Host the Ultimate Celebration with These Creative Gay Wedding Ideas

You’ve made the decision to get married and now it’s time for the fun part — planning the most fantastic gay wedding! It’s the perfect moment to honor your love for each other, celebrate marriage equality, and throw an impressive celebration for your loved ones. 

Fortunately, these gay wedding ideas will help jumpstart the process. Whether it’s choosing a quirky venue or creating your own wedding rituals, these ideas run the gamut from traditionally inspired to wonderfully obscure. 

14 Creative Ideas for Your Gay Wedding Celebration

Design: Ashley Ottinger

For some same-sex couples, their wedding day is an opportunity to make a big statement and celebrate all things marriage equality. For others, it’s a quiet moment of love and reflection. Whether you’re planning a bold celebration or an understated ceremony, use these wedding ideas to help you plan the kind of event you’ve always dreamed about. 

1. Select a Wedding Theme

Choosing a wedding theme is the first step in tying together the entire event. Whether or not you’re working with a wedding planner, come up with a shortlist of styles or themes you like, then finalize one for your big day. 

Perhaps you want a whimsical wedding, a rustic wedding, a nautical-themed wedding, or even an 80-style celebration. Select your favorite option and use it to guide the rest of your decor, styling, fashion, floral, and food choices. 

2. Get Married During Pride Month

If you want your wedding to touch on themes like marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights, there’s no better time to host it than during Pride Month. It’s a way to celebrate your love story and also acknowledge the struggle of all those who helped to make gay marriage possible. This wedding idea is also an ideal option for nonbinary weddings. 

3. Consider a Non-Traditional Venue

Design: Owl and Toad (photo courtesy of Julia Kinnunen Photography)

You don’t have to celebrate your wedding day in a traditional wedding venue. Look outside the box of options you see advertised and consider something new and unexpected.

Maybe your best friend’s spacious backyard would be the perfect spot for a backyard wedding reception. Or perhaps you’d love to host a sunset beach wedding outside your favorite coastal bar or rent a haunted estate for a spooky-themed reception. Take some time to consider all your options to find the perfect wedding venue for your special day. 

4. Make Your Own Wedding Traditions

It’s your wedding ceremony, so make it truly your own. One of the best ways to do this is by creating your own special wedding traditions. 

For instance, seat your guests in a circle to watch you exchange your vows. Introduce a cocktail toast or take a shot of your favorite spirit at the end of your ceremony. Ask the officiant or someone in your wedding party to do a sage smudging. Tie the knot (literally) with a rope to signify your union. Invite everyone to join you for a camping adventure after the reception. There’s no wrong answer — celebrate your love in your own unique way. 

5. Customize Your Wedding Party Lineup

Wedding tradition suggests you need a best man, a maid of honor, bridesmaids, and groomsmen to form a wedding party. But feel free to throw tradition out the window and have a blast making up your own rules. Have friends of all genders stand alongside you during the ceremony, go solo and forego the wedding party altogether, or have your pets by your side — it’s up to you! 

6. Introduce Some DIY Elements

A great way to add more creativity to your gay wedding is to make something by hand. We love the idea of a DIY wedding backdrop and personalizing it with your names, or creating your own guest book alternative where guests can leave a sweet message to you both. If you’re crafty, introduce more DIY elements — if not, choose one option that’s doable and that you’ll cherish forever. 

7. Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Traditional vows are always an option, but a sweet way to bring more of yourselves to the nuptials is to write your own wedding vows. Be inspired by your love for each other, your quirks, your love story, and all the things that make you who you are. Sprinkle these stories into your “I do” moment for a ceremony that is unlike any other. And if you need some inspiration, not to worry — you can always use these ring exchange wording ideas. 

8. Add Rainbow Colors to Your Big Day

Celebrate in style by bringing a pop of rainbow fun to your wedding ceremony and reception. Rent a giant rainbow to act as a photo backdrop or ceremony arch, or weave rainbow colors into your wedding cake, table decor, and bouquets. Stick with traditional bold colors or switch to a pastel rainbow for a more subtle take on the trend. 

9. Customize Your Wedding Invitations

Design: Claudia Owen

Let your guest list know they’re in for a special event with beautifully personalized wedding invitations. Choose something to match your theme — whether that’s boho, retro, traditional, or contemporary — and add a personal touch through your wedding invitation wording.

With Greenvelope, it’s easy to customize your digital invitations. Take a look through our collection of wedding invites to find your favorite, then adjust the layout, colors, and wording to create something with a bespoke feel. 

10. Choose a Colorful Wedding Cake

A beautiful wedding cake often steals the show when it comes to the wedding reception. Even if you don’t go all-out on the rainbow theme, including rainbow layers in your wedding cake is a sweet nod to Pride. You don’t need rainbows, though — elegant edible flowers, a handmade cake topper, or a stunning ombré finish all make for an impressive dessert. 

11. Choose Wedding Attire That Complements (or Clashes)

Design: Robinson Creative House (photo courtesy of Carina Skrobecki)

While traditional brides or grooms may be considering a wedding dress or a tux, don’t rule out any wedding attire that speaks to you. Feel free to rock tuxedo tails with a pair of shorts, a pantsuit or jumpsuit instead of a traditional gown, or anything that brings you joy. 

When it comes to colors and fabrics, stick with the same wedding color palette to match — or go bold and wear completely different shades to embrace the contrast and showcase your own individual styles. 

12. Get Creative with Your Party Favors

Sugared almonds might be traditional, but you can do so much more with your wedding party favors. Hand out eco-friendly seed packets for your guests to scatter on the lawn, brightly colored sunglasses at your beach wedding, or rainbow shot glasses for them to use during a toast. Another way to add more fun to your favors is to match them to your theme — like these bookish wedding favors for a literary-themed celebration. 

13. Hire a Photographer Who Understands Your Vibe

Design: Claudia Owen (photo courtesy of Carina Skrobecki)

You deserve to have stunning wedding photos to look back on, so invest in a photographer who can make that a reality. Whether you want a rustic feel or something more contemporary, choosing the right wedding photographer helps you create those joyful memories. Ask around for personal recommendations or try this list of LGBTQ-friendly wedding photographers who love working with gay couples. 

14. Ask for Donations Instead of Wedding Gifts

It’s not always easy to come up with a wedding gift registry — especially if you’ve lived together as a couple and aren’t in need of another toaster or set of towels. Instead of gifts, ask for donations to causes you care about. Plus, this idea is practical — especially if you’re having a destination wedding or hosting in a small venue. If you’re not sure which charities to focus on, here’s a brilliant list of LGBTQ+ charities to support. 

Plan Your Dream Day with These Gay Wedding Ideas

Whether you’re planning a lavish celebration or an understated event, take inspiration from these gay wedding ideas to create the kind of special day you’ve always dreamed about.

Browse through our collection of online invitations to find a design that suits your celebration. When you’ve found “the one,” you can customize the layout, wording, and colors to make it your own. Whatever you decide, you’re sure to have a day to remember.