14 Stories

I love this wedding of Jess and Erika, a Brooklyn couple who married with us in Vermont last fall. Check out the beautiful photos by Carlos Castillo and the feature story in Vermont Vows magazine.

Jen and I returned today from two days in Vermont, hosted graciously by the Stowe Mountain Lodge.  What a place!  From the moment we arrived, I told them that this is an easy referral to clients.  They completely spoiled us and the service is extraordinary. 

We met other fantastic wedding industry vendors including our new go-to for Vermont floral design, Alan and Wayne from Wildflower Designs and a new planning partner, Amy and Eric from Storied Events.  Great people.


Picture courtesy Closed Circle Photo

Of course, we toured the property's fantastic venues for weddings and are very comfortable putting our trust in them with our clients.  They even have a venue built into a cliff, the Cliff House, which requires that guests approach via gondola - no cars!  Amazing!

Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2009 but Vermont’s history of LGBT rights goes back to 1993 when it became the first state to create civil unions.   Vermont is one of the least populous states in the country, meaning there are loads of wide open spaces for your country wedding.  

Where to Stay:  Stowe, Vermont is a great choice as a home-base for gay wedding planning in Vermont and you simply cannot beat the luxury of the Stowe Mountain Lodge which not only has stunning accommodations but beautiful wedding backdrops as well.  If you are looking for an even more rural experience, check out the Moose Meadow Lodge, a gay-owned inn and wedding venue.

What to Do:  Vermont is all about the outdoors!  Hiking, canoeing and kayaking, skiing and snowshoeing are just some of the possibilities.  Great farm-to-table dining can be found in restaurants throughout the state.  And don’t forget to check out the tastings at Cabot Cheese and Ben and Jerry’s!

How to Get Married:  Simply apply for a marriage license in a town in the county in which you’ll plan to marry in Vermont.  There is no waiting period, no blood tests and there are no witnesses required.  The fee is $20.

Our Picks for LGBT Photographers:  Kelly from Closed Circle Photo knows everything about Vermont and takes beautiful shots.  We also love the other Kelly, from Kelly Prizel Photography who shoots throughout New England.

Our Picks for an LGBT Florist:  Wildflower Designs in Stowe  does lovely work!

Our Picks for LGBT Officiants:  Greg Trulson (also owner of Moose Meadow Lodge) is openly LGBT.

With some major exceptions, Vermont wedding vendors are very welcoming of same-sex couples so you should have a great experience no matter who you choose. Don't forget about us at 14 Stories if you get stuck and are looking for a hand with all of your gay wedding plans in Vermont!

(photo by Jeanette LeBlanc)

The couple just sued the inn, because they learned that Vermont has an anti-discrimination law making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. 21 U.S. states have such a law and 29 do not.  That means that in states such as Georgia, Florida and Texas, it's perfectly legal for a business to discriminate against you of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  To find out the deal in your state, click here or call the Lambda Legal help desk.

Why should you care? Well, you may be gay wedding planning in New York or elsewhere and it's important to know your rights.  A New York town clerk already resigned rather than issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  The law in New York barely passed.  And while New York City is very progressive and great for gay wedding planning, it's a BIG state and you should be careful when you're planning your gay wedding. 

Come out of the closet right away when calling vendors - even the ones you find through an online gay wedding directory or through google ads. You never know who will answer the phone.  Only hire people who give you a good vibe, who you feel like will have your back.  There's no reason that you should be treated any differently than straight couples.  

Have you encountered any issues when calling vendors during your wedding planning?

Jen and I just returned from a beautiful wintery weekend in Vermont.  I led a workshop for wedding vendors on the nuances of working with same-sex couples and on gay wedding traditions.  We stayed at the adorable Green Mountain Inn in Stowe which, by the way, is a great place for small weddings.

Back in 1999, Vermont was the first state in the U.S. to have some form of statewide domestic partnership protection, when they enacted civil unions - so Vermont is very much a pioneering state in the marriage equality movement.  In 2009, they legalized same-sex marriage.  Vermont vendors are, by and large, experienced with gay weddings and I'm sure you'll have a great experience with most people that you call there.  We love to work in Vermont!

There are some amazing wedding venues in Vermont, if mountains, barns and beautiful rolling hills are your thing.  What's not to love?  If Vermont is your gay wedding destination, it's the perfect place for a leisurely weekend with all of your closest loved ones. We can create a whole weekend celebration designed around your same-sex wedding in Vermont.  Check out some of these beautiful images from Vermont.



Images 3 and 4 courtesy of Closed Circle Photo - the others are unknown.

Congratulations to all the engaged same-sex couples in Vermont who can now get married.  It's September 1 and it's now legal for you.  Here's a Boston Globe article on the subject.

Vermont was the first state in the United States to have civil unions, and this was back in 2000.  That "separate but unequal" invention was good for awhile but there's nothing like a real marriage to validate a relationship. 

Vermont is a gorgeous place and my favorite venue is the Stowe Mountain Lodge.  The scenery is spectacular and the chef is top-notch.  I highly recommend it.

Just a few FAQ about getting married in Vermont:

• Do you have to be a resident of Vermont to get married in Vermont?  No.
• Is there a waiting period to obtain a marriage license?  No.
• Is there a blood test required to obtain a marriage license?  No.
• What is the fee to apply for a marriage license?  $45
• Where should I apply for a marriage license?  If you are a Vermont resident, apply in the town in which you live.  If you are not, you should apply at a town clerk's office in the county in which you will marry.
• What if I have a civil union in Vermont?  Will it transfer over? It will not.  The civil union stands unless it is legally dissolved, however after today no more civil unions will be issued.
• What paperwork do I need to apply for a license?  You should bring any divorce decrees, a birth certificate and be prepared to answer questions about place of birth, mother's maiden name and previous marriages.
• Will you plan my Vermont gay wedding?  Of course.

Gotta love the support!

So without further ado, 14 Stories will be planning gay weddings in Vermont - for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.  This is very cool because Vermont has some interesting venues - lots of barns, for example.  And little white chapels.  And gorgeous inns set amidst rolling hills. 

    

We have great venues in Massachusetts and Connecticut, too - but it's going to be fun having one more place to play.  Plus, think about all the rustic goodness you can have with Vermont wedding design! 

PS - props to Kelly for some photos.  She knows her way around Vermont weddings.