaths

    Charles Manson married Afton Elaine Burton - 45 years after ordering the killing of the eight-month pregnant actor Sharon Tate

    News
  • an hour ago

    Police querying 'inconsistencies' in mom's account of 7-month-old son's 'kidnapping' story

    Authorities in California are asking anyone with information about the disappearance of Emmanuel Haro to get in touch

    News
  • an hour ago

    Putin gifts random American present worth over $20,000 that flew to Alaska with him for Trump meeting

    As Putin and Trump's Alaska meeting concluded, there was only one real winner - and he wasn't even involved in the summit

    News
  • Fencer disqualified after refusing to participate with transgender opponent speaks out
  • Man wins $600,000 in lawsuit after failing to respond to Elon Musk’s ‘hard-core’ email
  • Female fencer handed severe punishment after refusing to partake with transgender opponent
  • Mom 'lucky to be alive' after receiving 'poisoned drink' by stranger on New Year’s Eve