LGBTQ Inspirational Real Wedding stories

A Jewel-Toned, Retro Las Vegas Elopement at Little White Chapel

Having fun and doing what’s true to them have always been paramount for Alanda Hilborn (32, a nanny) and Kayla Grattan (30, a surface water technician). Unknowingly, this shared mindset would one day make them soulmates. Alanda and Kayla met in 2021 on Bumble, where Alanda saw a picture of Kayla ...

Two Brides Enjoy a Casual and Relaxing Springtime Elopement at New York City Hall

Lourdes knew Veronica was “the one” within a couple of weeks of dating. This fact, Lourdes says, actually caught her off guard. "[I] found the ease with which I fell in love with her to be completely shocking. I didn’t know relationships could be so easy and that I could be so compatible with som...

A Minimalist, Luxurious Fall Wedding With Tons of Dancing & Music at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC

Kertiste and Mike’s first introduction almost didn't happen, with Mike showing up late to the date in September 2017. If he’d been a minute later, Kertiste might have missed him altogether, but the timing worked perfectly for these two kindred souls. They spoke for hours at a beer garden, and jus...

A Lush and Moody Garden Party Wedding at SmogShoppe in Culver City, California

It was a cool autumn night in 2019 when Mike and Patrick met. They were both living in Boston and looking for a kindred spirit to become their new roommate or friend, but the romantic connection was undeniable from the jump. “We first met for dinner and drinks at Harp and Bard––a neighborhood div...

A Bold and Tropical Colombian-Inspired Backyard Wedding in Phoenix, Arizona

“We met the modern way — by swiping right!” The connection between Shalayne Pillar and Andrea Murillo was instant, and for their first date, Andrea planned a perfect surprise. “Andrea knocked it out of the park by taking me to a plant-themed speakeasy for happy hour,” Shalayne recalls. “We ended ...

These Grooms Took Whimsical Glam to the Next Level During Their Wedding at Vibiana in Los Angeles

The phrase, “What’s meant to be will always find a way,” can apply to a lot of things in life. For Enrique Cheng-Robles (56, a family physician) and Cole Williams (30, a recruiter), their love story started with a series of chance meetings that ultimately led to a first date. The Los Angeles–base...

Did You Know You Can Get Married in a Bookstore? These Brides Celebrated Their Love Story at Housing Works in New York City

Both driven and ambitious, Felicia Kaban, an events executive, and Kara Ryan, a PR and communications professional, found themselves collaborating closely on various projects. What started as a productive partnership quickly grew into a deep friendship. Over time, their connection became undeniab...

A Vibrant "Havana Nights"-Inspired Wedding at The Bath Club in Miami Beach

A simple swipe on a dating app led to something extraordinary for grooms Frank and Alex. “Sparks flew for us, igniting a connection that transcended screens and pixels,” Alex recalls. Their bond only grew stronger, evolving from late-night conversations to shared dreams and adventures. Twelve yea...

A Dazzling Disco Wedding at The James Museum in Saint Petersburg, Florida

Cruises and music: These two seemingly disparate things just so happen to be the perfect ingredients for love. For David Bevis (33, a real estate advisor) and Brian Gay (31, a real estate agent), fate brought them together on the open seas. The couple’s meet-cute embarked seven years prior to the...

This Surprise Proposal Turned Into a Whimsical Same-Day Wedding at The Hummingbird Temple in Hollywood Hills, California

There’s a reason grand whirlwind relationships anchor so many blockbuster hits—they’re just so romantic. Persis Kham- batta (34, a real estate agent) and Crystal Ramos’ (34, a clinical specialist) entire relationship has been like a real-life fairy tale. So it’s no surprise that the day these two...

This Colorful Wedding at The Hibernia San Francisco Was All About Celebrating Heritage and Inclusivity

Love often blooms online in the digital age. “Yes, we are one of those millennial stories,” Charles (Charlie) Langdon details his relationship with Vivi Nguyen. An initial lunch date blossomed into an entire afternoon of connection for the two, marking the beginning of a deep and meaningful bond....

