Destination Wedding Planning Tips for LGBTQ Couples

How To Craft An Authentic Celebration of Love

LGBTQ+ wedding planning is kind of like setting out on an exciting journey with no map. With out years of traditional planning to explore like hetero relationships, same-sex and LGBTQIA+ weddings are carving out their own beautiful path that deserves to be spotlighted and shared from around the world. 

But many questions may pop up: “Do both brides walk down the aisle?” or “Is it ok for both grooms to rock a bouquet?”. The cool part is that there is no right or wrong answer.

Gone are the days of strictly following age-old wedding blueprints. Instead, we’ve got couples embracing their unique love stories, ditching some traditions, and creating new ones that feel just right. We’ve had some great chats with experts and even our LGBTQ+ couples about how they’re making their big days feel genuine to them.

So, if you’re piecing together your LGBTQ+ wedding plans, here’s a little wisdom on weaving together a day that feels as authentic as your love story. Let’s get into it!

Selecting the Venue 

Your wedding venue isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the stage where your love story unfolds. And for LGBT couples, it’s important to pick a place that’s all about celebrating love – not just nodding politely from the sidelines. Dig around a bit and look for venues that have a track record for rolling out the red carpet for everyone, being inclusive of your love and needs.

A top tip? Check out what other LGBTQ couples have to say. Their experiences can be like gold in helping you feel the real atmosphere of a place, seeking venues renowned for their inclusivity. It’s not all about the glitz and glam but finding that welcoming vibe where your love is front and center. If you need a hand finding that perfect venue, browse more blogs from Destify, which offers a trove of impeccable destinations that champion love in all its forms. 

Keep Culture Center Stage

Navigating religion and culture as an LGBTQ+ couple can sometimes feel like a balancing act. Even if the big religious picture seems a bit blurry, there’s good news: many kind-hearted souls within these faiths are rooting for love in all its colors. 

It might take a bit more legwork to find your appropriate venue, but trust us when you do, they’ll make your day feel all the more special. They get it. And their blessings will add that extra layer of warmth and depth to your big day. It’s all about finding that connection that celebrates your love both in spirit and in joy. 

Embrace or Adapt Traditions 

An LGBT+ or same-sex wedding ceremony is a canvas of limitless possibilities. Traditional norms? They’re just starting points. From modifying the processional order to infusing unique symbols that represent your journey, there’s freedom in reinvention. Let your love story dictate the rituals, and if something doesn’t resonate, craft your own traditions. 

After all, your celebration should mirror the authenticity and uniqueness of your bond. Embrace the past, but don’t be afraid to pave your path forward. It’s your day, and the traditions should be as special and “unconventional” as your love story.

Dress Code Freedom 

Your wedding attire should echo your true self. Gone are the days of rigid dress codes. With popular lesbian wedding ideas embracing chic bridal suits and gay weddings for men showcasing vibrant tuxedos, the horizon of fashion choices is vast. 

Whether it’s a twist on the traditional or a completely avant-garde look, let your outfits celebrate your individuality. After all, it’s about wearing your heart on your sleeve, quite literally.

Pre-wedding Celebrations 

Remember when pre-wedding events were split into ‘his’ and ‘hers’? Well, times have changed, and it’s all about coming together and celebrating love without limits. Fancy throwing a joint bachelor or bachelorette party? Why not? And a combined wedding shower? Sounds like double the fun! The goal is to make every pre-wedding moment just as unforgettable as the day you say “I do.” If you need a little spark of inspiration, Vogue offers a treasure trove of innovative LGBTQ+ wedding ideas that embrace both tradition and novelty, ensuring your pre-wedding festivities are as unique as your love story.

Designing A Wedding of Dreams

LGBTQ+ celebrations stand as poignant reminders of love’s universal resonance. Recent strides put same-sex couples at a unique crossroads: honoring long-standing traditions while also breaking new ground. The questions and decisions can be daunting, but remember, they offer an opportunity to craft a wedding that truly speaks to your love’s individual journey.

From venue selection to harmonizing traditions and cultures, the choices you make will set the stage for a celebration that’s both authentic and memorable. Embrace the freedom to blend time-honored customs with contemporary touches, ensuring every aspect of your day reflects the depth and richness of your relationship.

In the end, it’s about more than just a ceremony or a festivity. It’s a profound testament to the progress made and the enduring power of love. To all LGBTQ+ couples stepping into this beautiful chapter: may your wedding not only reflect the love you share but also inspire and uplift others on similar journeys. 

Beautiful Ways to Personalize Any Queer Wedding

Planning a wedding is all about crafting a day that feels unmistakably you. And for queer couples, this rings especially true. Beyond choosing a venue or selecting a cake flavor, queer weddings are about celebrating your unique journey with every detail. 

