Updated July 4, 2023
Historically, people who are getting married have had to choose between two wedding titles: bride or groom. However, not everyone feels comfortable with those options. Well, guess what? You don’t have to call yourself a bride or a groom if neither feels authentic to you.
Below is a nonexhaustive list of wedding title choices for anyone getting married, whether you’re queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, heterosexual, asexual, intersex, agender, male, female, nonbinary, straight or any other identity.
All gender identities, all sexual orientations and all wedding titles are valid. You are valid.
Bride
a person getting married, tends to be used more by feminine-leaning people
Broom
a combination of bride and groom or a shortened version of bridegroom
Bridegroom
defined as a man to be married, but can be redefined for masculine-leaning women, genderqueer and nonbinary individuals
Gride
a combination of groom and bride
Groom
a person getting married, tends to be used more by masculine-leaning people
Marrier
a gender-neutral term for a person getting married (*this isn’t the original meaning of the word but I’ve been using it this way since starting Equally Wed in 2010, and it’s really caught on!)
Partner
This title demonstrates equality in every way.
Your name
Simple, right? No one belongs in a box.
Photographer: Peterson Design & Photography (selected from our feature Black and gold Hollywood wedding at The Ebell of Los Angeles)