Many newlyweds refer to their wedding day as a “special day,” but for a local couple, their special day is shared with their parent’s anniversary and a national holiday.
Ryen and Jill Shiveley were married on their farm, Family Traditions Animal Adventure on April 8. Family Traditions Animal Adventure is known as a petting farm that houses a variety of exotic and native animals in Adams County’s Amish community.
This was a true “tradition” as they joined their parents who also share the same wedding date of April 8th. Ryen’s parents Patty and Larry Shiveley of Peebles were married in 1971 and Jill’s parents, Keith and Julie Blythe of Manchester were married in 1983.
April 8th is also special to this family by being “National Zoo Lovers Day” considering the facility is a United States Department of Agriculture licensed zoo. According to National Day Calendar, National Zoo Lovers Day is celebrated on April 8 of every year. National Zoo Lovers Day is a day to visit the nearby zoo and make sure that be one be a part of one of the millions of people who visit them each year.
Couple marries on a day close to their heart, April 8, 2020. Ryen and Jill Shiveley 
Jill’s parents, Keith and Julie Blythe of Manchester were married April 8, 1983. 
Ryen’s parents Patty and Larry Shiveley of Peebles were married April 8, 1971.
Ryen and Jill, who where joined by their 5 children ages 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12, were married by Peebles Mayor, Wayne Setty. Immediate family members surrounded the ceremony from their cars with the social distancing orders in place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We had planned an April 8th wedding date for a while,” said the Shiveleys. “We weren’t going to let anything stop us from bringing the two families together.”
