Couple who’ve been together almost two decades to wed at Fresno Rainbow Pride Festival

When the Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival posted on social media seeking couples willing to get married at the popular fest, Jesse Merrell excitedly turned to his longtime partner.

“Are we ready to finally do this?” Merrell recalled asking Travis Rockett.

The Fresno couple has been together for 19 years, including the past seven engaged.

Come Saturday, Merrell and Rockett will tie the knot as a featured event to the Fresno Rainbow Pride Festival. The parade, in its 34th year, begins at 10 a.m. in the Tower District, with the festival to follow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fresno City College campus.

The wedding also helps commemorate the upcoming nine-year anniversary of legalized same-sex marriages nationwide.

“You know, 2015 wasn’t really that long ago,” Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival president Bryan Cauwels said. “But we have come a long way, just the fact that we have the ability to get married and do something that other people get to do.

“It finally came to fruition. Many other same-sex couples have gotten married since then. Now, we get to celebrate this couple getting married.”

Merrell said he initially thought there would be several other couples who’d be getting married at the same time.

But the process to get married at the festival required more than just showing up, including an appointment to get a marriage license with Fresno County.

And by the time the deadline passed to be eligible to get married at the Fresno Rainbow Pride Festival, Merrell and Rockett were the lone couple on the docket.

“We were a little surprised we were the only ones,” Merrell said. “But we just saw this as the right opportunity. Most of our friends were already going to attend. It’s better than eloping in Vegas.

“And who knows? Maybe there were other same-sex couples who wanted to get married but had reservations. Maybe us getting married in public will inspire others.”

Cauwels said that based on recent trends and past attendance, he expects 13,000+ people to attend this year’s festival.

About 12,500 showed up last year and 10,600 were present when the festival returned in full force in 2022 following a two-year limited showing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cauwels said 225 vendors are expected to be there Saturday, including 27 food trucks.

Merrell and Rockett considered getting married sooner.

But the timing never was right, Merrell said.

He also believes that with same-same marriages becoming a bit more of the norm, the couple doesn’t have to deal with as much potential “outside” backlash.

“There’s some trepidation,” Merrel said of getting married in public. “But I do think this is exciting.

“We are going to have many of our good friends and family there, and even more acquaintances present. It’ll be fun.”