LGBTQ Inspirational Real Wedding stories

Ladybug Details Filled This Mauve-Hued Private Estate Wedding in Dallas, Texas

Magazine clippings inspired the backyard wedding Daniela Acosta (30 and a business owner) and Megan Lane (34 and an administrator) planned to celebrate their nine-year relationship. “We found a floral centerpiece we loved in a magazine and went from there,” says the couple. With that specific aes...

A Simple Wedding at Balmoral Event Center in Haines City, Florida, With a Neutral Color Palette

For their Florida wedding, Zachary and Tuquan selected Balmoral Event Center in Haines City to serve as a refined, contemporary backdrop to the modern celebration with a black-and-taupe color palette. Zachary and Tuquan's spring wedding date was chosen for a special reason—the date falls between ...

This Wedding at The Lit in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Was A Family Affair

Megan and Molly planned their wedding as they live their days: with intention. After Megan proposed with a sustainable ring from the woman-owned Rosados Box, the pair planned a celebration that represented their values. “We chose The Lit because it was a meeting place for women to discuss social ...

One Couple's Scrabble-Themed Wedding at Material Culture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Danielle and Melissa have a way with words—literally. The couple fills their time together with competitive rounds of Scrabble (over which Danielle reigns supreme), and similarly, filled their wedding with nods to their favorite game, from the signage to the tables, alongside Material Culture’s t...

An Emily Brontë-Inspired Wedding at The Junior League of Houston in Houston, Texas

Mary and Sahra's wedding transported guests into the pages of Emily Brontë’s England. “I’m a big literature nerd, so I wanted you to feel as though you stepped into a ball from a classic novel,” Sahra says. Rich satin wallpaper, gold foil touches and an arch topped with spray roses channeled the ...

One Couple's Ethiopian-and-Jewish Fusion Wedding at Detroit Institute of Arts in Michigan

Lizzy and Tigist share a passion for equality and justice. “We wanted the words we said and our ceremony to reflect that,” Lizzy says. The couple took part in a traditional Jewish ceremony, signing a ketubah and saying their vows under a chuppah, but switched things up to make sure both of them f...

This Couple Tied the Knot on the Foggy Shore of Lake Superior at Cascade Lodge in Lutsen, Minnesota

Brian and Kory opted for a small, personal gathering for their wedding day in order to make room for connections. “We realized we wanted an intimate ceremony with only our closest friends and family,” the pair says. With a narrowed-down guest list, they decided to say “I do” on the shore of Lake ...

This Couple's First Dance Took Place in Front of a Bank Vault at The Treasury in St. Augustine, Florida

Kyle and Jeremy wanted their wedding, which took place in front of a bank vault at The Treasury on The Plaza in St. Augustine, Florida, to be "beautiful, elegant, and emotional, yet also upbeat, modern, and fun. The style we aimed for to achieve this was a mix of urban and rustic, as The Treasury...

A Greenery-Filled Wedding at Mountain Mermaid in Topanga, California, Inspired by Puerto Rico

Calvin and Xavi were determined to say “I do” come rain or shine—literally. Once Hurricane Maria derailed the couple’s plans to marry in Xavi’s native Puerto Rico less than two months before their November wedding date, the couple was forced to move their vows stateside. “We were able to pull off...

An Oceanview Pink-and-Green Wedding at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, California

With a background in interior design, Matthew put his creative skills to work for his wedding to Brian. “We wanted a Palm Springs meets Santa Barbara vibe,” Matthew says. To make it work, the couple paired muted mid-century hues with coastal touches, like rattan chairs, dried palm leaves and pamp...

This Wedding at McDonald Mansion in Santa Rosa, California, Had a Vintage Tintype Photo Booth

John and Tanay threw a celebration with one foot in the past and the other decidedly in the present. “We wanted our wedding to be a fusion of both our traditions and cultures—Maharashtrian and Californian—but with every ritual, we added our own modern twist,” John says. Take Tanay’s arrival: As i...

