On June 1st this year, Illinois will join 5 other states and allow civil unions. Now I don’t talk about politics on my blog and I don’t intend to start now. However, this is particularly meaningful to this vintage blogger.
Yep, that’s my engagement ring. For those of you who like details, it’s a sapphire with diamonds on the top half of the band. My mom, bless her heart, said it was the color of my eyes. (If only that was still the case like when I was little!)
So after 9 years together, Mel and I will have a civil union sometime this June. We’re not having a Big To Do; in fact if we’re allowed, we’ll do it at the courthouse. We’re just not Big To Do kind of people. We’re probably going to opt for very casual celebrations with our families peppered across the country throughout the summer and fall.
I just wanted to share that it’s official. 🙂
Congrats! What great news – wishing you many years of happiness together!
Congratulations! Your ring is lovely.
Congratulations!! I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!
Yay! Congratulations that is so exciting!!!!!
Congrats! I won’t get political either but I’m a supporter 100%!! And your ring is stunning!
Congratulations from Italy!!!!
Congrats! Love your ring.
Congratulations! I think a courthouse ceremony can be quite romantic (and a heck of a lot less stressful)!
Congratulations!! Your ring is beautiful. Now you can start planning for/sewing and knitting your wedding ensemble.
congratulations, in the Uk it has been legal for nearly 5 years, my partner and I have been civil partner’s for 4.5 years now. its so great! congratulations again!
YAaaaY! How awesome! Mega Congrats to you and Mel. 🙂
Your ring is so pretty, too.
Congratulations to you both.
It’s so great that civil partnerships are spreading to the US, we’ve had them here in the UK for a while now, and many of my best friends have finally been able to get hitched 🙂
Huge congratulations! The ring is beautiful and I’m sure the two of you will be very happy together, you always look so well suited 🙂
YEAHHHH!!!! My SIL had to go to Canada to get hitched to her Beloved. Damn politics! Best of luck in the married life!!!!!!
Yay! That is awesome news, and such a lovely ring!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your ring is exquisite! I totally wish I had done a little courthouse type ceremony. Still, our wedding was very very small, so I’m also a fan of one intimate service and then lots of fun casual celebrations! All the very best to you two!!
Sweet, such good news for both the state and you two!
Yeah! Happy News. 🙂
~Cheri, The Vintage Lesbian Project
A very serious Congratulations! Your ring is beautiful and I’m so very happy for you! It couldn’t happen to a nicer, sweeter person! How wonderful! All the best and most happiness for your future together!
Oh my!!!! Congrats!!!!
The Sgt and I are having our own little courthouse exchange in June too! We aren’t in to making a big to do either!
All the best to you and Mel!
~MaryD
Congratulations you two! I couldn’t be happier for two such wonderful people. And what a beautiful ring. Big XXs and OOs!!!
Best wishes! I’m glad you’ll be able to have a civil union. Since we’re not religious, my husband and I just went down to the courthouse one day. I wish it could have been a civil union, but unfortunately, we live in Kansas. I’m so happy for you and happy for all the people who can now (legally) start a life together.
YAY! Big congrats to you, Mel and Illinois! News like this always makes me happy.
Congratulations hun! How exciting is that!? I can hear vintage patterns being trawled….;)
Px
Congrats!!
Congratulations! I hope my country follows in your footsteps soon 🙂
CONGRATS! How exciting!! Are you going to make an outfit for the special occasion?
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful news on so many levels. Congrats to you both for finding the one you want to love for the rest of your life.
Hooray and congrats! Such a pretty ring!
Congratulations! 😀
Congratulations — that’s wonderful! xo
great news and congratulations – hope you have a little party ! 🙂
Best wishes. I love the ring !!!
How fantastic! I’m so pleased for you both, about blumming time on civil partnerships, must be so hard in the US as it’s different in every state isn’t it? In the UK it’s just one law for everyone, which certainly makes it easier!
Good luck, we all know you’ll be happy as you already are! Marriage or whatever you want to call it is great I highly recommend it :o)
That is wonderful! Congratulations!!
May your life together be filled with magic.
So very happy for you both! Lovely ring.
Congratulations and Best Wishes,
Elise
Congratulations! (yea, Illinois!)
Congratulations!!
Congrats to you and Mel. May your life together be filled with love, wonder, excitement and joy!
As the mother of a gay daughter, I hope one day all people across this country will be seen as equal in the eyes of the law. Love is love.Thankfully for my daughter (once she finds the right gal) we live in Massachusetts and she grew up in Connecticut, both of which allow marriage. 🙂
YAY!! Congrats!!! This made me warm and tingly all over! I am so happy for you both. What a beautiful ring, as well.
OHMYGOSH!!!! I’m so happy for you guys! Hooray!
How exciting!!! Congrats!
Best wishes to you both! What wonderful news, and your ring is gorgeous!
And yay for Illinois while we are at it! Although, how aggravating that a marriage or civil union between two adults is even considered political.
We had what was supposed to be a small wedding turn into a big wedding: they have a tendency to take on a life of their own. And honestly in hindsight, I wish we had just eloped and gotten married in Hawaii (a la Elvis’ ‘Blue Hawaii’). The stress was so not worth it.
Oh wow! That’s awesome news. Congratulations!
Congratulations to you both!! That’s a GORGEOUS ring!!
Congrats hon! Mel did a beautiful job picking out the ring (or did you choose it?)! Either way, congratulations! I’ve had a big wedding and a courthouse one, and I vastly preferred my courthouse one for the intimacy and the ability to really focus on what the day is all about.
Congrats! As a fellow Chicagoan, I was so pleased to hear that this bill was passed. Enjoy your engagement!
Congratulations and best wishes to you both!
Can’t wait to see your outfit plans, your ring is lovely too 🙂
Glad the US is catching up, it’s sad that some states still don’t allow civil unions but hopefully that will change soon!
Congratulations from Australia! (I hope one day we have CUs so I can marry my sweetie too). x
Wish you all the best in life! Congrats!
Congratulations!!! Your ring is beautiful!
Congratulations, I’m so happy that this is possible in Illinois!!!
I know you’re not much into ceremonies but it would be the perfect excuse to buy a vintage dress and accessories! Love your ring, the sapphire is a dazzling choice.
congrats, friend!
Elizabeth H
YAY! Congratulations! Many wishes for big giant happiness! (and hurray for Illinois!)
Congratulations guys!!!! Lots of love to you both!
Congratulations!! 🙂 What a beautiful ring, too. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Congratulations and Best Wishes! Your ring is lovely! I’m sure we all look forward to the pictures of the ceremony! Glad to know there are still wonderful decisions happening in politics, when so often it only seems like negative ones. Much happiness to you and Mel!
Congratulations! Thats great news 🙂 Best wishes!
WHOOPEE!!!!
Congratulations and best wishes for a long and happy life together 🙂
Hopefully Virginia and the rest of the nation will follow along soon.
congrats, such a pretty ring, love your blog- enjoy your retro style and projects.
Congrats and best wishes! Your ring is adorable, so chic and unique.
AAAAHHH this makes me so happy to hear! I have a lot of LGBT friends up here in Vancouver, Canada and have seen some weddings and civil unions between them. They are truly beautiful no matter how you decide to have it. Best wishes!