Crowdsource Your Way to an Inexpensive Wedding
Would it that we could all hire Colin Cowie to design our big day, do it up with Eric Butterbaugh flowers and don an Isaia made-to-measure suit, but not all of us have the disposable income of an oligarch.
Reality is though, one of Men's Vows favorite weddings was one at which the guests were actively involved in putting it together, much the way Todd and Nick did in this month's featured wedding.
At one of our favorite weddings, the groom and bride (we do attend all sorts of weddings!) invited people to their Saturday wedding starting on Wednesday. For those of the crafting persuasion, they were given tasks ranging from writing up place cards to tying bows around the chairs to arranging the flowers. Some, even, were set to the task of making the cake. The less crafty volunteered to put up the tent, lay down the dance floor and set out the tables.
Getting to participate in the wedding planning, made for a meaningful bonding experience among the guests and between them and the couple. That bond was so strongly felt at the reception where everyone involved got to boast of their creativity and brawn! And, the bride and groom got to boast of the village that it took to plan their wedding, and the savings that that village made!
When planning your "crowdsourced wedding" think of what your group of friends can offer you and ask that their contribution be their wedding gift to you. Work with your planner to let him or her know who is involved and how so they can coordinate logistics and planning. And, above all, make sure that you are excited about the unique riches that your friend's creativity and expressiveness will lend your big day!
“Key West is just a beautiful little community that is so accommodating and full of unexpected character. You walk down the street with roosters running alongside, people lounging in a hammock with a Cuban coffee or mojito, making it a really special place in the US.” Read all about why Nick and Andrew chose Key West for their perfect destination gay wedding.
Riley & Grey is a design-minded wedding website service that meets the design and functionality expectations of everyday life. Riley & Grey makes it easy to design a site that is entirely about the aesthetic of the grooms’ using the site. As the company says about itself, they are here to make it easy for you to “do you!”
Ode à la Rose is a French florist/flower delivery company founded in NYC over ten years ago. Bastille Flowers & Events, a boutique floral and event design firm. Their two main offerings: 1. Bastille's fully custom, white-glove floral & event design – the best-in-class choice for upscale weddings; and 2. Ode's online a la carte ordering of centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, and more – the hassle-free option for tighter budgets that doesn't compromise on quality.
Nothing says romance more than a destination wedding that is steeped in history and nature. And for those for whom American history and nature is the clarion call, then Magnolia Plantation & Gardens near Charleston, South Carolina is your only choice for tying the knot.
Gay cruise: check. Ski Week: check. Mykonos: check. Black, White, Winter and Pride Parties: check. Having filled up the calendar with all the hot gay events and descended on the gay hotspots, what is a gay gent to do for something new? The answer is simple: Gay Surf Week: a week of surfing, yoga and wellness, and brand-new friendships hosted by Surf Synergy.
The Family Research Center at the University of Denver is conducting a first-of-its-kind study on married gay couples and is seeking US-based couples who are engaged or in the first year of their marriage to participate in this research. If you’re interested in participating in this paid research, please fill out this interest form.
To say: “I do!” in Key West is to get married in a decidedly casual manner. It is also likely one of the only places where qualifying that one’s planning, floral, catering or photography services are ‘gay wedding friendly,’ is not a requisite. Key West is where weddings are neither hetero nor homo. They are just… weddings! And whether your wedding is in front of hundreds of your nearest and dearest for a long, destination wedding weekend, or a handful of friends and family for a quick day-trip, Key West has it all for the gay wedding of your dreams.
What is it about the country’s most remote corners that attracts the curious, creative, and independent? Key West is the best destination to understand the alchemy of these magical escapes and why they, and especially Key West, have become havens for the gay community when they are looking for where to meet, wed, honeymoon, and vacation.
Rich in history, a wealth of biodiversity and most importantly, a warm, friendly, and hospitable population, Colombia is in many ways the embodiment of everything we hope to find in a gay destination in Latin America. And Out in Colombia is the best partner to help plan a memorable gay vacation or gay honeymoon there.
Read 6 tips for Kumo Productions selecting great photographers and videographers, and some things to consider to make you and your partner feel comfortable with your media team on the big day!