Unique (and Delightfully Non‑Traditional) Ideas for Your Lesbian Wedding or LGBTQ Elopement


If the words “traditional wedding” make you feel a little itchy, you’re in the right place. One of the best parts of planning a lesbian wedding or LGBTQ wedding is realizing you don’t actually have to do any of the things you’ve been told weddings are “supposed” to include. No rules. No scripts. No bouquet toss trauma. Whether you’re eloping on a mountaintop, saying your vows barefoot in the forest, or throwing a dinner party that just happens to include marriage, this is your permission slip to make your wedding wildly, unapologetically you. Below are some unique, non‑traditional ideas to help you design an LGBTQ wedding that feels intentional, inclusive, and maybe a little bit feral (in the best way).

Rewrite the Ceremony Script

A lot of traditional ceremony language wasn’t written with queer love in mind — and you can feel it. For a lesbian wedding, consider rewriting the entire ceremony from the ground up.


Ideas to make it your own: 

  • Skip “giving away” entirely (because… no).
  • Replace “husband and wife” with language that actually fits your identities.
  • Invite a friend or chosen family member to read something meaningful instead of a religious passage.


Shameless plug: As a queer officiant, I specialize in crafting ceremony scripts that feel affirming, personal, and never cringe‑y. You deserve words that honor your love story — not a copy‑paste from a hetero handbook.



Choose a Location That Feels Like Freedom

Ballrooms are okay. Courthouses are fine. But if you want something more intentional, consider places that feel grounding, expansive, or symbolic for your LGBTQ wedding. 


Non‑traditional location ideas:

  • A misty Blue Ridge Parkway overlook
  • A remote cabin in the woods
  • Your favorite hiking trail
  • A quiet Airbnb where you can cook dinner together afterward

*I offer free consults for elopements including location planning!


For many couples planning a lesbian wedding, privacy and safety matter just as much as aesthetics — and elopements offer space to breathe, exist, and love loudly without an audience that doesn’t get it.



Wear Whatever the Hell You Want

Wedding fashion rules are fake. Especially for lesbian and LGBTQ weddings.


Some non‑traditional outfit ideas:

  • Matching suits with wildly different accessories
  • A dress + suit combo that swaps halfway through the day
  • Black, rust, emerald, or patterned outfits
  • Doc Martens, cowboy boots, or barefoot vibes only


The best rule? Wear something that feels like you on your best day, not you pretending to be someone else for photos.

Build a Ritual That Reflects Your Queer Story

Rituals don’t have to be ancient to be meaningful. For an LGBTQ wedding, creating a custom ritual can be incredibly grounding.


Ideas to consider:

  • Writing vows privately and reading letters to each other instead (bonus points if you do it in nature!)
  • Lighting candles for chosen family or queer elders who paved the way
  • Sharing a favorite drink, joint, or dessert during the ceremony
  • Handfasting with fabric that represents your identities or journey


Your lesbian wedding can honor where you’ve been and where you’re going — without borrowing symbolism that never fit in the first place. Contact me & I am happy to share ideas of what other lgbtq couples have done during their intimate ceremonies!


Make It an Experience, Not a Timeline

One of the biggest perks of elopements and micro‑weddings? No rigid schedule. 


Instead of rushing from moment to moment, consider:

  • Watching the sunrise together while you write vows or love letters
  • Taking a mid‑day nap (my personal favorite)
  • Exploring a new town in your wedding clothes
  • Ending the night with pizza, takeout, or a private chef


An LGBTQ wedding doesn’t need to perform for anyone. It just needs to feel good.

Looking for more of an adventure: check out these adventure elopement activity ideas

Work With Queer‑Affirming Vendors (This One Matters)


Your wedding day should feel safe, affirming, and celebrated — not tolerated. As a queer elopement photographer and officiant, I know firsthand how much it matters to work with someone who gets it. Someone who won’t misgender you, assume roles, or ask which one of you is “the bride.” You deserve a vendor team that honors your identities, your boundaries, and your love — without explanation.

Your Lesbian Wedding, Your Rules


At the end of the day, the most non‑traditional thing you can do for your LGBTQ wedding is this: choose yourselves. Choose intention over expectation. Choose meaning over performance. If you’re dreaming of an intimate, affirming, wildly personal elopement, I offer all‑inclusive LGBTQ elopement packages near Asheville, NC — including photography, officiating, planning support, and zero awkward heteronormativity.


Ready to start planning a wedding that actually feels like you?


Let’s make some magic in the mountains. (And yes — I promise to bring all the good vibes, my expensive camera, and the best sharable snacks.)


Explore all-inclusive elopement packages in the blue ridge mountains