Planning Your Gay Wedding from Across the Country

Gay weddings are a destination business. Many couples plan their wedding in a place where it's legal from clear across the country. We've had clients from about 30 U.S. states. It's definitely a challenge finding the right team of people to work with when you live somewhere else, especially if you are concerned about minimizing the number of planning trips you have to take to your wedding destination.

So, whether you are planning a New York gay wedding, a Boston or Provincetown gay wedding, or going to Vermont or somewhere else, there are a few tips that are notable:

1. Make those trips count. You should be exhausted by the end! You should book yourselves solid during those few days you are planning. Maybe you've scheduled 10 venue site visits. If you haven't, then you should on your first trip And don't stop there. Meet as many photographers, bakers, etc during each visit as you can. You should return home with a bunch of things crossed off your list of things to do.

2. Prioritize. What types of vendors are you most comfortable hiring over the phone or by email? Some of my clients are cool dealing with floral and music by phone and email. Some need to meet every single person they hire. For example, of course you're going to want to taste cake and have a catering tasting during your visit. Make your appointments wisely.

3. Skype! Skype is your friend. Most of us in the wedding industry are used to Skyping with our clients, so if you can't meet personally with every vendor, then Skype is the next best thing so you can get some face time.

4. Hire a wedding planner (preferably one experienced with gay weddings)! Of course, this makes everything easier so that your trips are well organized and your time is well spent.

5. Consolidate your appointments. During your last trip before the wedding, get everybody in the same room at the same time so that you can all be on the same page and talk through the wedding schedule, flow and design together. Some vendors (like the photographer and baker) don't need to be there, but if you can get the caterer, florist, wedding planner and venue manager there, that's an excellent use of your time.

Are you planing a long distance destination wedding?

(photo of one of our weddings planned long distance, by Kat Hempel)