With the arrival of legalized same sex marriage in thirteen states which include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, it’s time for gay men and women to celebrate victory by throwing a fabulous same sex wedding ceremony and inviting all their friends. While Florida still does not acknowledge same sex marriage, a Miami based wedding planner for example can still provide a lavish wedding reception in South Florida or create a destination gay wedding in one of the legalized states – even overseas where same sex marriage has been signed into law in Great Britain by Queen Elizabeth. If Liberace was alive, he’d been dancing on the streets and on top of his rhinestone encrusted piano!
So let’s get down to the business at hand. Every little girl (and perhaps boy) dreams about their ideal wedding – whether it’s focused on colors or a theme – it may be flamboyant or sophisticated but hopefully with taste nonetheless. This means no fruit hats or pink flamingos and if the servers at the wedding are handsome young men it does not mean they are dressed in only a black leather jock strap. A wedding by all means should represent the love and celebration of the couple. Perhaps the wedding theme is based on the location where the two first met or enjoyed a first date. A theme could reflect a favorite song or movie.
Here are some options for couples to consider. A “Cabaret” style wedding would reflect a throwback to the 30s where decadence (I mean lots of alcohol) and sexual ambiguity were prominent. The entertainment would be reminiscent of the Kit Kat Club complete with androgynous boys and girls and yes, it would be quite wonderful to have Liza Minnelli on hand to sing “Money, Money.” Décor should be rich in red and black tones in fabrics of leather and velvet. The venue space ideally for this type of affair should be a nightclub.
For those same sex couples seeking a simple yet elegant wedding whether in Long Island, upstate NY or Malibu, the answer is white décor with accents of black, crystal chandeliers, and a wedding cake adorned in Swarovski crystal. For those looking for extra dramatic appeal, I suggest peacock feathers as part of the centerpieces. And depending on the time of year, one might consider candelabras composed of foliage and orchids -ideal in spring or a white winter wedding might do well to have accents of metal (such as in a tree centerpiece with hanging votives). Two flowers I cannot do without are – calla lilies and hydrangeas – beautiful and romantic and ideal for many settings. So whether a same sex couple is seeking a “Sex and the City’s” Stanford and Anthony style wedding or a Truman Capote style ball complete with masks, a wedding will also need to meet the demands of its location and time of year.
A wedding can be whatever you want it to be – a three day extravaganza, a modern affair at a restaurant in the afternoon, a sports adventure with an underwater same sex wedding ceremony, or in a quaint farmhouse set with antique chargers, embroidered napkins and horse drawn carriages. From steel drums to a mariachi band from justice of the peace to infinity beads to a ceremonial bowl, there are many creative things for the gay couple to think of to symbolize their love and pledge their eternity to one another. A wedding is the pinnacle of letting imagination soar. For your big day, consider a wedding consultation with gay wedding planner Victoria Hoffman.