Meet the Tattooed Lesbians Whose Goth Wedding Went Viral

Love takes all forms and this couple’s union happens to be heavily tattooed. Meet Ivy and Terry Rebel, a married couple currently expecting their first child in March of 2020. The Rebels wedding ceremony was held in May of 2019 and their Gothic nuptials were shared throughout social media. We sat down with the expectant couple to learn how they meet, how they knew the other was the one and what they’re looking forward to as soon to be parents.

What was your upbringing like and when did you first realize that you were a member of the LGBT community?

Ivy: My upbringing was very unique, my parents we’re hippies and raised us very free range. I was always taught to be open about your emotions and love everyone until they give you a reason not to. I first realized when I was 12 and would experiment with friends after school, but it wasn’t until around age 20 that I realized I preferred to only be with women.

Terry: My upbringing was military based and strict. My mother was very religious, and my father was always gone for work. I first realized in elementary school when all my friends started to like boys and I had no interest in them. I kissed a girl in high school and knew I was gay from that moment on.

How did you meet your wife and how did you know she was the one?

Ivy: We surprisingly met on Tinder and decided to meet up after talking for a few weeks. I knew she was the one when we were lying in bed talking about all of our dreams and goals and hers matched up with mine perfectly. In that moment I felt confident that she was the one I wanted to pursue all of those things with.

Terry: I knew Ivy was the one because she has a good heart and she cares about others, she’s also fun and free spirited. My friends and family all loved her as well, and I knew I couldn’t see myself growing old with anyone else.

How did you plan the proposal and what went through your mind when you popped the question?

Terry: I had to be very careful to make sure Ivy didn’t know what I was up to, since she’s very observant. I tricked her into thinking we were going camping, so she wasn’t suspicious and made multiple stops along the way. I took her to this beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast and had the room set up with rose petals and candles. I had a whole speech planned out but as soon as she turned around, I forgot everything I was going to say. I knew she would say yes but I was so nervous.

How did you go about planning your wedding(s) and what were your thoughts on your ceremony going viral?

Terry: We both have a very specific style and wanted our wedding to show case that. We both love Gothic and Victorian style fashion. We always wear black and thought that an all-black wedding would be unique and beautiful. We both dress more feminine and thought that two brides wearing black dresses would gorgeously complement each other.

When our wedding went viral, we were excited to see such positive support for our relationship and our wedding. A lot of people said it inspired them to have a wedding where they can be themselves and think outside of the box. It made us really happy to know we inspired and encouraged so many people to be themselves.

How did you go about getting pregnant and what were your expectations from IUI?

Ivy: We planned to start the process of having a baby after we got married. So that year, I did a lot of research and prepared myself and body the best I could. I expected the IUI to work but expected it to be a six month or longer process. We were both very shocked when it worked the first time but were grateful and excited. I ended up getting the IUI on my birthday which felt very magical and it was the best birthday present ever.

How has your pregnancy gone so far? What are the best and worst parts?

Ivy: Unfortunately, my pregnancy has not been easy, I ended up getting hyperemesis, which resulted in me being sick the entire time so far. The best parts are feeling her move and knowing that we will soon have a beautiful baby girl. The worst part is always being sick.

Who are your parenting role models?

Ivy: My parenting role model is my dad, he always raised me with love and acceptance. He pushed me to be the best version of myself while also letting me express myself in any creative way. I want to support our daughter and love her for whatever she chooses to be. I hope we can have an open and honest relationship like I was so lucky to have growing up.

What are you most looking forward to about being a mom?

Terry: I’m looking forward to reliving all of my favorite childhood memories. I’m excited to have a child who looks up to me, so I can teach her to be the most amazing human.

Ivy: I’m excited for everything, especially being able to raise her in a house full of love. I hope that I can teach her to follow her dreams and always be herself. Dressing her in cute goth outfits to match us is definitely a plus.

Why is the representation of LGBT parents in media still important in 2019?

Ivy: It’s really important to show the world that love is what makes a family, and love has no gender. We receive a lot of hate and people get very confused seeing LGBTQ parents, so it’s important to show them that we are just like every other happy family. The more LGBTQ families are represented the more normal it becomes. It teaches LGBTQ youth that they can be themselves and still have a family in the future. The only way to make a change is to be confident and stand up for what you believe in, LGBTQ parents shouldn’t have to keep their lives or their family a secret any longer.

What do you wish more people knew about same-sex parenting?

Ivy: That same-sex parenting isn’t much different from heterosexual parenting. The gender of the parents doesn’t affect how the child is raised. As long as a child is raised in a loving and stable home, they will be able to live a happy and successful life. No child raised in a same-sex parent household was an accident or unwanted therefore the child will never feel unloved or unaccepted.