Gay Wedding Consultant

Gay weddings consultants, vendors and providers.

Gay weddings may only be legal in just a few places worldwide, but commitment ceremonies occur regularly throughout the United States and many other countries. Statistics show 31% of couples do intend to settle down into a committed relationship. Lesbians and gays who choose to formalize their relationship spend an average of $15,000 on a wedding. If you are a gay friendly wedding consultant or have a wedding related product or service you need to get listed on this website.

Gay and lesbian partners purchase the same goods and services as heterosexual couples. Overall their commitment ceremonies very closely resemble heterosexual weddings and include, for example: invitations, jewelry (often custom), florists, wedding coordinators and planners, photographers, limousine services, reception halls, and wedding cakes. When it comes to entertainment, couples may opt for musicians, disc jockeys or something a little more unique; yet it is true that gay and lesbian couples want all of the same amenities and services. They spend a comparable amount of money to straight people and, like any proud couple, want their union to be a remembered event. The bottom line of all this is that if you already provide wedding products or services its not really much of a leap into gay weddings. All that is required is that you treat gay and lesbian couples with the same respect you would a straight couple. Open a new revenue stream by advertising on this website.

Most gay and lesbian couples want to work with businesses that will truly participate with them in the joy of the moment respectfully. This includes the process as well as the ceremony; for instance assisting with picking out just the right engagement ring with the professionalism and enthusiasm that such an occasion warrants. Gays and lesbians often look for businesses advertised in gay targeted websites like this one and publications or that openly support the gay community. If a business owner wishes to work in gay weddings, it is important to establish an advertising presence in gay targeted websties lke this, to participate in gay-oriented events or to provide services at charities affiliated with the gay community. At the very least, displaying a rainbow flag on a website, marketing materials, or the actual place of business is an easy indication of a gay-friendly attitude and mentality.

Gay couples look for a comfort zone when utilizing the services of a vendor. They also may want to employ some creativity in their approach. For example, a lesbian woman may want to purchase a wedding gown or she may prefer a tuxedo. Advertising contracts on this website must stipulate that discrimination based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated. If a representative of a company does discriminate against a gay couple, we will immediately discontinue advertising their products or services.

Many people in the gay community like to pamper themselves, show off, and enjoy life. The spending trend which began with the ceremony continues with the honeymoon. Travel statistics show the American gay and lesbian community represents $47.3 million, or about 10% of the travel industry. Eighty-nine percent hold a valid passport, and 54% budget $3,000 + on a vacation. Not only does the community travel, it travels well and purchases a variety of services while vacationing, to broaden their holiday experience. If you want to attract the gay travel dollar you need to advertise here as well as our other gay travel related websites.

Often gay and lesbian honeymooners will do business with a travel related website that work with openly gay couples, simply to insure that they can travel comfortably; not only enjoy themselves but moreover feel recognized as a couple having the full honeymoon experience.

It is most important to remember that gay weddings are not much different from heterosexual unions. These are two people in love who want to pay for respectful service. Treat gay unions as any other, and make certain there is good communication. Dialogue with your gay clients, as you would with any others. This leads to common ground, and the ability to provide the most ideal services for the particular couple with whom you are doing business!

Gay & Lesbian Couples

You and your partner have come out (in most cases!), met each other, fallen in love, gotten engaged, and picked a date. Though you’ve covered great distances, you are now finding that you’ve actually only just begun and “square one” is staring you in the face. You are asking yourselves: “We’ve come this far and know we want to build the gay wedding of our dreams, but what is next? Where do we begin?”

We hear this question all the time and want to help you with your wedding planning.

Enjoy articles about gay & lesbian wedding planning, find links to planning guides and resources, get tips from experts, and learn more about the legal landscape and how it might affect your same-sex marriage plans.

most couples are so excited about beginning the process that they jump ahead of themselves and are already shopping for invitations with a date in mind before confirming an officiate or securing a location for the ceremony or reception.

Generally, it all works out in the end, but we strongly advise couples to start their planning by discussing these basic questions:

* How much money do we want to spend? Do we have access to that money or need to onsider other options?

* What kind of wedding & reception do we want to have? Small, medium or large? Day or night? Formal or informal?

* What time of year do we want to do this?

* Are we both in agreement on what the day will represent and how we’ll each be involved in the planning and development of the event?

By setting a realistic budget (money goes fast in preparing a celebration like this!), spending time communicating with each other about what you have in mind, and thinking about the parameters of your event, you can then begin taking steps toward finding a location and setting a date.

Perhaps, at this point, you may also have realized that you’d like some extra planning support. Wedding planners can be expensive, but, if you want to be able to turn some of the legwork over to someone else, this can be money well-spent. Wedding planners have connections and ideas through their work in this industry and can help you overcome or avoid hard lessons learned the first time you plan a wedding (yours!), which is no small feat, and requires a skill set all its own.

Or, perhaps, you realize that doing a bit more research on your own and booking a facility for your reception (which might even include an on-site planner or coordinator) is actually a better course of action for you.

Either way, having a good sense of what you want your day to represent and spending some time with the “boring” details early on can make all the difference in how the planning plays out!

Same sex couples have all sorts of ways of coming to a decision to have a wedding, commitment ceremony or civil union. Some get there the “old-fashioned way” thanks to a bended knee of one partner; others finally succumb to the badgering of their friends and decide to tie the knot.

Which fingers we should put our rings on. What do you recommend?”

Most succinctly put, we recommend doing what feels right to you!

We have seen couples choose all sorts of options for their engagement and wedding rings. Some gay couples choose to use the ring finger (next to the pinky) on the right hand for the engagement and/or wedding ring since it is similar, but not the same as the heterosexual symbol. Others, however, embrace the traditional practice of using the ring finger of the left hand. We have also known of folks who have used other fingers; some have chosen the same finger and other couples have each picked a finger and not matched. It really depends on what you want to do.

Individuals who choose the right hand often say that they do so because they feel they have a bit more privacy. We see this often occuring amongst individuals who work for the military or in schools or have another reason for wanting to keep the meaning of the ring more “personal.” Other individuals choose a non-traditional route for political reasons, signifying that they see their relationships as different from heterosexual relationships.

Individuals who choose the left hand often say that they want to make a statement that they see their relationships as equal to a heterosexual relationship and want to be clear with that statement.

Whatever your reason, just pick a finger and don’t be afraid to get some bling for that ring!

There’s nothing worse than picking up the phone and calling a vendor to ask if they will help you with your gay wedding, only to receive a cold shoulder and noticeable “click” on the other line.

There are many vendors out there — straight and gay alike — who are interested in working with gay couples and helping them to plan their wedding.

Same-sex couples aren’t always looking for a traditional registry to share with their wedding guests. In our experience, we have found that some couples have been together for years or are merging two full households and don’t need more household items. We have also spoken with many couples who are more interested in giving back in support of social justice causes. And, of course, there are the couples who are looking for specific gifts, like camping gear, tools, or honeymoon support.

As the traditions of wedding etiquette have evolved along with the times, it is becoming more acceptable for couples to register in their own way to reflect their needs or values.

The one bit of etiquette which hasn’t changed is that it’s consiered gauche to list where your registered on your invitation so you may just have to get creative with how you spread the word about where you’re registered!