Marriage is a Promise of Love
As the world evolves, more and more people are able to come out and express themselves and their romantic and sexual preferences. We are starting to appreciate and accept people for who they are, and the laws are slowly catching up. In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across all 50 states, giving same-sex couples across the country the ability to legally marry their partners. This has opened the door for many lesbian couples to have their dream wedding, bringing with it all the challenges and considerations that come with wedding planning. And, while many of these considerations are universal, there are unique considerations that lesbian couples may choose to think about. Below we have laid out some of the things to think about when planning a wedding as a lesbian couple:
The Wedding Rings
Wedding rings have a great significanceto many marriages. Most couples opt for a ring that is individual or unique to their interests. Other couples get opposites of the same ring. For example, one partner will get a gold ring with a sliver stripe while the other partner will get a silver ring with a gold stripe. While choosing rings, couples can also get creative and design their partner’s weddings rings.
The Bridal Party
A bridal party is usually made up of close friends and family of the brides. Although traditional opposite-sex weddings might follow rigid rules about who is included, there is no actual requirements that must be followed. When choosing your bridal party, the most important thing to consider is that these are the people who will be standing beside you when you commit your love to the world.
Wedding Vendors
Choosing wedding vendors is an important step that brings with it a lot of considerations. You want vendors who share your vision and can match your personalities. However, for lesbian couples there is the added challenge of ensuring that you find wedding vendors who are not discriminatory. While there has been a lot of progress in terms of acceptance of same-sex couples, there are still many people who hold hateful or prejudiced views and may not serve same-sex couples. Because this is an issue currently being settled in the courts, there is, unfortunately, no clear ruling saying this is illegal. The good news is that there are still many options of vendors who do not hold these views who can offer you what you are looking for and a positive experience.
Hire a Wedding Planner
A wedding planner is a great way to take the stress of planning away and putting the coordination and logistics into someone else’s hands so you can focus on the fun and exciting aspects of wedding planning. Research potential wedding planners and meet with them to find someone who can bring your vision to life and will listen to your wants and needs.
How to Walk Down theAisle
Traditional weddings usually feature one person who walks down the aisle with their father, towards their partner, who is waiting at the front. This has been changing in recent years, with couples choosing to walk down the aisle together, or both people walking down the aisle separately. Remembering that there are no necessary rules to follow in this regard, make sure you do what best reflects your relationship with your partner.
Language
A couple can opt to employ a less gender binary wedding where they use partner or spouse instead of bride to identify each partner. Some couples opt to be just called a bride and keep the traditional wording throughout the ceremony while others choose to go with their names and have the wedding officiant pronounce them equally wed. Whatever you choose, hearing that you are officially married will be a beautiful and memorable moment in your relationship.