A couple whose wedding date clashed with their rescue dog adoption day combined the two and tied the knot at the shelter.
Kathryn Greenleaf and Rachel Nunez, from Louisville, Kentucky, had their first date on Valentine’s Day in 2022, before getting engaged in 2024.
The couple had been “inseparable” since that first date, and for some time they had both agreed that they wanted to add a dog to their family.
But along with what would be a big life milestone, they were also faced with another, more difficult decision: though they were planning a big, traditional wedding that some family members wanted, they were unsure whether their marriage may even be legal by the time they could afford one.
And so, having settled on a smaller, courthouse-style marriage, Rachel and Kathryn decided to look into their plan to add a pooch into the mix.
Having separately visited Animal Care Society, Kentucky’s first no-kill animal shelter, with no preconceptions, both Rachel and Kathryn found one dog, Greta, who they later named Trixie, fitted everything they were looking for in a pet.
It was Kathryn who happened to visit second, and when talking to a member of staff who had helped Trixie, a terrier mix, she was told that, because Rachel had already met the dog, she could undertake a quick class, fill in the paperwork and take her home that day.
But Kathryn wanted Rachel to be by her side for that moment, and while chatting, she mentioned that the only time both she and Rachel could take the class during time off work was on a Friday, when they had also planned to get married.
Kathryn joked, “All we’ve got going on is getting married at the courthouse – unless someone here’s ordained,” and a few days later, someone from the shelter called back to ask if she might be serious about the suggestion.
Kathryn and Rachel loved the idea, and so, on the day itself, April 25, 2025, they collected their marriage license from a local courthouse, before heading to the shelter, whose medical manager had been ordained to officiate the wedding.
Once they arrived, the couple saw a marquee sign reading, “Congratulations Rachel and Kathryn,” and were greeted by a floral arch, a red carpet, and Trixie’s doggy bridesmaids, accompanied by flowers.
The ceremony was captured on video by shelter staff, who later shared TK TK’S story on social media.
Rachel said: “We were so surprised with how much thought they put behind this.
“When we walked in, we were even more shocked: they’d set up a gorgeous floral arch and rolled out a carpet aisle complete with doggy bridesmaids: Trixie’s friends in bow ties and flowers.
“They handed Kathryn a beautiful bouquet and she walked down the aisle.
“We said our vows to each other and some vows to Trixie.
“Afterwards, they brought out a bottle of champagne and a beautiful wedding cake donated by a local bakery.
“It was more than we could have imagined and such a special day.
“It felt like a dream. Like we were building the family of our dreams.
“It was amazing to be surrounded by so many LGBTQ+ folks who work at the shelter and feel all of these strangers be so excited to celebrate our love.”
