Pridebook 2023: Inspiring LGBTQ+ Couple Stories

Here at Bridebook, we’re on a mission to help make the wedding planning journey as joyful as possible for all engaged couples. That means supporting every couple, everywhere. And so, to commemorate Pride Month, we’re celebrating LGBTQ+ couples and suppliers and championing inclusivity at Bridebook and throughout the wedding industry. In this feature, check out the inspiring stories and gorgeous wedding photos of some of our fabulous LGBTQ+ couples. And if you and your partner are looking for an inclusive venue, be sure to check our top LGBTQ wedding venues. They’re going the extra mile to make sure all couples feel supported on their special day. 

Kimberley & Daniella

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met through mutual friends when we were 17. I was mesmerised by her and thought she was way out of my league. We met face to face in person at a birthday party of our mutual friends.

What is your favourite shared memory?

Our wedding day has to be the most amazing day and memory we share.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

We lived 160 miles apart and we overcome that with Kimberley moving away from family. But other than that, we have overcome everything life has thrown at us – health problems, financial uncertainty, getting married in a pandemic to name a few!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had rainbow pin badges for wedding favours that were sent by Cancer Research, we had a steel pan artist play our wedding song for Daniella to walk down the aisle to keep her Jamaican roots, we had bowling at the venue. We had all family and friends that meant so much to us.

Chris & Stephen

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met through a mutual friend over drinks during a night out in Glasgow. We just became friends in the same social group over many months, so we never had that awkward first date moment!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Without a doubt our wedding day in 2022. After getting engaged in Toronto in 2018 and having set a date to get married May 2020, we were putting the finishing touches on our wedding and honeymoon plans, however, the covid pandemic struck and cancelled all our plans. We re-scheduled to 2021, that got cancelled again and the we re-scheduled to September 2022. So after all that hassle, stress and uncertainty, it was awesome to finally celebrate our Big Day together with our closest family and friends – a celebration of freedom and fun for us all.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Buying our first home together in the area we wanted. It took endless viewings, many offers and lots of last minute closing dates where we lost out by only small amounts to finally get the flat of our dreams by chance. We were about to give up and look at different areas but then we managed to cut a quick deal with sellers that avoided closing dates and the rest is history. We’re in the process of doing our flat up and truly love where we stay, so it was worth it in the end.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We wanted our day to be a fun relaxed day of celebration for ourselves and our family and friends. We kept our ceremony light-hearted and chose to do a Rock Paper Scissors contest in front of our guests to decide which of us would walk down the aisle first. I, Chris, lost, and Stephen, my fairer half, won and walked down first. Our celebrant was fun and got everyone involved in the ceremony including a big group selfie after we got married. We had an acoustic guitarist playing during our ceremony, followed by a cocktail reception afterwards with gin 75 cocktails and nibbles. Dinner and speeches followed . After that, we cut our cake together and a modern vintage swing jazz band entertained our guests for the rest of the evening with fun upbeat covers of classic and pop songs.

Sam & Meg

How did you and your partner first meet?

We were in the same year at school! Had our first romance at the age of 13, found each again at the ages of 19 then went our separate ways and Meg had a little girl in 2011. We lived separate lives until fate brought us back together again for the final time at the age of 31!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Our wedding day felt like our life had come full circle and it the day we had been waiting for.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

COVID! In 2020 we hadn’t lived together long then all of a sudden we were together with our daughter 24/7. We both caught COVID at the start when it was still quite frightening, but we made it through and got engaged that summer.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had an intimate day with no more than 30 of us then we hired a DJ and had a party in the evening with around 100 people.

Beth & Gemma

How did you and your partner first meet?

Instagram – Gem liked one of my photos so I messaged her we got to know each other virtually for a while. After a month of talking we finally went on a date at Dinton Pastures. After two years of living together we got engaged there too – Gem had absolutely no idea that I was going to propose.

What is your favourite shared memory?

Apart from our actual wedding day (which was absolutely beautiful), and getting engaged, we loved our trip to Mexico!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

We have overcome a lot of challenges, but the greatest would be how we together challenge people’s perceptions of lesbian couples. There seem to be so many misconceptions out there and we do our best to show that we are just the same as everyone else!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had an under the night sky theme that ended with fireworks! We kept everything as “traditional” as we could. We were surrounded by our wonderful friends and family at Warbrook House and had the best day. We were even married by a married couple! We were so worried it wouldn’t happen due to COVID but were so lucky that we could have everyone there to celebrate with us.

Stephen & David

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met on a dating app while at Cardiff University back in 2013 while I was doing my postgrad and he was in his first year. It turned out his friend lived a few doors down from me so he came over for coffee and the rest is history.

What is your favourite shared memory?

