Planning a wedding is said to be one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through in life. While there will be some headaches on the horizon, you don’t need to let the frustrations overwhelm you. When you and your partner decide to get married, one way to relieve stress is by looking for planning advice. Though the core of the event remains about love, there are some key differences between heterosexual and same-sex weddings. Make the experience less taxing by looking over these bits of advice to help you plan the perfect same-sex wedding. 

Finding an Officiant

One of the biggest challenges you may face when planning your big day is finding someone to officiate the ceremony. If you belong to a religion that has negative views on same-sex relationships, you may feel as if you can’t incorporate your faith into your big day. Thankfully, this is far from the case. There are plenty of people of all religious backgrounds who will be happy to preside over your event. You can even consider asking a close friend or family member to get ordained and act as the officiant. 

Walking Down the Aisle

According to wedding traditions between a man and a woman, the bride is typically walked down the aisle by her father or another close relative. Naturally, this is not an option in LGBTQ relationships where there is no bride. Luckily, you can easily break with tradition and create a process that works for your event. Consider alternatives like walking down the aisle together or asking your parents or friends to walk each of you down. Another option is not making a grand entrance at all and simply being present at the altar when guests start to arrive. 

Getting Creative With Decor

Though relationships come in all shapes and sizes, a large chunk of decor related to weddings tends to be gendered for a man and a woman. This means you are going to encounter endless products boasting phrases like “Mr. and Mrs.” and “Bride and Groom”. Thankfully, there are also vendors who make decorations specifically for same-sex couples. For those interested in DIY decor, there are amazing examples of LGBT-friendly decor available on sites like Pinterest. Some couples may even want to incorporate the rainbow of the pride flag in their wedding decorations to show love and support to their community.   

Arranging the Guests

While society as a whole has become more accepting of same-sex relationships over the years, there are still plenty of people who hold archaic views on love. If you or your partner have family members who are opposed to your relationship, you may encounter a scenario where you don’t want to invite these people to your wedding, or they decide to decline your invitations. Though it is traditional to separate the families into two sections during the ceremony, don’t feel beholden to this concept. When you expect an uneven number of guests, allow people to sit wherever they please. 

Doing Your Research

Destination weddings are perfect when you want to have a small ceremony with a handful of your closest friends and family members. Of course, you need to conduct appropriate research before you finalize these plans. When planning to get married overseas, make sure the country you have your eye on is accepting of same-sex relationships. Unfortunately, you may also need to do this in America. Though same-sex marriage is legal on a federal level, there are a number of states where members of the LGBTQ community are treated with animosity and violence. 

Celebrating Your Love

Getting married might be a stressful experience, but it is also a cause for celebration. Give yourself plenty of time to put together your wedding details. This way you should have no trouble keeping your frustrations to a minimum. We hope these tips help you plan the perfect same-sex wedding!