At the center of Valentine’s Day is the tender idea of celebrating love, and, more so, celebrating the one you love. Here at Equally Wed, we’re sweet on love, visibility and representation of our LGBTQ+ community. In the spirit of celebrating people like us, we’re dedicating our Valentine’s gift guide to products from our own LGBTQ+ community. #forusbyus
We’ve had a mad crush on TomboyX married founders Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez for the longest, and have featured their gender-neutral underwear and attire in years past. TomboyX makes damn good underwear that feels good, is comfortable and holds up year after year. Not only do they make quality products but TomboyX offers their goods in sizes from XS to 4X, encouraging everyone to feel good about their bodies. Check out their sweet and sexy new patterns like SweetHearts and Winged Hearts for Valentine’s Day gifts for your beloved and yourself, and be sure to click around at their everyday undie selection too. Underwear starts at $20 and bras start at $35. tomboyx.com
If you know MOO, you’re already aware of their high-quality paper products. It’s where Equally Wed prints its business cards, and no, they didn’t pay us to say that. We’re just big fans of phenomenal paper and design. So much so that when I found out that MOO collaborated with LGBTQ award-winning graphic designer Kate Moross to launch a limited supply of a trio of brightly colored journals, I got seriously excited. Marie Kondo would probably be frothing at the mouth if she saw my ridiculous collection of notebooks, but I’m a writer, so what can I say? This set of soft covered journals covered with Kate’s trademark illustration (think squiggles, doodles and cursive) neatly nested inside a bubblegum pink slipcase to keep all the journals in one place. These journals are perfect for sketching out all your wedding-planning ideas and goals. One is blank, one is lined for journaling, and one is lined with checkboxes for to-do lists! $24.99, moo.com
If you’re anything like us, you’re tired of seeing sets of Mr. and Mrs. products everywhere you look. That’s why we got excited when we found out about Bold Look Apparel’s adorable Mrs. and Mrs. coffee mugs. The LGBTQ-owned clothing company was founded less than a year ago from the married Instagram-famous couple Christina and Katie, better known as Bailey Baby Mama Drama. On their IG channel, the wives share their IVF journey and so much more from their eight years of marriage and motherhood—they’re moms to two children now.
Editor’s note: We haven’t found an LGBTQ+ owned business that makes Mr. and Mr. mugs. If you know of one, please drop us a note and we’ll check them out! editors@equallywed.com
Not only are their coffee cups a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a recently married LGBTQ+ couple or nearlyweds, but we’re crushing on this baseball-style child’s shirt for kids with two moms, a perfect Valentine’s Day for your own kiddo or LGBTQ+ parents. Inclusivity for the win! Shop for both and support another LGBTQ-owned business at LGBT World.
Turn up the romance with the gift of a gay-made candle. Kansas couple Brian Hight and Ryan McDiarmid make soy candles, handmade bath and body products, teas, herbs, spices and home décor eir company Magnolia Scents by Design. The men, who’ve been together for 16 years, started their company in 2006, and have since grown to two locations, Magnolia Health & Home in downtown Independence, Kansas, and Magnolia Scents by Design in Greenville, S.C., and ship nationwide. Heads up for all you nearlyweds: If you order in advance, Magnolia will even customize the label for your candle(s) with a special message, inspirational quote, photo or anniversary date and they can also customize the color of the candles to match your home decor, your wedding colors, your partner’s favorite color and more. Supporting an LGBTQ-owned company never smelled so good. Pictured: the Casanova candle, $18. magnoliascents.com
Who is the most outrageous: Trixie Mattel or Divine? Who is the funniest: Coco Peru or Lily Savage? Enter the world of huge hair, sparkling make-up, glitter galore, fake eyelashes and the fine art of the tuck and tape with Game of Queens: A Drag Queen Card Race, created by Greg Bailey, editor of Alright Darling, and illustrated by Daniela Henríquez. Pitch queen against queen from across the carnival court of drag from the female impersonators who pioneered drag performance in the 1970s up to the superstars of the scene today. The set, which goes on sale on Feb. 5, features 32 queens—including Ru Paul, Dame Edna Everage, Alaska Thunderfuck and Alyssa Edwards—cards are scored with categories including Performance, Comedy, Look, Outrageousness, Shade and Legend Factor, played in the style of the classic game, War. Game of Queens: A Drag Queen Card Race is sold by Laurence King, $14.99. laurenceking.com
Written by Equally Wed cofounder Kirsten Ott Palladino, Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding, Seal Press, Hachette Book Group, $17.99, is a thorough wedding planning book that takes LGBTQ+ couples from “I will” to “I do” and to the happily ever after with expert advice on everything from dealing with homophobia and transphobia the family and with the wedding industry to deciding who will walk down the aisle (both, just one or neither all work) to choosing the wording on your invitations to finding honeymoon destinations where LGBTQ+ couples will have fun and be safe. Purchase from LGBTQ+ owned bookstore, Charis Books and More, which is also the oldest feminist bookstore in the country, or wherever you buy your books.
Interested in working with LGBTQ+ inclusive and LGBTQ+ owned wedding and event professionals for your wedding or party? Click here to search for vendors and venues in your area.