Probably our first holiday to Disney World together with my family. One day we got caught in a massive rainstorm and ended up in a pub just chatting away in the middle of Epcot. It was magical!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Probably surviving long distance for 4 years while he finished his studies in Wales and I worked in England – driving 4 hours each way every weekend to see each other.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We went for a simple day with lots of family and friends. It was at a lovely hotel in Milton Keynes with about 60 day guests. We walked down the aisle with our mothers, and embarrassingly both cried (tears of joy haha) as we did so. Then my dad gave a wonderful speech that was so accepting and charming that it just made the day.

Megan & Felicity

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met in an LGBTQ+ choir! My wife was already a member and I joined and we hit it off!

What is your favourite shared memory?

I think our honeymoon is up there. We had a few nights in Brighton in August and it was so nice. One evening we went down to the hotel bar for cocktails and spotted a mini golf course on the beach so we spontaneously decided to play tipsy mini golf and it was silly and fun.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

We now have a child together! They were 6 years’ old when I met Megan, and we have co-parented together ever since – which is always challenging!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had a subtly space themed wedding, with a galactic buttercream cake and little moons on all the tables and things. My makeup had star freckles dotted on and my wife had cosmic blue hair!

Katie & Kaz

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met at work – the office I was working at closed down and we were relocated to the office where Kaz worked!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Besides our wedding day, it would have to be our lockdown holiday to Devon.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Kaz was rushed in for a major back operation 4 weeks before the date of our wedding. We wanted a low-key wedding that was personal and all done by us. I suggested postponing but Kaz was adamant she would be walking down that aisle, so I was adamant I would pull every string out of my bag of tricks to make sure it was perfect for her. The recovery is still ongoing so we have daily struggles, but we do it all together. And it just works!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

A small ceremony with our closest family and friends. Owls flew the rings down the aisle and we had photos with them and for our guests as owls are my favourite! I planned an ice cream van to show up for Kaz as an absolute surprise! So I was able to pull her first ice cream as my wife!

Edward & Gary

How did you and your partner first meet?

Through a dating app. We went for a date to a lovely hotel bar and the rest is history!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Getting our dog Freddie!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Looking after our dog after a major surgery on his back – months of rehab!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had quite a small wedding. To start we bucked trends and got ready together. Drove ourselves and best friend down to the venue, had a small ceremony, 20 of us in total. We then had a Christmas feast, made everyone change into black tie, and welcomed another 30 guests for a champagne drinks party. We sang carols around a grand piano and danced the night away!

Samantha & Holly

How did you and your partner first meet?

Samantha’s sister was playing on a football team at university with Holly and introduced us!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Renovating our 1960s house – many tears but so much fun!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Living three hours apart for two years! Lots of late night train rides on a Friday night after work.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

Ice cream canapes, fish and chips main course and a whole load of fun. I spent 18 months learning calligraphy so I could make all the wedding signs and stationery.

Alice & Dawn

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby club! We played rugby together on the same team. I pursued Dawn and had to convince her to go out with me!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Watching the dancing panda in Prague.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

Probably Al’s endometriosis diagnosis and health issues after that.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

We had it at Spring Cottage, Rivington, which is such a beautiful venue. It was a day event only and we had 40 guests. It was just so simple and perfect and really relaxed.

Gian & Marco

How did you and your partner first meet?

We met via an online dating site.

What is your favourite shared memory?

We love to travel, and do a lot of activities together, from hiking to jumping off paragliding and to simple things like cooking dinner and watching our favorite TV shows in Netflix.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

So many different things – the pandemic really hit us hard as it imposed a huge threat to our health. We were basically living and breathing the till death do us part!

What did you plan for your wedding day?

Our wedding was an amazing garden wedding. We had an intimate audience of family and friends from around the globe to celebrate the day with us in the UK.

Emma & Em

How did you and your partner first meet?

Became friends at work and you know the saying…fell in love with my best friend!

What is your favourite shared memory?

Apart from our wedding day a gorgeous trip to Venice!

What is the greatest challenge you’ve overcome together?

I (Em) went through life changing surgery. The build-up and recovery were long and hard, with some dark days where Emma became my strength.

What did you plan for your wedding day?

Ours was an Easter wedding. It was a gorgeous sunny day with our guests and ourselves staying at the venue’s glamp site. We had an Easter egg hunt in the forest outside the cottage we got married in, and a live band in the evening. Plus our dog was with us all day at the wedding!

Pride goes beyond June. We’re here to support, to inspire, to educate – and above all to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community – not just for one month, but for all time always.

You Might Also Like…

• Supplier Showcase: Top LGBTQ+ Wedding Venues
• Gender Neutral and Inclusive Wedding Terms
• Best LGBTQ+ Photos of 2022
• Top Tips for LGBTQ+ Weddings

Happy Planning!