By Joe Girton, Freedom to Marry's New Media Intern 

 

Robbie and Allen aren’t just in it to win a dream wedding – they’ve entered Crate and Barrel’s über-competitive “Ultimate Wedding” contest to make headlines and make history. Yeah, they’re adorable, but the message they’re trying to send is what’s catapulted them to second place in the contest.

If they win, they’ll be the first same-sex couple to win a national contest like this. That’s why every vote matters: this step would be a victory for couples all over America, and would encourage other retailers to craft registry policies like Crate and Barrel’s, which includes commitment ceremonies in the same category as weddings in the contest’s policies.

Vote for Robbie and Allen: http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entry/104050

So what’s their story? Like so many couples, they found each other online. Allen was the first man that Robbie had ever dated, and their relationship meant that he came out to his friends and family for the first time with Allen’s support. Now, Robbie’s grandparents, who have been married for 63 years, are on board: watch their video to hear why they support the freedom to marry.

It’s clear that these two mean to the world to each other - you’ll be jealous after reading the story proposal on their website: it’s almost too cute. But a win for them won’t just mean a dream wedding. It’ll mean a landmark in ending marriage discrimination on a symbolic level as a preface to real progress in legislating the freedom to marry.

So go – vote for Robbie and Allen, show your support, help them get their dream wedding, and take a step towards ending marriage discrimination.