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Since gay marriage has become legal in states across the country, same-sex couples’ weddings and engagements have been taking the spotlight — and boy, do they deserve it. We’ve spotted some trends we absolutely love and think straight couples are beginning to adopt.
1. Walking down the aisle together. Many of today’s couples (gay and straight) are doing a “first look” before the wedding, so walking down the aisle to greet your partner may not feel necessary. If you do want to surprise your sweetheart at the altar, consider entering the ceremony at the same time from different entrances; you’ll see each other for the first time as you’re walking down the aisle, and can still head to the altar hand-in-hand.
2. Using the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality as a wedding reading. After the decision to legalize same-sex marriage came down, gay and lesbian couples across the country adopted the reading as part of their marriage ceremonies.
Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support.
Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family. Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition.
It is undoubtedly for these concrete reasons, as well as for its intimately personal significance, that civil marriage has long been termed a “civil right.” Without the right to choose to marry one is excluded from the full range of human experience.
The passage is perfect for opposite-sex weddings because it affirms the couple’s commitment to striving for marriage equality, and is a spot-on description of the institution of marriage.
3. Skipping the bent-knee proposal. We know that many brides dream of a formal proposal on bended knee — and that’s totally OK! But we love that gay men and lesbians who don’t feel comfortable with that tradition are choosing to skip it in favor of something a little more casual. To all of you straight couples out there who want the same thing, we say go for it!
4. Both partners wearing an engagement ring. You may have heard about “man-gagement rings” in recent years, a rising trend among straight couples where both partners where a ring. But same-sex couples have been doing this for decades! Even before legal same-sex marriage, LGBT partners would often wear rings to symbolize their commitment to each other. And now that gay marriage is legal in many states, couples are exchanging engagement rings before the big day and then either adding a wedding band or keeping the same ring post-wedding.
5. Choosing LGBT-friendly vendors. This isn’t as much a “trend” as it is a necessity for same-sex couples, but if you’re a straight LGBT ally, choosing gay-friendly wedding vendors should be a no-brainer. Why would you want to support a business that wouldn’t serve your lesbian sister or gay cousin? Put your money where your values are and ask potential vendors their policies on serving same-sex couples before signing on the dotted line.
6. Wearing what you want. There are no hard-and-fast rules or traditions for same-sex weddings, and that means couples are wearing whatever they want — from pants to gowns to little black dresses! Finally, there is formal wedding wear to suit everyone’s personal style. So go forth, get married — and wear what you want!
