From The Straits Times    |


Photo: AsiaOne

This might just top the list of craziest wedding venues. 

After three years of dating, Louise Veronneau and Dominic Husson decided to fly over 4,000 km to tie the knot at a cat sanctuary in California.

Their wedding guests? Over 1,000 cats from the state’s largest no-cage, no-kill shelter The Cat House on the Kings.

Before becoming husband and wife, the lovers frequently travelled together and realised that they shared a passion for animals, especially cats.


Ms Veronneau told ABC11 News in an interview: “I saw that we were sharing the same values. These are the basics of our relationship and our love for animals and beings.”

When she first visited the cat sanctuary in 2012, Ms Veronneau had enjoyed meeting the caregivers and its founder, Lynea Lattanzio, so much that she put it on her bucket list to return to the cat shelter.

And what better timing to return to the shelter than for her wedding. 

“I fell in love,” Ms Veronneau said to abc 11. “I fell in love with the work Lynea and her team is doing for the cats and rescuing.”

Since its founding 24 years ago, The Cat House on the Kings has provided a permanent home to more than 24,000 cats and 7,000 dogs.  

The bride was so impressed by Ms Lattanzio’s work that she even asked her to officiate the wedding ceremony. 

However, Ms Lattanzio was initially hesitant to take it on.

“When I was first asked to do it, I said ‘No, I didn’t want to do it,'” Ms Lattanzio said. “I was afraid I would make a mess and screw it up – you know, forget my lines.” 

But over time, the Canadian couple managed to convince her to become ordained so she could perform the ceremony. 

Mr and Mrs Husson are the first couple to be married at the sanctuary. 

This story first appeared on AsiaOne