Michigan family that REFUSED to allow a same-sex couple to get married on their orchard to preserve their 'religious freedom' will stop hosting weddings all together after backlash

A family business will no longer host wedding ceremonies after backlash it received for not allowing a same-sex couple to get married on its property
Caitlin and Liane Ortis wanted to marry at The Country Mill in Michigan
They were told they couldn't when the owner said: 'we don't do that here'
Caitlin Ortis wrote about the upsetting incident on social media this week
The mill has since faced intense criticism for 'not supporting equality'
It has since said it will not have weddings to preserve 'religious freedom'

Published: 00:06 GMT, 29 August 2016 | Updated: 00:43 GMT, 29 August 2016

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A family business that refused to allow a same-sex couple to get married at their Michigan orchard has stopped hosting wedding ceremonies all together to 'protect their religious freedom'.

Caitlin and Liane Ortis had been planning to have their ceremony at The Country Mill in Charlotte, just south of the state's capital of Lansing.

The couple fell in love with the property, and were all set to pay a deposit to hold their special day on the family farm.

Caitlin (right) and Liane (left) Ortis were told they could not have their wedding at an orchard in Michigan because the owner's did not support same-sex marriage

Steve Tennes (pictured with his family), owner of The Country Mill, says it will no longer hold any weddings after backlash for denying an LGBTI couple

But when owner Steve Tennes was called on to sign off on the booking, he denied the couple, saying 'we don't do that here', according to MLive.com.

After being rejected by The Country Mill, the couple instead held the ceremony at the Monclova Historical Foundation in Ohio in September 2015.

Caitlin Ortis wrote about the upsetting moment on social media this week, sparking controversy about The Country Mill's decision.

'As fall approaches for my Michigan friends and family, when choosing a cider mill to go to, please remember that THE COUNTRY MILL in Charlotte MI refused to let Liane and I have our wedding there because of how we identify,' she wrote on Facebook on Monday.

'Please support a local cider mill that does NOT discriminate against LGBTQIA+ folks or any folks for that matter.'

The emotional post quickly went viral, causing many to say they would no longer visit the orchard.

Caitlin Ortis (pictured on her wedding day in September 2015) wrote about when they were denied at The Country Mill, sparking controversy this week

'The Country Mill in Charlotte MI refused to let Liane and I have our wedding there because of how we identify,' Caitlin (right) wrote on Facebook on Monday.

What are some examples of businesses that discriminated against same-sex couples in the U.S.?

Masterpiece Cakeshop, Colorado

In 2012, Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, refused to make a wedding cake for Charlie Craig and David Mullins. The couple has been married in Massachusetts but planned to have their celebration in Colorado.

The state Court of Appeals ruled Phillips could not refuse the couple of the grounds of his religious beliefs. The baker had said at the time he had no issues with making cakes for gay people, he only refused to make cakes for same-sex weddings.

Kern's Bakery, Texas

Edie Delorme would not bake a cake for Ben Valencia and his fiance Luis Marmolejo in February this year. DeLorme said she made her decision to turn away the couple because she believes marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Valencia said he felt 'dehumanized' by the incident.

Memories Pizza, Indiana

The family owned Memories Pizza - which was described by owners as a 'Christian establishment' - created a huge controversy in 2015 when its owners refused to cater for a same-sex wedding due to it clashing with their religious beliefs. The incident took place shortly after then-Indiana governor and current Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which made it legal for companies to assert their religious freedom without fear of legal prosecution.

Sweet Cakes, Oregon

Melissa and Aaron Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery, refused to make a cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer saying doing so would violate their religious freedom in 2013. However, like many other cases where the person refusing to do something used the same argument, it was rejected in court. The Kleins were ordered to pay $135,000 in damages in July, 2015.

Rowan County Courthouse, Kentucky

Clerk Kim Davis garnered national headlines after it was revealed in August 2015 that she was refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. Davis said at the time issuing marriage licenses to gay couples would ‘violate (her) conscience'. She was jailed for five days before being released and allowed to return to work.

'So disappointed to hear that you do not allow same sex weddings. I cannot support this business anymore, nor recommend you for field trips to fellow friends,' one person wrote.

'Sigh. I will respectfully no longer be giving you my business. It's a shame, we have taken the kids there to pick apples for years,' a mother said.

'Oh no. Country mill, you have been my favorite since I was a kid, but I just cannot spend money at an establishment that is noninclusive. A sad end to a fond memory,' another said.

Others attacked the business, calling the owners 'bigots'.

'I hear that you bigots don't like same gender-loving people and wrap your discriminatory heterosexism in religiosity.

'Nahh (sic), doesn't fly. Either join the 21st century or be rejected by it.'

On Friday, after days of comment about not letting the Ortis' get married at the mill, the owners announced they were shutting down the wedding aspect of the business entirely.

After days of controversy, Steve Tennes announced his farm would no longer hold wedding ceremonies

'After prayerful consideration, we will no longer book any future wedding ceremonies at our orchard. This allows us to maintain our personal religious beliefs,' a statement read

'After prayerful consideration, we will no longer book any future wedding ceremonies at our orchard. This allows us to maintain our personal religious beliefs. We will continue to rent out our barn for special events,' a statement read.

However, people have also come out to support the mill's decision not to allow the Ortis' to marry on the property, praising the family for 'standing up for its beliefs'.

'Thank you Steve for standing up for your beliefs... I hope those people who are complaining about you realize that you sacrificed and fought to defend their right to say it,' one customer said.

'I stand firmly with the country mill. I will always support your business. So glad to see someone stand up for what they believe in,' another wrote.

'I will definitely be a regular customer at your orchard. I will be inclined to spend more money than I normally would,' a supporter said.

'Thank you for standing by your beliefs and not wavering. Today's liberal society thinks that we as Christians should conform to their needs and don't understand we answer to to Lord almighty if we do condone this type of marriage,' another added.

The Country Mill will hold all ceremonies that have already been booked before getting out of the wedding game.

It is legal in Michigan for businesses to discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation or gender identity, as there are no provisions protecting LGBTI people in the state's civil rights act.