Well, it’s here. The season of gays getting married!
Thanks to the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states last June, homosexuals everywhere have been scrambling to tie the knot. We can’t blame the couples really, as they’ve only been waiting FOREVER for the chance to say “I do” to the one they love.
So, don’t be surprised when you open your mailbox to a handful of gay wedding invites. Quite frankly, you should be excited! Not only will you get to celebrate love and happiness, but you’ll have a fantastic reason to put on your finest attire and sip on a plethora of mixed cocktails and chilled wines. #Yassss
However, if you’ve never been to a gay wedding before (or even if you have – no two are the same!), we’ve put together a survival guide to help you get through all of the fabulousness!
1. Be respectful of the couple.
You’ll probably need to know ahead of tim how the grooms or the brides prefer to be address. For example, does the lesbian couple favor bride and bride, or bride and bridegroom? Some might think this is petty, but hey, it’s not your wedding, and it’s not the biggest day of your life, so be respectful or the surrounded by everyone they love and care about.
2. Find a suitable wedding card.
Not long ago, finding a card that represented gay and lesbian couples was a feat and a half. Nowadays, you can buy them in most stores that sell cards – and there’s lots to choose and more every passing day! However, not every to-be-married couple is gay or lesbian. Non-binary gender identities exist too, so make sure you pick one that accurately represents who’s getting hitched.
3. Expect the unexpected.
While gay people aren’t any different from straight people, sometimes gay couples like to be a little more experimental with the non-conventional! For example, there probably won’t be a “boys” side and a “girls” side, and you might here “Man of Honor” instead of “Maid of Honor,” “Best Woman” instead of “Best Man.” These things really shouldn’t come as a surprise though.
4. Have fun.
So, lets be real – there’s going to be some pretty fantastic food and plenty of adult beverages for you to enjoy at a gay wedding. Unless, of course, the couple decides otherwise, but it’s not common. Eat until your stuffed, drink until you’re merry, but lordt please – don’t throw up that great food because you had too many great cocktails. Don’t be that person.
5. Be supportive.
Regardless of your opinions, or what others might think, letting the happy couple know that you’re happy for them is a gift in itself. It’s a pretty emotional day to begin with (you might not know how their family reacted or treated them upon the initial news of their coming out, etc), so be as happy and as nice as you should be – i mean, they invited you, right?
6. Make sure your date is appropriate.
If you’re bringing a friend to the wedding, it would probably help if they knew the couple. The last thing you need is for your date to a) have any issue about same-sex relationships, b) only agreed to go with you to see two women kiss, or c) isn’t as respectful as you. Gay couples have only been granted the permission to officially get hitched for about 10 months now, so the fewer hiccups or disturbances, the better. Make good choices.
