9 Best Ideas To Host LGBTQ+ Weddings

Love knows no boundaries, right! But not knowing any boundaries needs acceptance first. We live in a world where everyone defines love in their own version and manner, but love's first thing is to accept. Pride month is about that acceptance. It is about love being equal, non-judgemental and a very simple thing, just love being accepted the way it is. June is known as the month of pride, a month of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community and raising awareness of issues affecting them. It is the month of normalizing the fact that it is ok to fall in love regardless of the gender and other biases that society has created in the name of love and acceptance. 

Source: Cassie Valente Photography

Best Ideas To Host LGBTQ+ Weddings

Same-sex couples falling in love and getting their happily ever after used to feel like a shocker for many people. But thankfully, with time things are changing bit by bit and society has started accepting that it is normal. It is not something unnatural or negative. It is the same - two individuals fell in love and then decided to tie the knot! But in general wedding traditions are based around the bride and groom, which becomes gender-biased. So, when planning a same-sex wedding, it becomes a bit difficult to perform and plan rituals for the ceremony. And then if we come to think of it how about introducing new traditions and mixing old with new and doing things your own way.

1. Seating Arrangement

Source: Pinterest

At weddings, you will generally see a seating arrangement in front of the altar or mandap, how about going for a circular arrangement. This way every guest can have a seat and have a view of you two getting married. 

2. Ditch the Traditional Engagement

We are not saying do not go for the exchange of rings, but you can add something else as per your liking and preference. Have matching tattoos as a sign of an engagement or adopt a pet, exchange some other kind of jewelry or accessories like bracelets, necklaces, brooches, cufflinks, etcetera. The coolest idea will be - to take the mark of both of your hands or feet on a clay sheet and add the date of the special day. You can frame it and hang it at your place. Beautiful, isn't it?

3. Venue

As time is changing, wedding vendors are also getting accustomed to same-sex marriages, and eventually, we will reach a day when these things won’t even matter, but for now, choose an LGBTQ+ friendly venue. There are still venues that do not allow LGBTQ weddings and you do not want to do it discreetly. Now because it is common, you will get reviews of any venue online or you can talk to some other LGBTQ+ couples who recently got married. But research the venue so that it shouldn't become a problem later on for any reason whatsoever. 

4. Religion

Source: Tana Helene Photography

If your partner is a religious person and wants to adapt traditions then do it. This is the beauty of modern weddings that couples are open to borrowing rituals and traditions and making them their own. This is what tradition is, right? Create your own thing. Do not give up on your religious and traditional beliefs, just because you are not getting someone to incorporate them with your wedding. And by someone, we mean a priest or an officiant. Do thorough research, there are LGBTQ+ friendly or a part of that community priest, officiants, and panditji who are happy to wed you two in this union forever. 

Also Read: 10 Tips And Tricks To Plan A Multicultural Wedding Ceremony

5. Wedding Outfits

Source: The Soho Diaries

Ok, the fun about same-sex marriage is you both can wear anything the way you like, and trust us it will be a game-changer and might set a trend. Choose an ethnic or western or casual, does not matter, just be happy and wear what you want to. But a few ideas that might set a trend and will be cool for both of you is to go for something matching like a tux, sherwani, saree, or floor-length anarkalis. If you both belong to different communities the one bride wearing a Nauvari saree and the other bride in a red Banarasi saree, will look amazing and will definitely set a trend. 

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide To Same Sex Wedding Planning

6. Decor

For decor, the rainbow is your color. Incorporate the pride colors in your wedding decor or go for some unique colors and combinations. Like how about an all-black theme? In general, South Asian weddings do not include black color so often, but nothing is stopping you from doing what you feel like doing. Or go for summer neon colors. It will be different from the wedding we are witnessing nowadays. Do not include flowers, go for leaves and sticks and give your wedding a whole rustic look. Instead of flowers, you can also use fruits and vegetables for decoration and candles and diyas to light the venue. 

Also Read: 15 Creative Decor Ideas For An Eco-friendly Wedding

7. Research Research Research

Source: The Bere Collective

Read about other LGBTQ+ weddings and make a connection with the couples if you can. Even if not making a connection read about them. Check websites that cater to LGBTQ+ weddings. Research about the vendors too, as not all the vendors might have done same-sex weddings or will be comfortable in doing so. So, selecting LGBTQ+ friendly vendors or from the community will be easier and more reliable. 

8. Make it a Holiday

By holiday we do not mean a grand destination wedding with all the pomp and galore. We meant, plan a holiday trip to a city or some nearby place/resort that you have always wanted to explore. Include your friends and families and just have fun.

You two can spend some time with your close ones and have a get-together, where you both can simply exchange rings followed by vows. It sounds very simple but getting married with no grand gesture and just in the presence of your loved ones make it a moment to cherish forever. 

9. Ditch the wedding rulebook

You do not have to get married according to how the world, in general, performs it. You do not have to do everything by the rulebook, introduce your own traditions if you both have thought about it. In South Asian weddings, a few communities have rituals like Kanyadaan and Vidaai, but if you don't want to go away with it, you can, and if you want to go for it, ask your partner and family about how it's done the right way. 

Source: Apollo Fotografie

Make a groom or bridal entry together instead of walking down the aisle alone or with your father. Get a baraat where both of you are entering on a horse. Or make an entry with the people who supported you the time when nobody was there, that will be really special and emotional for the selected individual and you too. Do what makes you happy, do what will make your wedding day special and most memorable, and most importantly be you, and honor who you are as a person, with pride. 

Also Read: 8 LGBTQ+ Wedding Stories That Perfectly Defines Love Is Love

Conclusion

It is true that at weddings we have a basic rulebook that almost every community follows and it is ok. But it is also ok to not follow and introduce your own ways to tie the knot. LGBTQ+ weddings are not something new, it is just people that are taking the time to adapt and accept them. But we definitely see progress around.  After all, Love is Love, right? Everyone doesn't need to follow the same rules, but you can borrow traditions and tweak them and make them your own. 
A wedding is about a union of two souls, regardless of race, caste, and gender. So, with each passing year let’s move towards making a better place for all of us, like ditching the stereotypical roles of bride and groom in favor of more inclusive terms for celebrating love. 

Happy Pride month to everyone celebrating!

Edited & Photo Sourced By: Neha Garg Ahuja