While we’re all too aware that navigating the landscape of queer weddings can be challenging, remember that this is your love story. Let’s find ways to paint every moment with your colors, making your wedding an unforgettable reflection of who you both are.

Making Every Moment of Your Queer Wedding Truly Yours 

Selecting the right venue is about more than aesthetics; it’s about feeling embraced and celebrated in every way. And when it comes to a queer wedding, it’s essential to choose a place where love is the only language spoken. 

Thankfully, numerous destinations featured on Destify are renowned for their LGBTQ-friendly vibes. Be it a serene beach resort or a charming European town, ensure your chosen venue embodies inclusivity. Doing so will not only make your wedding day feel more genuine but will also offer peace of mind to you and your guests.

Choose An LGBTQ-friendly Destination

Destinations like Puerto Vallarta, renowned for its golden beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, have emerged as a queer pardise. As a destination, it pulsates with life, from its lively boardwalks adorned with art installations to its bustling nightlife, where music and laughter fill the air. 

The warmth isn’t just in its sun; the locals of Puerto Vallarta exude an openness, ensuring that every visitor feels embraced and celebrated. This welcoming spirit has rightfully crowned the city as a favored hub for LGBTQ celebrations. 

Among its plethora of resorts, the Hyatt Ziva is an LGBTQ wedding venue that stands out. Known for its commitment to inclusivity, this resort doesn’t just welcome queer couples—it celebrates them, making it a prime choice for couples looking to tie the knot amid luxury and acceptance.

Queer Wedding Outfit Inspirations

Wedding attire should be a reflection of who you are. In a lesbian wedding or gay wedding, it’s a beautiful opportunity to embrace your identity fully. Are you inclined toward a traditional look or perhaps something that defies the norms? 

Whichever path you choose, let it resonate with your unique story. The fashion world has seen a surge of diversity, with more designers catering to the LGBTQ community. If you’re seeking inspiration, this Vogue article offers a plethora of ideas for queer wedding outfits that strike the perfect balance between elegance and self-expression.

Incorporate Symbolic LGBTQ Elements

Symbols hold power, especially when they resonate with personal and communal stories. From the iconic rainbow flag to the pink triangle, queer symbols serve as proud markers of a journey full of resilience and love. 

Consider integrating these symbols into your wedding decor—be it through colorful table settings, invitation designs, or even as a cake topper. These emblematic touches will not only add depth to your celebration but will also tell a tale of pride and unity.

Support LGBTQ-owned Businesses

Every wedding involves a legion of professionals working behind the scenes. Why not make your big day an avenue to uplift and support the community? 

Collaborate with LGBTQ-owned businesses, from florists and caterers to LGBTQ wedding photographers. These professionals, rooted in the community, bring with them a unique perspective, ensuring your wedding feels authentically yours. Plus, by doing so, you’ll be playing a part in supporting queer entrepreneurs and their dreams.

Incorporate Queer Rituals into Your Special Day

A wedding ceremony is where two souls become one. Making this moment truly yours involves infusing it with rituals that speak to your journey. 

The queer community has a rich tapestry of traditional and new-age ceremonies. Whether it’s the touching “Handfasting” ceremony or lighting the “Unity Candle,” let these rituals be a mirror to your love story, speaking volumes of your union and the journey that led to this day.

Give Guests LGBTQ-themed Wedding Favors

The end of the wedding doesn’t mean the memories stop. Offer your guests a keepsake that embodies the spirit of your union. From rainbow-colored souvenirs and custom-designed LGBTQ-themed coasters to equality pins, let these favors be a tangible memento of a day filled with love, pride, and unity. It’s a small gesture, but one that will remind your loved ones of a celebration where love truly won.

• LGBTQ-friendly destination selection. Opt for destinations known for their inclusivity.
• Queer wedding outfit inspirations. Don’t be limited by heteronormative ideals of love — let your creativity shine through your attire!
• Incorporate symbolic LGBTQ elements. Use symbols like the rainbow flag, pink triangle, or interlocking gender symbols in decor, stationery, or cake design.
• Work with LGBTQ-owned Businesses. Collaborate with LGBTQ vendors, including photographers, caterers, and entertainers. 
• Spotlight on queer creativity. Incorporate readings from queer literature or LGBTQ activists during the ceremony.
• LGBTQ-themed accessories. Provide queer touches like rainbow-colored souvenirs, pride-themed coasters, or equality pins.
• Personalized vows. Write vows reflecting your shared experiences, challenges, and triumphs as a queer couple.
• Music to celebrate queer artists. Include songs from LGBTQ artists or anthems that have become symbolic in the queer community. Or hire a queer DJ!
• Photo booth with LGBTQ props. Offer props like rainbow boas, pride flags, or signs with LGBTQ slogans for fun photo moments.
• Guest book alternatives. Ask guests to share their own stories or messages about love and acceptance.

