Ashley & Jessica: The First in Line
Ashley & Jessica: The First in Line
Ashley Cavner (21) and Jessica Lee (19) were the first in line to get their marriage licenses in Vancouver, WA on Dec. 6th 2012. The young couple, together a year, got in line at 9pm the night before and spent a long cold night for the opportunity to be the first to get their marriage license in Vancouver. (Actually the couple was #6, the first five couples were hand picked, including Paul Harris and James Griener, who have been together 39 years.)
Young Couple in Love Getting Married
Ashley and Jessica were downright giddy by the time morning came and they were about to end their long wait and get their license. Asked if she minded not being first, since they camped out all night, Ashley said, “No, not at all. The first couple had to wait 40 years to get married.”
Ashley and Jessica said some people were brushing them off, saying they were too young. “But no one knows what we’ve been through,” the couple told me.
“We’ve been pushed to the edge by everyone, especially our families,” Jessica said.
The Struggles of the Young Couple Now Getting Married
Ashley has had some health issues and even though the couple is registered as domestic partners in the state, Jessica was kept from Ashley’s side during a recent emergency room visit until she could produce her domestic partnership card. The situation was clearly stressful to both women. “I had to wait for security to come get me while she was losing a pint of blood,” Jessica said. Ashley described the moment, “I had to sit there while they put an IV in and have doctors discuss what was wrong with me, with no one to hold my hand.”
It’s exactly situations like this that have been one of the reasons gays and lesbians have been fighting so hard for marriage equality.
Ashley and Jessica also had issues with their families. “Our families are very religious,” Ashley said.
The fight for same-sex marriage was a dividing issue in their family. Jessica described driving up to her mother’s house and seeing a Reject R74 sign. “We had to fight through that,” Ashley said.
“Both of our families voted against us,” Ashley said. “We both lost many friends.”
The two were happy to report that Jessica’s mom has slowly started to change her opinion. As a matter of fact, it was she who called the girls to tell them that no one was in line yet and they should get down to the courthouse.
Ashley said her mom is Catholic and she’s recently come to the conclusion that, “God wouldn’t make us the way we are to condemn us.” Jessica’s mom will come to the ceremony, but Ashley is sure her parents aren't quite ready for that.
“I wanted to be a part of monumental Washington history. This is going to be in the history books,” Jessica said. Ashley added, “We’re two crazy kids who stood in line all night to get married, but no one can say we don’t love each other.” And as I stood there and watched them, it was so clear these two are crazy about one another.
“When people say we’re too young to get married, it’s really frustrating because they don’t know us, they don’t know what we’ve gone through.”
The two met when they were in middle school playing softball against one another. Jessica hit a softball that hit Ashley in the face. That unfortunate first start didn’t keep the two from becoming friends when they were in high school. “We were in AP English together and she had a really nice butt,” Ashley laughs. “She sat in the front, the nerdy girl, straight A student, and I was a punk kid with combat boots in the back.”
They ran into each other through friends years later and fell hard and fast for one another. Now the two live together with their dog. Jessica works two jobs for now to support them both until Ashley’s health issues settle down.
“How can they say we don’t love each other, when every morning we wake up smiling because we’re next to each other,” Ashley said. “I don’t think we’re too young.”
What’s next for Ashley and Jessica? They’re getting wedding tattoos. Ashley’s will say “I’ll never let you go,” and Jessica’s “You had me at hello.” Tributes to their favorite band Blink 182.
And on Sunday morning at 12:01pm, at the exact moment they can get married, they plan to be the first in line again. But for now, they were headed home to take a nap.
Since Washington has a three day waiting period, Jessica and Ashley had to wait until midnight on Sunday in order to have their wedding ceremony. The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Vancouver opened its doors for any same-sex couple who wanted to get married at the stroke of midnight.
After spending so much time waiting in line to be the first to get their licenses, Jessica and Ashley again, waited for hours to be the first in line to get married.
While Jessica worked, Ashley camped out at the church starting at noon on Saturday. The church finally opened their doors at 9pm so the couple, who by then were joined by another couple waiting to get married, could come in out of the cold.
In the days leading up to their wedding, Jessica and Ashley shopped for wedding attire. Each picked out the other's outfit. As they were shopping, they were recognized by several people who had seen the media coverage of the young couple. All offered support and congratulations.
As it grew closer to midnight, more and more couples and supporters filed into the church. Volunteers decorated with flowers and set out cookies and cupcakes made by the Democratic Women Voters group.
The two were joined by their best friends who came to witness and celebrate their union. Several members of clergy showed up and volunteered to perform services. Jessica and Ashley picked a Christian pastor who also works as Santa.
Drew from Equality Washington walked the two women down the aisle.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Jessica teared up when putting the ring on Ashley's finger. But after, she hooted and lifted Ashley in the air.
I talked with the two immediately after their ceremony and asked how they feel. "Amazing. It still hasn't smacked me in the face yet," Ashley said. "I think as soon as we're sitting alone and we put our wedding song on, we're going to feel it." They said their song is "All About Us" by He is We. The two immediately started singing and dancing about, giddy and in love.
It was well past 1am before the young couple left the building. As they stepped out into the cold night, Ashley said, "You are so carrying me over the threshold."
