INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A local newspaper is making a change in its wedding announcements policy.

A couple who sent in an announcement of their marriage got denied. That couple said they're not activists and never really intended to be trailblazers.

But now, because of them, the Kansas City Star has a new policy, allowing same-sex marriage announcements in the Celebrations section of the paper.

Mike and Chuck Hewitt met 10 years ago at a church retreat, and had a commitment ceremony a year later. When Iowa legalized gay marriage this year, they decided to make it official.

"Now instead of being two people that cohabitated, we were actually a couple," said Mike Hewitt.

But, when they decided to spread the news in the Star, their announcement was rejected.

The Independence Examiner gave them the same answer -- no same-sex marriage announcements.

"It was disappointing. It was actually quite frustrating," said Chuck Hewitt.

Independence Examiner publisher Steve Curd released a statement about the paper's policy, saying, "This decision was in no way a political statement of any kind. The Examiner's current policy is to follow the law of the state of Missouri."

The Star said its classifieds employee was quoting a policy that was three publishers old, created before states started legalizing gay marriage.

The Star's senior management met last Thursday morning to review the old policy, and decided to change it.

The Hewitts said they're glad they started a dialogue, and they resubmitted their announcement Wednesday night. It should appear in the Star this Sunday.

The Examiner's publisher said he's receptive to readers' opinions and would consider changing the policy based on their feedback.