Even though same-sex marriage has been legal for several years now, many same-sex couples struggle when it comes to tying the knot. Being raised in a culture in which it was not allowed made it so that many members of the LGBTQ community never considered weddings a tangible possibility. If you and your partner have recently decided to get married but don’t know where to begin, then now is a fantastic time to receive a bit of guidance. Throwing a wedding is a lot of work, and same-sex couples often need to take some extra steps.

Give yourself a moment to look over some of these tips on putting together your same-sex wedding. A few considerations should help you get started in no time.

Defying Expectations

Weddings and the traditions surrounding them vary from culture to culture and, to be more specific, even from family to family. While the media might love to showcase reality shows dedicated to the most elaborate and posh of receptions, weddings truly come in all shapes and sizes. For same-sex couples, this can prove even truer. Gay and lesbian couples are not beholden to the same traditions of heterosexual couples, which can be both a frightening and liberating fact to discover. In essence, you can pretty much do whatever you like.

If you don’t want your wedding to follow the same format as all of the straight weddings you’ve attended in your life, then you can design it however you imagine. The idea of the event is to gather your closest friends and family members in one place and celebrate the love you share with your partner. As long as this is the central idea of your wedding, it doesn’t really matter what route you take to get there. Defy your own expectations of what a wedding should be, and see where these thoughts take you.

Keeping Things Friendly

Gay and lesbian couples might be free to marry nowadays, but there are still plenty of people who hold archaic or hateful views. What can make matters worse is that there are a number of hateful people who own wedding businesses. This means many same-sex couples need to take a few extra steps when it comes to selecting vendors. You want to make sure you pick vendors who are gay-friendly, especially if you don’t want any awkward encounters when you show up for a trial or demo of services with your partner.

The Rainbow Wedding Network is one of many organizations available on the internet aimed at assisting same-sex couples find friendly vendors. The organization’s website allows visitors to search for LGBTQ-friendly vendors in their area. What’s more, you can search by category. Whether you need a cake, florists, musicians, or anything else you can imagine, its database grants you the ability to find specific local vendors who will be able to help make your dream wedding into a reality.

Decide Your Flow

Making a same-sex wedding work is very similar to making a heterosexual wedding work. Both members of the couple need to be on the same page when it comes to how the event is going to play out. Take time to sit with your partner and hash out all of the finer details of your big day. Though sorting out the specifics can be tense, you and your partner will be able to use these moments as a bonding experience. As you plan, you’ll be reminded why you decided to settle down with this person in the first place.

Planning a same-sex wedding is far from an impossible task. As long as you give yourself time to research and come up with a plan of action, you’ll be ready to walk down the aisle with confidence.