Making Memories: An Unforgettable Gay Wedding
Once, twice, three times married! Sockprints friends, Brian and Noni have quite the gay wedding story to tell. It started on December 20, 2013 when the state of Utah legalized gay marriage. Brian was working at a local TV station and was sent to cover a news story about gay people getting married in Salt Lake City. At first Brian didn’t believe the story was real and thought it might be couples performing fake weddings to make a statement about gay rights to marry. When he and the news reporter arrived to cover the story, he saw people lined up to get marriage licenses and asked the County Clerk if it was legit. Brian was told it was real and legal.
Brian knew the window of opportunity to get married in Salt Lake City might close soon because the Utah Governor was trying to reverse the decision. He immediately called his partner, Noni, at work, told him the news and asked if he wanted to get married. Noni wanted to get married, but his boss said they were too busy for him to leave work. He called Brian back and told him the disappointing news and they decided they would try to get married the following week. Just when Brian thought the possibility of getting married that day was over, Noni called him back to tell him that his boss hired a private car to get him to the City and County Building so they could get married.
Brian tells the rest of story best as he shared it in a social media post. “When Noni arrived hundreds of people were in line waiting to get marriage licenses, couples were getting married in the hallways and people were taking wedding photos, it was very exciting! Crowds of people would cheer each time a couple would say "I do". We got our license around 4:50 pm, as we were leaving to find Matt (Brian’s TV station colleague) to marry us, Mayor Ralph Becker asked us if we would like to get married? We said yes! He (the mayor) looked over at a reporter and said, “They'll do it.” Suddenly, cameras were pointed at us with bright lights and we were getting married live on television (not on the network I worked for lol). It was a crazy exciting wonderful day shared with hundreds of beautiful loving couples who waited a lifetime for that moment! I wouldn't change a thing, that day was magical!”
Shortly thereafter the State of Utah appealed the legalization of gay marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court. At that point, they were notified that their marriage was no longer recognized.
Getting married a second time was declared by the couple when the Utah State appeal was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Brian and Noni’s marriage was legal – again!
Aren’t You Two Already Married?
Fast forward 10 years -- While their 2013 wedding was historic and wonderful, it wasn’t the dream wedding celebration they had always wanted. So, in April of 2023 Brian got down on one knee and proposed again paving the way for their dream wedding. The third time's the charm!
A Dream Wedding For You
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and you want it to be perfect in every way possible. Whether you're planning a small, intimate gathering or a large, elaborate affair, there are many ways to make your special day unforgettable. From unique wedding traditions to picking out attire that complements your vibe, take some inspiration from Brian and Noni’s dream wedding.
Creative Gay Wedding Ideas
As the planning for Brian and Noni’s dream wedding was taking shape in the spring of 2023, Sockprints reached out to our friends to see if we could play a role with custom printed socks for the grooms. After learning more about the wedding details we got to work creating some sock design ideas to reflect their relationship and commemorate their special day of celebration. Starting with a blank sock canvas, we added digitized photos of each groom with their names and the wedding date. And just for fun, we included the saying, “Third and final wedding!” The PRIDE flag was also added for a splash of color, and a meaningful element to the couple. The decorative space on a pair of socks is the perfect size to share a snippet of your love story.
Stylish Suits and Attire That Compliment Your Vibe
Selecting wedding outfits is about more than just looking good on the big day. It's about creating a personal touch that reflects the spirit of your wedding. Brian and Noni selected gray short suits and colorful blue and purple shirts, perfect for a hot June summer gay wedding in Salt Lake City. Like this same-sex couple, select wedding attire that reflects you and matches the vibes of your special day.
Create Your Own Unique Wedding Traditions
Make your gay wedding day truly unforgettable with personalized and inclusive traditions. Ask family and friends to participate in the ceremony for an extra-special touch and incorporate cultural traditions too. Our friends asked ballerina flower girls to dance down the aisle while a string quartet accompanied them and Noni’s mother supported their union by escorting him down the aisle. They also included not one, not two, but three traditional Polynesian Money Dances to incorporate Noni’s Tongan heritage.
The fun continued when a friend of the grooms created a custom lego-inspired cake topper to resemble their likeness. And to have some fun with the Bud Light Dylan Mulvaney controversy, they asked friends to be Bud Boys and hand out Bud Light beers to wedding guests.
More Gay Wedding Ideas and Considerations
- Get married during PRIDE month. Incorporate rainbow colors into your wedding decor, attire (we have socks for this), and invitations to show your pride. Use rainbow-colored flowers in your bouquets. You can also create a rainbow-inspired signature cocktail for your guests to enjoy during the reception.Rainbow-colored lighting or uplighting creates a festive atmosphere for your gay wedding celebration.
- Include LGBTQ+ inclusive language in your ceremony to reflect the values of love and equality. Tell your love story.
- Create new traditions that coincide with your interests and hobbies (video games, sci-fi, super heroes.
- Don't be afraid to break away from traditional gender roles and expectations, and instead focus on what feels authentic and meaningful to you as a couple.
- Don't be afraid to mix genders or opt for gender-neutral wedding parties. Consider having a "Best Woman" or "Man of Honor."
- Personalize your wedding party attire to match your wedding theme, color scheme and interests.
- Get creative with your entrance or procession order to make it memorable and meaningful.
- Incorporate DIY Elements like, photo collages, handmade signage, centerpieces and wedding favors. DIY projects are a great way to involve family and friends in the wedding planning process.
- Consider unique venues and vendors that are inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, such as LGBTQ+ owned businesses and businesses with a history of creating same-sex wedding celebrations.
Love Wins!
Every couple should have the freedom to celebrate their love in a way that feels true to them. From unique wedding and family traditions like ballerina flower girls, Polynesian Money Dances, and stylish attire choices like personalized socks, and short suits, there are plenty of ways to make your special day unforgettable. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and incorporate personal touches that truly reflect your personalities and love story.
photography courtesy of Nic Naylor @nicnaylorphotos, Brian Morris and Noni Blake