Gay Wedding Tips, Advice & News

Continuing on from our previous post regarding the importance of including same-sex couples in your marketing offers... 

Following the UK Wedding Conference, hosted by Guides For Brides, in November of last year, Guides For Brides approached us and asked if we could write a guide, for businesses, in how to market to LGBTQ couples and be inclusive of same-sex couples. We were delighted to have been asked and have our feature published by them. For your interest (and hopefully helpful for you) we have duplicated the original post.

The Importance of Including Same-Sex Couples in Your Marketing

We have been speaking with the owner of one of our beautiful venues in North Devon - Kathy Murdoch from Ocean Kave regarding their approach and attitude towards serving same-sex couples on their wedding day.

Following our work with Guides for Brides we, at Pink Wedding Venues, are really trying to encourage not just venues but all suppliers who serve the wedding industry to show their consideration and inclusion in their marketing to LGBTQ couples. So often we see Brides and Grooms looking longingly in to each others eyes on imagery, we read Bride and Groom terminology in write up's - but to some, this can be a turn off. We wonder if we need to explain we're a same-sex couple? Is this business Gay-Friendly? Do they support same-sex marriage? 

Reasons to Have an Autumn Wedding

Summer is over, and with that marks the end of traditional wedding season. The majority of couples choose to tie the knot in summer, romanticising the idea of a beautiful sunny day in the countryside, with a bright orange sunset to end the day. As we know, the great British weather often disappoints on this front, meaning there are plenty of July wedding guests who end up looking a bit soggy in the photos! However, the end of summer means the start of Autumn – our favourite season here at Pink Wedding Venues. Here’s why to have an Autumn wedding…

5 Most Romantic Literary Quotes to Use in Speeches/Vows

A key part of the wedding day in the speeches and vows – but for different reasons. The vows, while watched by everyone, are a personal promise between Husband and Husband, or Wife and Wife. On the other hand, the speeches are often a time for light-heartedness, comedy – and sometimes embarrassment! If you or your partner are bookworms, or just want to avoid the cliché of quoting song lyrics in your vows and speeches, why not consider a literary quote?

We’ve complied our favourite romantic quotes that can be used in speeches and vows. Here we go…

Best and Worst Days to Get Married On

Even in ancient cultures, there have always been days which are considered ‘good’ or ‘bad’ days to get married on. While Roman Catholic history teaches that the month of May is good luck due to its association with the Virgin Mary, in Pagan times the month of May was firmly regarded as a bad time to tie the knot – due to May being the time the Beltane Festival was celebrated with outdoor orgies, deemed a bad omen for weddings. In Chinese culture, a wedding date may be deemed suitable or unsuitable based on the Chinese calendar, or factors such as the couple’s zodiac sign. In modern day Britain, there are several factors that make a wedding date ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

Many people dream of a summer wedding, outdoors, in a beautiful countryside setting. It’s the kind of wedding we see in films, read about in books, and many people become obsessed with the notion that a sunny day is the key to a happy day. 

But that doesn’t have to be the way. 

Tying the knot in the winter can be incredibly romantic. To start with, you can choose lots of fun ways to keep your guests warmed up, such as mulled wine or cider. You can have fire pits for the outside part of your wedding – and there are some gorgeous heated marquees that you could place outside.  

Same-sex marriage was legalised in the UK (with the exception of Northern Ireland) in March, 2014. However, should we now just assume that a wedding venue is "Gay-Friendly" just because the law says it should be?

Legally, any business can't discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation however, sadly, we are still hearing stories from couples who have been made to feel more than uncomfortable when enquiring to a wedding venue in the hope to book their big day. Thankfully, these stories are few and far between but...they are still happening.

We would love to read about your experiences...

Getting married is such an incredibly positive time for every couple. And it’s important for your wedding day to reflect your values and spread the love. Planning an environmentally friendly wedding can help you to share the positivity and create a truly feel-good, happy event. You’ll be surprised at how easy it can be to organise a green wedding with just a few simple steps and substitutions; check out our hints and tips to help you plan an eco-friendly wedding day.

Clare and Amy Jackson-Little have kindly shared their story about their Wedding Day and how they were just "meant to be together". Now running their own business; Olive Events - an Event, Wedding and Party Hire business they are looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.

James and Sam Hayden-Harler - Husband and Husband wedding planners from Ever Ever After have, very kindly, taken the worry out of planning your wedding day! Below is a 12 month countdown which will help everything run as smoothly as it can...