A lesbian couple will marry Thursday at the Chapel of Love at the
Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota as a gay marriage law takes
effect.
Holli Bartelt and Amy Petrich of Wykoff are expected to tie the
knot at the chapel at 12:01AM on Thursday, August 1.
The couple, together 2 years, became engaged in a photo booth at
the mall, the Minnesota Star-Tribune reported.
According to Petrich's Facebook page, the engagement took place in
April. Bartelt is a health coach, and Petrich works at the Mayo
Clinic.
The wedding will incorporate the colors of the campaign to
legalize marriage equality in Minnesota. Bartelt's two children, a
boy and a girl, will dress in blue and orange.
Lawmakers legalized gay nuptials earlier this year after voters
rejected an attempt to ban such unions last year.
A similar law will also take effect on August 1 in Rhode Island.
(Related: Westboro
Baptist Church to protest start of Minnesota gay marriage law.)