Three weddings

This photo essay consists of three parts, each of which is dedicated to a separate wedding. The first part is the story of Eugene and Kirstin Han, who survived the shooting at the cinema in Aurora on July 20, 2012 and got married exactly one year after this tragic event. The second part tells the story of Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carey, a lesbian couple who got married at City Hall in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on same-sex marriage. And finally, the third part of the photo essay highlights the wedding of people who adhere to the principles of secular humanism in Catholic Ireland, where until recently non-religious wedding ceremonies were considered illegal.

(Total 18 photos)

Part 1

1. Eyewitnesses to the Aurora movie theater shooting Kirstin Davis and Eugene Han get married at the Village East Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2013. The newlyweds deliberately got engaged on the anniversary of the shooting, so that in the future this date would be associated not only with sad events. In 2012, Eugene was shot while defending his love Kirstin during a movie theater shooting.

Newlyweds Kirstin and Eugene Han smile at each other after their wedding ceremony at Village East Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2013.

3. Kirstin Hahn hugs her new mother-in-law after her wedding ceremony in Aurora, July 20, 2013.

Newlyweds Kirstin and Eugene Han smile at each other after their wedding ceremony at Village East Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2013.

5. Kirstin Han prepares to throw the bride's bouquet at her wedding in Denver, July 20, 2013.

Newlyweds Kirstin and Eugene Han dance the first dance at their wedding in Denver on July 20, 2013.

Part 2

7. Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carey head to their wedding ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 29, 2013. Dozens of same-sex couples gathered outside City Hall after the California Supreme Court overturned a four-year ban on same-sex marriage.

8. Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carrey fill out paperwork to obtain a marriage certificate at City Hall in San Francisco, June 29, 2013.

Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carrie exchange vows at City Hall in San Francisco on June 29, 2013.

10. Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carey show their wedding rings after their wedding in San Francisco, June 29, 2013.

11. Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carey are interviewed on their wedding day in San Francisco, June 29, 2013.

12. Cynthia Wydes and Elizabeth Carey embrace outside City Hall in San Francisco on June 29, 2013.

Part 3

13. Susie Addis descends from the bridal suite at The Millhouse Hotel in the village of Slane in County Meath, Ireland, on July 17, 2013. This year, for the first time, non-religious wedding ceremonies were allowed in Catholic Ireland.

Bride Susie Addis arrives for her wedding ceremony at The Millhouse Hotel in Slane on July 17, 2013.

15. A steward leads a humanistic wedding ceremony at The Millhouse Hotel in Slane on July 17, 2013.

16. Humanistic marriage certificate, July 17, 2013.

17. Groom Brendan Hastings and bride Susie Addis after their wedding ceremony at The Millhouse Hotel in Slane, July 17, 2013.

18. Confetti in the hair of the bride Susie Addis after the wedding ceremony in the village of Slane in County Meath, Ireland, July 17, 2013.