When the two of us met, we immediately clicked, and within a couple of months, we were already making wedding plans! Once we were engaged, we were eager to be married and realized we wanted our wedding to be held at an animal sanctuary.
When we started looking, we found many sanctuaries in need of funding and recognition. We looked up a few venues and visited some, trying to see what would really work for us. Just a few moments after arriving at Ranger’s Refuge at Gallastar animal sanctuary, we knew it was where we were going to be married. It was an emotional moment, standing there and visualizing the ceremony that would be held in just a few months. We didn’t yet know how much work was left to be done, but we saw the rescued animals and the passion that the sanctuary owners had—and that’s all we needed to begin.
Ron and Lorelei Pulliam—the owners of the sanctuary—were so eager to work with us and help host our big day at their beautiful venue, which overlooks the Appalachian Mountains. After the wedding, they were able to use the donated funds to complete a building at the sanctuary that will be used to house interns and volunteers as well as providing restrooms for visitors. It was truly wonderful to see the direct result of our venue fee and the difference it made for the sanctuary.
All we needed was each other, and since our goal was to have a compassionate wedding, we decided to set up wedding registries with both Gallastar and PETA. This prompted a lot of discussion and gave us an opportunity to engage with people about PETA’s goals and discuss how they align with our values. Many were thrilled to hear how engaged PETA is with ending the fur trade and finding alternatives to animal testing. Gallastar set up a registry page for us on its own website, which allowed people to donate, buy items such as pig beds and feeders, and even sponsor an animal. We hoped that by sponsoring a cow, pig, or chicken, our guests would look at these animals in a different light.
In order to avoid centerpieces that would be discarded the next day, we opted for practical boxes that the sanctuary would be able to use in the future. They were filled with straw and decoratively topped with fruit and vegetables (most of which were fated to be thrown out by a nearby grocery store). After the ceremony, everyone in attendance grabbed a centerpiece and fed the fruit and vegetables to the animals. The boxes were all emptied in no time, and our guests were delighted to be able to connect with the animal residents in a fun and meaningful way.
Our family and friends have various cultural backgrounds and food preferences. We wanted our wedding to support local vegan and vegetarian restaurants, so we chose a nearby Indian restaurant, Saran Cafe, to cater the event, along with soul food from NuVegan and desserts from Sticky Fingers. They were able to bring their food trucks to the sanctuary, serving delicious vegan food to all our attendees.
In addition to the food served, we wanted to ensure that our entire wedding was cruelty-free. Our friends and family were happy to oblige, and they had no trouble finding outfits for the event that were free of animal-derived materials. Bridesmaids wore silk-free saris and lehengas, the groomsmen found 100% cotton seersucker suits, and many of us wore shoes from Will’s Vegan Store. It was wonderful to see everyone realize how easy it is to find cruelty-free clothes and shoes they like.
Since the wedding, many friends and family members have let us know that they are taking more steps toward following a vegan lifestyle. We are thrilled by the impact that our wedding has had on our guests, the Gallastar sanctuary, and many animals. A wedding is one of the most important events in a person’s life, and we’re grateful that ours inspired so much compassion.
Richa and Alex met at the 2018 Animal Rights March. Richa quickly became Alex’s first girlfriend, and before long, they were engaged. They now live in northern Virginia with their two dogs, two cats, and 11-year-old daughter, Sita.