This Couple Tied the Knot on Stage at the Historic Marquis Theater in Northville, Michigan

Liz and Tina both know how to put on a show. Years of planning parties and directing cruise ship events prepared Liz and Tina, respectively, for designing their Northville wedding in just four months. “We both have backgrounds in the theater, so we chose the historic Marquis Theater downtown,” Li...

A Contemporary Mountain Wedding at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado

A remote cabin and a grove of Aspen trees set the stage for James and Logan's “mountain contemporary” wedding in Beaver Creek. The couple played up their cozy locale by sourcing every single detail from local vendors. Stationery (including RSVP cards which simply read: "You in or what?"), signage...

This Wedding at Camden County Boathouse in New Jersey Had All the Colors of the Rainbow

Before they even met, Michele DePasquale (32 and a teacher and coach) unknowingly made a housewarming gift for her future wife, Amy Schimmel (29 and a social worker). While Amy was buying a home, her realtor commissioned Michele to make a piece of art with the words “today is a good day for a goo...

Lush Greenery Filled Every Corner of This Wedding at The Mansion at Natirar in Peapack, New Jersey

Alana ad Megan designed their wedding with one guiding principle in mind: Simplicity is key. After visiting at least 20 venues, the couple landed on Mansion at Natirar, thanks to its effortless, classic style. “When we arrived at the mansion, we instantly knew it was the one for us,” the pair say...

Mardi Gras and Rainbows Inspired This Glam Wedding at Fort Conde Inn in Mobile, Alabama

For their wedding at Fort Conde Inn in Mobile, Alabama, Jaron and Brian planned a glitz-and-glam-filled wedding inspired by Mardi Gras and rainbows. "The original theme for our wedding was rainbows everywhere to celebrate our gay love. After Brian suggested we wear our Mardi Gras tails, I jumped ...

Unicorns and Rainbows Filled This Wedding at Hotel Domestique in South Carolina

Sydney and Michelle went all-out when it came to bringing a celebratory vibe to their two-day affair at Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. The couple included unicorns, rainbow details, a live painter, confetti, two wedding cakes and plenty of fun in their South Carolina wedding....

This Couple Stopped at In-N-Out for a Burger During Their Sacramento, California, Elopement

Before the pandemic hit, Andrea and Aidalix planned to wed on the east coast, however, as COVID-19 progressed the couple was forced to re-evaluate their plans. “We weren’t planning on having the wedding until 2021 but with everything going on with the pandemic and also the political climate (Supr...

Sparkling Water Fanatics Will Love This LaCroix-Inspired Wedding at Ovation in Chicago, Illinois

Instead of sticking to a specific theme or palette, Harrison and Jason wanted a wedding that reflected their unique interests, so they decided to get hitched at a venue that let them paint their masterpiece. From an Olive Garden soup bar to a Broadway-inspired ceremony program, LaCroix photo boot...

'Mean Girls' Inspired This Wedding at The Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey

Eric and Daniel (Dan) were advocates of bypassing tradition from the start, wanting to design a celebration that reflected their unique style and personalities. “We wanted to have a wedding that people would remember forever,” Eric says. Instead of sticking to one venue, the grooms hosted a “wedd...

A Champagne-Filled Sunrise Elopement on the Beach in San Francisco, California

When it came time to tie the knot, Addy and Brittani "wanted to keep it as simple as possible," so they decided to elope on the beach in San Francisco, California. They had "no theme or color palette even, just natures beauty surrounding us. Our ceremony was very non-traditional and not religious...

Antiques Filled This Eclectic Wedding at The Turn Vintage Warehouse in Newport, Kentucky

Arlene Grullon (35 and the director of an emergency shelter program) and Teresa Lajara (35 and a local government liaison) mix old and new with ease. The couple met the new-old-fashioned way, OkCupid, and later, proposed to one another with vintage rings. Arlene’s was rejected in its past life. “...

This Couple Included a Wig Wall at Their Disco-Inspired Wedding at The Springs in Brooklyn

Corey Rados (32 and a senior creative stategist) and Jeremy Lejeune (31 and a VP of consumer insights) love disco music and sequins, which made their wedding theme—described as “skin out, ’70s glam”—a no-brainer. To achieve their funky vibe, the pair let their wedding party select their own attir...