Ashley Cavner (21) and Jessica Lee (19) were the first in line to get their marriage licenses in Vancouver, WA on Dec. 6th 2012. The young couple, together a year, got in line at 9pm the night before and spent a long cold night for the opportunity to be the first to get their marriage license in Vancouver. (Actually the couple was #6, the first five couples were hand picked, including Paul Harris and James Griener, who have been together 39 years.)
Young Couple in Love Getting Married
Ashley and Jessica were downright giddy by the time morning came and they were about to end their long wait and get their license. Asked if she minded not being first, since they camped out all night, Ashley said, “No, not at all. The first couple had to wait 40 years to get married.”
Ashley and Jessica said some people were brushing them off, saying they were too young. “But no one knows what we’ve been through,” the couple told me.
“We’ve been pushed to the edge by everyone, especially our families,” Jessica said.
The Struggles of the Young Couple Now Getting Married
Ashley has had some health issues and even though the couple is registered as domestic partners in the state, Jessica was kept from Ashley’s side during a recent emergency room visit until she could produce her domestic partnership card. The situation was clearly stressful to both women. “I had to wait for security to come get me while she was losing a pint of blood,” Jessica said. Ashley described the moment, “I had to sit there while they put an IV in and have doctors discuss what was wrong with me, with no one to hold my hand.”
It’s exactly situations like this that have been one of the reasons gays and lesbians have been fighting so hard for marriage equality.
Ashley and Jessica also had issues with their families. “Our families are very religious,” Ashley said.
The fight for same-sex marriage was a dividing issue in their family. Jessica described driving up to her mother’s house and seeing a Reject R74 sign. “We had to fight through that,” Ashley said.
“Both of our families voted against us,” Ashley said. “We both lost many friends.”
The two were happy to report that Jessica’s mom has slowly started to change her opinion. As a matter of fact, it was she who called the girls to tell them that no one was in line yet and they should get down to the courthouse.
Ashley said her mom is Catholic and she’s recently come to the conclusion that, “God wouldn’t make us the way we are to condemn us.” Jessica’s mom will come to the ceremony, but Ashley is sure her parents aren't quite ready for that.
“I wanted to be a part of monumental Washington history. This is going to be in the history books,” Jessica said. Ashley added, “We’re two crazy kids who stood in line all night to get married, but no one can say we don’t love each other.” And as I stood there and watched them, it was so clear these two are crazy about one another.
“When people say we’re too young to get married, it’s really frustrating because they don’t know us, they don’t know what we’ve gone through.”
The two met when they were in middle school playing softball against one another. Jessica hit a softball that hit Ashley in the face. That unfortunate first start didn’t keep the two from becoming friends when they were in high school. “We were in AP English together and she had a really nice butt,” Ashley laughs. “She sat in the front, the nerdy girl, straight A student, and I was a punk kid with combat boots in the back.”
They ran into each other through friends years later and fell hard and fast for one another. Now the two live together with their dog. Jessica works two jobs for now to support them both until Ashley’s health issues settle down.
“How can they say we don’t love each other, when every morning we wake up smiling because we’re next to each other,” Ashley said. “I don’t think we’re too young.”
What’s next for Ashley and Jessica? They’re getting wedding tattoos. Ashley’s will say “I’ll never let you go,” and Jessica’s “You had me at hello.” Tributes to their favorite band Blink 182.
And on Sunday morning at 12:01pm, at the exact moment they can get married, they plan to be the first in line again. But for now, they were headed home to take a nap.
Since Washington has a three day waiting period, Jessica and Ashley had to wait until midnight on Sunday in order to have their wedding ceremony. The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Vancouver opened its doors for any same-sex couple who wanted to get married at the stroke of midnight.
After spending so much time waiting in line to be the first to get their licenses, Jessica and Ashley again, waited for hours to be the first in line to get married.
While Jessica worked, Ashley camped out at the church starting at noon on Saturday. The church finally opened their doors at 9pm so the couple, who by then were joined by another couple waiting to get married, could come in out of the cold.
In the days leading up to their wedding, Jessica and Ashley shopped for wedding attire. Each picked out the other's outfit. As they were shopping, they were recognized by several people who had seen the media coverage of the young couple. All offered support and congratulations.
As it grew closer to midnight, more and more couples and supporters filed into the church. Volunteers decorated with flowers and set out cookies and cupcakes made by the Democratic Women Voters group.
The two were joined by their best friends who came to witness and celebrate their union. Several members of clergy showed up and volunteered to perform services. Jessica and Ashley picked a Christian pastor who also works as Santa.
Drew from Equality Washington walked the two women down the aisle.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Jessica teared up when putting the ring on Ashley's finger. But after, she hooted and lifted Ashley in the air.
I talked with the two immediately after their ceremony and asked how they feel. "Amazing. It still hasn't smacked me in the face yet," Ashley said. "I think as soon as we're sitting alone and we put our wedding song on, we're going to feel it." They said their song is "All About Us" by He is We. The two immediately started singing and dancing about, giddy and in love.
It was well past 1am before the young couple left the building. As they stepped out into the cold night, Ashley said, "You are so carrying me over the threshold."
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