One couple, frustrated with the lack of same-sex wedding Barbie sets, decided to make their own as a gift to a niece on her birthday.
Matt Jacobi and Nick Caprio, a couple from Arizona, are marrying in May 2019 and have been in a relationship for over 11 years, Good Morning America (GMA) reported on Dec. 14.
Jacobi, an executive at a creative agency, took to Instagram last Dec. 9 to show the wedding set he and his fiance made, with a message addressed to major toy maker Mattel. They ended up buying a set and an extra Ken doll to celebrate their upcoming wedding.
“Hi @mattel! Happy Holidays. We had a difficult time finding a same-sex wedding set to give to my niece for her 8th birthday,” he said.
“She and her little sister are flower girls in our upcoming May wedding. We thought it would be special to give her something with a little meaning behind it. What a bummer you don’t make one with two grooms. Anyway, we had to get creative and make a couple purchases. I hope our custom gift inspires you to make a #GayWedding set!”
He could not help but remember the frustration he and his fiance felt as they walked the toy aisles and could not relate to any of them, hence the open letter to Mattel.
Mattel got wind of the couple’s personalized set and has been in contact with Jacobi, he revealed on Instagram on Dec. 12. “It was a beautiful email, they were super responsive,” he said in an Out report on Dec. 14.
He and the toy company will meet after the holidays and perhaps, the world will see more Barbie sets with gay weddings.
He noted that toys have an impact on teaching children about the world.
“It’s time that we bring positive examples into the commercial market,” he told Out about making toys that represent diversity.
Both Natalie and her sister are excited for the big day and keep talking about it, Jacobi told GMA. “We have a wonderful, loving and caring Italian family,” he said.
He told Out, “My nieces only know that only Uncle Matt loves Uncle Nick and Uncle Nick loves Uncle Matt.” Niña V. Guno/JB
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