Claire + Amelia

Wedding Colors: pink, yellow, copper

Wedding Location: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

Wedding Season: summer

pink hat that reads "The Party" and white hat that reads "Wife of the party"

Marriers Claire and Amelia traveled to Bar Harbor, Maine, for their destination wedding in Acadia National Park. Surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends, the couple enjoyed an outdoor summer wedding. Amelia, who identifies as genderfluid and uses she/they pronouns, and Claire, who identifies as bi and uses she/her pronouns, say their wedding was magical. Amelia wore an Alain Dupetit copper suit with a short-sleeve white button up shirt and brown shoes, while Claire wore an open-back ivory, lace wedding dress from BHLDN, and carried a bouquet of pink and white flowers.

LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is looking down at a notepad. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean. LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows in an outdoor summer wedding on a sunny day. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is clasping her hands. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean. Surrounding them are family and friends.

LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is looking down at a notepad. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean. LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is looking down at a notepad. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean.

OUR WEDDING VIBE

It was both poignant and silly, as well as casual while still feeling like the most special day. Getting married under that gorgeous apple tree by the ocean with our favorite people gathered around was everything we could have asked for and more.

LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is looking down at a notepad. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean. LGBTQ+ couple, one in a copper suit, one in an open-back lace wedding dress, say their vows. Brunette officiant in blue dress stands in the middle of them and is looking down at a notepad. Behind them is an apple tree and the ocean.

LGBTQ+ couple standing on a square rug at their wedding ceremony. Marrier with short curly brown hair and wearing a copper suit wipes their eyes. Brunette officiant in a blue dress and sandals dabs her eyes with a handkerchief. Blonde marrier in open-back ivory lace wedding dress adjusts her flower crown. Behind them is an apple tree and an ocean.OUR FLOWERS

Our flowers for the ceremony were very minimal (mostly just a bridal bouquet and an arrangement at the altar). They were provided by a local farm called Seal Point Farm. The bouquets and arrangements were assembled by Claire’s aunt.

brunette genderfluid marrier wipes their eyes during their wedding ceremony

blonde marrier wearing a white flower crown smiles during wedding ceremony

OUR CEREMONY

Our ceremony took place in the yard of the house we were staying at, right on the public beach Claire has visited with family all her life. Our family and friends gathered under an apple tree at the edge of the beach. Amelia’s Aunt Kara officiated and incorporated so many memories and ruminations on our relationship. We wrote our own vows as we wanted the ceremony to feel like it really came from and was tailored to us.

smiling genderfluid white person in copper suit with clasped hands listens as their fiancee says her vows at their outdoor summer wedding in Maine

Summer wedding bouquet with pink flowers and green leaves

HOW WE PERSONALIZED OUR WEDDING

Every choice we made (from the very first choice to elope) was to make sure our wedding felt like us. While we didn’t have a wedding party, each of our friends who traveled with us for the ceremony played a role in it. Claire’s sister recorded a song for us to walk down the “aisle” to. Our friend Sierra Carter who is a poet and storyteller even wrote and read a poem for us! The location of our ceremony was also personal to us. We both love Acadia National Park and since Claire’s grandparents live in the area, it was a no-brainer to get married there so they could attend.

LGBTQ+ couple kisses after getting married under an apple tree at their outdoor summer wedding

smiling white LGBTQ+ couple throw their hands in air after getting married under an apple tree at their outdoor summer wedding

OUR ADVICE FOR ENGAGED LGBTQ+ COUPLES

Don’t be afraid to have exactly the event you want and only invite the people that nurture and support your relationship! And take advantage of the fact that some people don’t know what to expect from your wedding. You are unburdened by traditional expectations and therefore you can choose to do only the things that feel meaningful to the two of you. For instance, Claire had both of her parents walk her down the aisle while Amelia preferred to walk in with her aunt who officiated the wedding.

LGBTQ+ couple recessional at their outdoor summer wedding in Maine. Behind them is an apple tree and an ocean.

Happy just married LGBTQ+ couple celebrates at their outdoor summer wedding in Maine.

OUR ADVICE FOR VENDORS + VENUES WORKING WITH LGBTQ+ COUPLES

In addition to always asking pronouns, ask clients how they would prefer to be referred to as a couple. And be open to feedback! Everyone’s gender journey is different, so their answers may change even from the first time you met them. In general, non-gendered language like “the happy couple” is always better!

Smiling LGBTQ+ couple stands in middle of road holding hands. The brunette is wearing a white shirt and copper pants and the blonde is wearing a v-neck lace wedding dress with a slit and white sandals.

CHALLENGES WE FACED WHILE PLANNING OUR LGBTQ+ WEDDING

Mostly, we’ve faced the same challenges every couple does (stress, budgeting, etc.). But since getting engaged in fall of 2020, there have been so many truly scary and disheartening political happenings that have invalidated or threatened our civil rights, including our right to be married. Processing that together while planning two wedding events has been very challenging.

LGBTQ+ newlyweds kiss at the ocean

SURPRISES WE ENCOUNTERED PLANNING OUR LGBTQ+ WEDDING

We have been so overwhelmed with love and support by our family and friends! We never expected people to be as willing and excited to help us pull this wedding weekend off as they were. And we didn’t expect the level of emotion felt by our guests throughout the ceremony… not a dry eye under the tree! It was so special to be married by someone who knows us so well and was really able to make every aspect of the ceremony so personal.

Happy smiling couple - one genderfluid with short brown hair wearing copper brown pants and white shirt, the other a blonde cisgender bisexual woman, holding hands while walking through sparklers held by wedding guests

Search our directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive vendors.

FEATURED VENDORS
Equally Wed preferred photographer: Madi Ellis Photography (View their listing on our directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding vendors.)
Ceremony and reception venue: Private property
Wedding site: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
Florist: Seal Point Farm
Wedding dress: BHLDN
Suit: Alain Dupetit