Evergreen Era Film + Photo
There are so many factors to consider around LGBTQ Weddings for creating a safe and celebratory space that feels good to you! As an inclusive photographer and videographer who specializes in outdoor elopements, I’m here to help! In this guide I go over 4 reasons getting married in nature (by yourselves or with a small group of loved ones) is an amazing way to tie the knot. Read on to see if it’s a good fit for your big day…
LGBTQ Weddings That are Wholly Supportive
1. Nature Doesn’t Discriminate
I imagine there are a bit of nerves that come along with the idea of reaching out to wedding venues for your LGBTQ wedding. Unfortunately, there have been vendors in the past (and still are) who are not the most supportive… Therefore, finding a place to get married that feels welcoming can be more difficult. One of the main reasons I love helping my LGBTQ+ couples elope in the outdoors, is because it is an inclusive space. Nature doesn’t discriminate against anyone. All are welcome to celebrate love in the beauty of mother nature’s landscapes! Even if you need a permit from a National Park, every government land municipality follows same sex marriage laws.
2. Surround yourself with people you love
You deserve to be surrounded by the best and most supportive people in your life on such an intimate and special day. Thankfully, there are lots of different ways to include people in your celebration without them actually being present (or maybe only present for certain portions). Check out my blog post on how to elope without offending family for more details and ideas. Hand picking the right people who are going to provide a positive energy on your elopement day is key. Sometimes keeping it small and simple is the best way to do that. If you still want to party it up with a larger group at another time, you can do that too!
LGBTQ Weddings that represent you fully
3. Begin your marriage with an adventure
We all know marriage and long term partnership isn’t going to be an easy ride. And yet, we still choose to step into the experience knowing it’s about the adventure with the person you love most. What better way to celebrate that journey than by having an adventure in nature? If you love being outside, and feel most alive and excited in nature, then you should make that a part of your wedding day. From going on a big hike to simply sitting around a campfire, you can include adventurous activities in whatever range feels most comfortable to you.
4. Focus on what matters most
You get to choose the important parts of a wedding this small. Weed out all the things that doesn’t matter to you, and include all the things that do. When you keep it simple, you’re able to spend more time enjoying the journey rather than stress about the final product. There are so many decisions that have to be made when having a big wedding, in a big venue, with tons of people. Not to mention all the expectations and stressors! When you choose nature as your venue, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the beauty of what is already there. You get to enjoy your engagement period and your actual wedding day focused on what matters most to you.
LGBTQ Wedding & Elopement Inspiration
To watch some of my past couples LGBTQ weddings and elopement films,
check out the gallery on my Vimeo page.
A Wedding Photographer & Videographer you can trust
My advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community is born from my love for my sister. Since she came out to me in high school, I’ve witnessed her bravery in the face of adversity. It’s her experience that inspires me to passionately serve those in the LGBTQ+ community on their wedding days. Since same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015, I’ve intentionally created a space where couples can feel seen, supported, & entirely comfortable on the day wed.
In early 2019, my friend Alex Fisher (previous owner and wedding planner at Lucky Penny Creative) and I planned and implemented the very first LGBTQ+ weddings workshop in the Asheville, NC area. The workshop taught wedding vendors how to be LGBTQ+ friendly in all aspects of their business. We raised over $1,000 for The Campaign for Southern Equality, and our hope is to continue to educate vendors in order to cultivate safe spaces for all LGBTQ+ couples to be married.