How To Hold a Gender-Neutral Wedding

Weddings have a traditionally gendered history. But gay weddings are about love and commitment, and true love doesn’t have to adhere to traditional gender roles!

Soon-to-be spouses and their wedding guests can exist anywhere on the gender spectrum, and a couple’s big day should reflect their gender identity.

If you’re looking for ways to hold a gender-neutral destination wedding, you’ve come to the right place!

Gender Neutral Wedding Terms

Using gender neutral terms and gender neutral language alternatives is the easiest and most effective way to host a gender-neutral wedding!

Focusing on using some of these gender-neutral terms creates a safe environment for everyone, regardless of gender identity!

There are many gender-neutral alternatives to the previously more traditional wedding terms.

Instead of ‘bridal suite,’ ‘bridal shower,’ ‘bridal party,’ etc., try using ‘wedding suite,’ and so on.

Rather than ‘bridesmaids’ or ‘groomsmen,’ use ‘attendants’ or ‘wedding party.’

And instead of using ‘bride and/or groom,’ stick to fiance, partner, significant other, nearly-wed, and so on.

Not only should you use these terms when addressing people in the wedding party, but you can hold a truly respectful gender-neutral wedding by using these terms in your wedding invitations and save-the-dates.

It’s easy: rather than using ‘Mr. and Mrs.,’ address each invitation with the guest’s name. Not only is this a gender-respectful move, but it also adds an individualized, personal touch to your save-the-dates!

Read more here if you’re interested in learning more about these gender-neutral terms.

Implementing these terms is a simple and effective way to be respectful to people from all walks of life and personal gender identities.

Gender-Neutral Fashion Choices

‘What to wear?’ is an eternal struggle for people every year leading up to a wedding. Flowing white dresses, black suits, and delicate wedding veils aren’t for everyone, and they give people very limited fashion options!

Shake off any preconceived notions of gendered fashion and encourage your guests to wear whatever they want! Encourage them to mix and match feminine, masculine, and gender-neutral traits as they see fit.

It can be as simple as a tailored two-piece suit, as fun as a stylish jumpsuit, a medium-length dress, or any combination of the above!

At the end of the day, let your guests feel comfortable in whatever fits them best and compliments their style and personal beauty preferences!

Traditions

Your wedding day is exactly that — it’s your day! Traditions are scaffolding to the past, and you should feel free to buck whichever trends you see fit, especially if you’re holding a gender-neutral destination wedding!

For one, you can choose mixed-gender wedding parties. Long gone are the days of bridesmaids and groomsmen being your only choices. Instead, both partners tying the knot should be able to choose whomever they want to be a part of their big day, attendants of all gender identities!

It’s about choosing the people closest to you to stand near you while you say ‘I do,’ not adhering to age-old gender traditions just for the sake of it!

Another tradition worth revisiting is the bouquet toss. Why limit this tradition to just the bride?

Both partners are being married, so both partners should be able to toss the bouquet or boutonniere into the crowd!

Gender-Neutral Restrooms

Non-gender-neutral bathrooms can significantly impact a gender-neutral wedding ceremony.

The reception location may already have gender-neutral facilities, or the couple may inquire whether such restrooms may be made available for the occasion.

Portable restrooms are always a gender-neutral alternative for an outdoor wedding or reception.

Book an Inclusive Wedding Resort

Possibly the most important point on this list!

Not all locations allow same-sex marriages, let alone gender-inclusive ceremonies.

Luckily, we at Destify have the inside scoop on which resorts are right for your gender-neutral, inclusive big day!

For example, properties like Hyatt Ziva Cancun and Dreams Riviera Cancun supply gender-neutral bathrooms and facilities inclusive of all gender identities.

We recommend Secrets Riviera Cancun.

Due to Mexico’s progressive attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community and the resort’s status as an adults-only location, many queer couples choose it for their destination weddings.

In fact, about 30% of weddings at Secrets Riviera Cancun are LGBTQ+ in nature.

Best of all, according to its wedding website, the resort aspires to use gender-neutral terminology solely in its wedding ceremonies.

Book Your Gender-Neutral Destination Wedding Today

We’re here to take the anxiety and confusion out of wedding planning, so you enjoy every moment of your destination wedding, from your suite to saying ‘I Do’ to your sweetheart!

Love, Your Way

As you embark on the most magical journey of your life, your queer wedding should be nothing short of a reflection of your shared love, pride, and individuality. 

From selecting LGBTQ wedding venues to donning an outfit that screams ‘unapologetically you,’ every element should tell your unique story. Design your dream queer wedding with Destify, experts in the fields and allies of love.