Brides Host a Colorful Multicultural Wedding at the Park Hyatt in Washington DC

Karen Gouws and Jordan Dewar first met in middle school, not in the hallways or classrooms, but in the boundless world of an online novel writing group. Their bond deepened with every shared word and imaginative venture as they crafted stories. Karen fondly reminisces, “It’s amazing, in hindsight...

Grooms Create a Wedding That Epitomizes Class at The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In the bustling heart of New York City, the stars aligned for Zack Aberman and Phil Kessler, drawn together by the curious workings of digital serendipity. Zack recalls, “Having matched on three different dating apps, it almost seemed inevitable that we would cross paths.” Their initial encounter...

These Brides Planned a Sophisticated-Yet-Personal Wedding at Parlor Public House in Indianapolis, Indiana

Though Alexa Pratt and Amanda Duba went to the same high school, fate wouldn’t have them meet until they both attended the same college; their paths crossed at Indiana University when a mutual friend brought them together. Amanda fondly recalls, “We have a mutual best friend who introduced us, an...

A Class-Act in Modernity—These Grooms Hosted a Grand Wedding at The Filter Club in Philadelphia

Kevin Fletcher and Mark Switaj’s love story began at a birthday party, where they connected over a shared love for electronic dance music and healthcare. Kevin recalls the moment with a smile, “I thought I was so suave and asked Mark for his phone number to ‘have a chat about healthcare.’” This i...

This Couple Planned a Chic City Hall Elopement in San Francisco, California, Before Stopping by a Coffee Shop to Celebrate

It started with two lattes and a chance encounter at a cozy city café. Jewels Figueroa and Maddisson (Maddie) Leavitt, both new to the city and in pursuit of fresh starts, found something unexpected amid their solo journeys. “Our first date included meeting each other’s cats and making plans for ...

Dark Detail Lovers—This Fall Wedding at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum Is for You

There's nothing like pure serendipity on a getaway weekend. Jake Parrick fondly recalls, "We met in Nashville during the 4th of July weekend, and it was attraction (love, if you will) at first sight." The sparks flew between Jake and Ethan Campbell. When Ethan decided he wanted to pop the questio...

’70s Disco-Glam Vibes Filled This Wedding at The Jane Hotel in New York City

“As queer people, we don’t often see ourselves represented in the stereotypical wedding aesthetic. It didn’t feel ‘us’ to try and force that vibe for our wedding,” say Max Aboody (33, a residential interior designer) and Eric Brodzinski (33, a product designer) of their October 9, 2022, celebrati...

A Desert Wedding With Midcentury Modern Touches at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, California

A simple swipe on a dating app can lead to great things. Andrew Rohrlich recalls, "Being the eager beaver that I am, I asked Danny if he wanted to get coffee later that day." That coffee date with Danny Lewis marked the start of a lasting connection. "I literally felt sparks fly when Danny walked...

A Laid-Back, Effortlessly Cool Desert Wedding at Ground in South Africa

Some people meet at precisely the wrong time. When Robyn Pamela introduced herself to Nicci Campbell at a restaurant, both were in relationships with other people. "We became good friends," Nicci laughs. Their friendship deepened over time, and as fate would have it, they found themselves single ...

A Sustainable Wedding Embracing Nature at Pie Ranch in Pescadero, California

"We met while studying sustainable agriculture in Santa Cruz, California, in 2016," Leigh Gaymon-Jones recalls. Her connection with Beth Burzynski steadily grew over time, nurtured by the shared experiences, living and working together for a year and a half, and they began dating. Then, during a ...

This Couple's Elegantly Emerald Wedding at Prospect Park Boathouse in Brooklyn, New York, Is Timeless

Oliver Saikaly and Nicholas Deising's love story began with a chance encounter through mutual friends during college. As their relationship blossomed, Oliver devised a secret plan for a breathtaking proposal that was sure to knock his beloved's socks off. "Originally, I wanted to surprise Nick wi...

Celebrity Event Planners Say "I Do" at The Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida

What do two professional wedding planners do when they find themselves engaged? Well, it turns out they’re just like us: Brian Kelly and Sean Koski faced a series of challenges orchestrating their own wedding. Yet, amid the twists and turns, they found a remarkable way to realize their idyllic vi...