Here Come The Brides: Kristen Henderson And Sarah Ellis Marry -- Part 3 (VIDEO)

Today we bring you Part 3 (above) of "Here Come the Brides," our original video series following New York couple Sarah Ellis, a magazine marketing executive, and Kristen Henderson, a founding member of the band Antigone Rising, as they finally plan the wedding they dreamed of for years. (Watch Part 1 to hear how they met and Part 2 to see how motherhood played into their desire to marry).

As Sarah and Kristen mention in the video above, they were devastated in 2009 when the New York Senate voted down a bill that would allow LGBT individuals to marry. But at that point they had two wonderful distractions: simultaneous pregnancies and then all of the joys and sleepless nights involved in raising two infants.

By the time their babies, Kate and Thomas, were 2 years old, and Kristen and Sarah were able to refocus on their desire to wed, the New York State legislature was once again considering a bill that would legalize gay marriage. In this third and final part of their story, we hear how the historic New York senate vote on June 24, 2011 changed their lives and watch as they finally say their vows.

Special thanks to Kathleen DiResta-Roth and Adam Cohen for providing Sarah and Kristen's wedding photos.

Comments

[Roose Syla]

08:05 AM on 12/06/2011

Very shameful indeed! two women living together as ... hey as husband and wife? what a pity. And you say some people are barbaric. Even animals with lower intellect know their limit. Where would you have been if your parents also indulged in lesbianism?

[Tracy Fortune]

05:22 AM on 11/22/2011

Congrats, Sarah and Kristen~ stay strong & fight the good fight....Bigotry & discrimination is never "right"...I don't care what entity you pray to...everyone knows it,

T

[Targa3141]

06:05 PM on 11/20/2011

Beautiful AND empowering.

[karmis]

04:59 AM on 11/18/2011

salut pour tous

[LoyalBob]

11:31 PM on 11/17/2011

This series was incredibly uplifting and sweet!

I'm just sorry some of the commenters choose to mar a beautiful story of love with their hate, intolerance, misunderstanding, and fear of change.

It will get better.

[NeoTrinity13]

09:12 PM on 11/17/2011

Congratulations Kristen and Sarah! NOH8 =

[Mindy Czech]

01:44 PM on 11/17/2011

Seriously folks, if you don't want to read about these two ladies getting married, stay out of the Gay Voices section. Like I've said before, this is a human interest piece, and it is not being treated the same way that Quadaffi's death or Personhood is. I hardly see people whining when there are articles about celebrities, food or what's in style, and that's even less newsworthy than this, so why all the annoyance and frustration?

[madcityy]

12:39 PM on 11/17/2011

WHY IS THIS NEWSSS??????????????????????????

[EmmaDarian]

02:59 PM on 11/17/2011

It's a human interest story, and as you can see, some of us humans are interested. Even you. By golly, it takes effort to hit "caps look" and hold down the ? key for so long. You don't do that if you're apathetic.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

02:09 PM on 11/19/2011

Because it is lovely and sweet.

[SCYCCommodore]

10:23 PM on 11/16/2011

Sara and Kristen - thanks so much for sharing your wedding day with us. You have a wonderful family and we at SCYC are delighted for both of you.

[Kristen H]

07:49 PM on 11/17/2011

Thank you!

[shaking head]

10:18 PM on 11/16/2011

Part 2 of post....
Also, their love and life together does not affect any of us...we should JUST be happy for another living being for their happily ever after story! I have had the pleasure of meeting Kristen and her "Band family". I have read her and Sarah's book. They are good people!....if you just take the time to get to know people before you pass judgement you will see that they deserve every happiness without prejudice. As hard as it is to change beliefs, please try and see it from a new angle or light. I promise it will NOT hurt! :o)Kudos to Sarah and Kristen....Congratulations!

[shaking head]

10:17 PM on 11/16/2011

What a wonderful mini story! I enjoyed all three parts...If you take out the names and insert he and her in their place and do not mention same sex marriage the entire country would be so supportive of this loving couple who over came obsticles to be together and have children! Why is it that the names and sex of the couple change that? Some of you have been in the same "place" with your husband or wife. Trying to conceive or maybe not being able to marry when you want because of difficulties you had to over come. Close your eyes, try to imagine what your life would be like if you had to fight for rights you are given without prejudice. Try to figure out how you would explain to your children why you are not "liked" by many people in the community/world when you are a loving, caring, giving individual who works hard to provide for them. Take sexual orientation out of the equation...just try to look at it through compasionate eyes. Would you want people to make cruel comments about you and your wife or say how sorry they are for your kids? Knowing you are doing right by them and living your life committed to your family. I know most of what I am saying will fall on deaf ears to most of you but I hope that one of you take the time to stop and think this could be you.

[Ihearyou777]

09:28 PM on 11/16/2011

1 John 4:19-21

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

[MatooMatoo]

09:27 PM on 11/16/2011

Great Story.....an awesome snapshot of a happy couple and their important moments...meeting, having children, and getting married.....Glad NY followed suite with MA....but marriage equality still doesnt equal total equality.....federally our family still is not recognized as equal and continues to be denied rights that others have (ie-the ability to file taxes as a married couple and not separately as 2 individuals)......but it is stories like this one and the ability to create a loving family that is proof things are moving in the right direction!!!! Congrats Kristen and Sarah.....Thomas and Kate are very lucky to have such loving Moms who are willing to share their story!!!

[xlucyberlinerx]

09:18 PM on 11/16/2011

congratulations Kristen and Sarah! You've got a beautiful family!

[Jackie Gill]

09:01 PM on 11/16/2011

Very nice family portrait and a great story with a happy ending - sort of - they are still not on an "equal playing field" because equality does not actually exist in this country. Their marriage is not recognized federally or outside of their state. One more reason the whole “gay marriage is a state’s issue” stance is ridiculous and a cop-out by those politicians who try to pass the issue off as such. If marriage is a state's issue why do straight married couples receive federal marriage benefits? Either take away the federal straight marriage benefits or offer equality to all.

[shaking head]

10:22 PM on 11/16/2011

Very well spoken!