The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Same Sex Wedding

Wedding planning could be dizzying to navigate for any couple, but we understand that there are a couple of unique circumstances with regards to planning a same sex wedding. While most couples lean into wedding traditions, some don’t translate thoroughly. 

Traditional methods of paying in your wedding, walking down the aisle, and even selecting your outfits might feel like a minefield. In the event you’ve found yourself recently engaged and planning a same sex wedding, congratulations! Now let’s plan a celebration that’s as beautiful as your love story.

Image by Tori Osteraa

Paying For The Wedding

The age-old custom of getting the bride’s parents pay for the marriage is evolving with the times, so don’t worry should you’re unsure of who’s going to foot the bill. The truth is, many couples of all genders are taking up the marriage funds themselves. 

Who pays for the marriage truly comes right down to who can afford it. If you’ve got multiple parties willing to pitch in, split the prices 3 ways or have each party pay for what they’re most inquisitive about. As soon as you’ve built your wedding budget, you’ll be able to start on the more fun parts of planning.

Advisable Reading: 25 Simples Ways to Save Money When Planning a Wedding

Hiring Your Wedding Vendors For Your Same Sex Wedding

We’d be lying if we said we hadn’t heard horror stories from LGBTQ+ couples who were refused service by wedding vendors. That’s why once we hand-select our Junebug wedding vendors, inclusivity is one among our important focuses. Beyond our own directory–when looking for vendors–we recommend in search of professionals in your area who showcase diversity of their portfolios.

Nonetheless, we also know that there are many wedding vendors who haven’t had the chance to work with LGBTQ+ couples yet but would like to achieve this. When reaching out to a vendor whose portfolio doesn’t necessarily represent you as a pair, keep this stuff in mind:

• You’re the one on top of things, so don’t let anyone make you’re feeling lower than. You’re paying for a service and if a business owner feels it’s of their best interest to refuse you service, they’re not the form of vendor you should work with anyway
• Finding the correct vendors for you is like finding your best friend. Have high expectations as you prepare to fulfill a couple of before you discover that spark with “the one”
• If you’ve got an unpleasant experience with a vendor, don’t be afraid to go away them a public review. Other couples–LGBTQ+ or otherwise–must find out about poor customer support or discrimination. By leaving an honest review of what happened, you may help keep other couples from going through the identical thing

Image by Emily Klarer 

Your Wedding Party

We love mixed-gender wedding parties, so don’t fret over separating your pals and family by gender on either side of the altar. Take into consideration who has supported you in your life and relationship up up to now and also you’ll know which close friends are supposed to stand by your side as you tie the knot.

If you’re not into the thought of a marriage party, don’t be afraid to ditch the thought completely. Wedding planning isn’t about following rules. It’s about making your individual celebration and doing what feels best for you as a pair.

Your Guest List

Speaking of including individuals who support you, your guest list should only include those that will likely be enthusiastic about your special occasion. Getting married doesn’t mean that you’ve got to throw an enormous party only for the sake of it. Keeping that in mind, only invite family and friends which have supported your love from the very starting. This may also assist you to avoid unwanted and unnecessary drama in your wedding day.

Bachelor And Bachelorette Parties

Planning a bachelor or bachelorette party is just like all other aspect of wedding planning–it’s completely as much as what feels best to you. You possibly can still have a good time individually and throw individual parties where your future spouse isn’t invited, or you’ll be able to have a good time your last hurrah before the marriage together in a single big joint party.

Junebug Tip:

There’s nothing we love greater than big bachelor and bachelorette parties hosted at Airbnbs. In the event you’re looking for the right place to remain along with your closest friends in your celebration, take a take a look at these Airbnbs for bachelorette parties (but we expect most of them can work for each).

Image by Sarah Dagenais Photo

Wedding Day Traditions

Apart from your wedding party, there are a couple of other wedding traditions you could wish to personalize or put off altogether. Listed here are a couple of vital considerations in your wedding planning:

• Walking down the aisle – You will have the liberty to come to a decision who walks who down the aisle. If you should walk down the aisle together, go for it. You may also determine that you simply each wish to walk down the aisle together or be escorted by someone special. Your wedding aisle escort could be your father, mother, brother, mentor, or friend. If Jonathan Van Ness is on the market to escort you down the aisle, we’d start there
• First looks – We’re big fans of first looks here at Junebug. It gives you intimate one-on-one time together before you get whisked away within the chaos of the special occasion. In the event you’re on the fence about it, consider adding one among these intimate experiences as a substitute
• Ceremony readings – Lots of the customary wedding ceremony readings may not apply to your relationship, and never simply because you’re an LGTBQ+ couple. Personalize your ceremony with readings and music which might be significant to you fairly than counting on words that don’t represent your relationship. To get inspired, try these gender-neutral wedding ceremony script ideas or these non-religious readings

What to Wear To Your Same Sex Wedding

It’s best to feel like 1,000,000 bucks in your wedding day, so it’s vital that your wedding outfits are something you’re comfortable in. In the event you feel most comfortable in a classic suit, wear one. In the event you each wish to wear dresses, do it. Don’t worry about upstaging one another, either. Say “yes” to every of your dream dresses and you’ll be able to keep them a secret until the large day–or don’t. Like we’ve said before, it’s as much as you.

In the event you each wish to wear suits, consider colours that complement one another and coordinate your tie, pocket square, or shirt patterns for a cohesive look. You may also ask your florist to create boutonnieres that match without being an identical.

Junebug Tip:

Ministry Of Supply offers moisture-wicking suits in a wide range of hues which might be perfect for anyone getting married—that’s right, anyone. They specialise in each men’s and women’s suits. Don’t miss out on these gorgeous and versatile options!

Image by Misha-Lee Tame

Last Name Changes

There’s no right or fallacious answer in deciding who takes who’s last name. You might wish to go by two different last names, hyphen them together, or mix the 2 surnames to create a singular last name only for the 2 of you. Some couples opt to decide on a recent name entirely that they’ll each tackle. 

Consider that every country differs on easy methods to legally alter your name. In some countries, your marriage license may determine your last name decisions.

Final Thoughts To Keep In Mind

All weddings include a specific amount of expectations from friends and members of the family. Tough as it might be, attempt to silence that noise and deal with what matters most to you as a pair. Whether you’re faced with the unlucky judgment of relatives who aren’t supportive or your loved ones is too involved within the decision-making, keep in mind that that is your love being honored at your wedding. Don’t let anyone else’s opinion dictate the planning process in the event that they wouldn’t even have a say in your marriage.

Now that you simply’ve got the fundamentals of planning a same sex wedding down, be sure you try these stylish LGBTQ+ wedding outfits to get inspired in your special occasion and wedding shower!

Image by Through The Glass Paris