How to sell gay destination weddings

Image credit: Beachcomber Mauritius

Ashley Phillips, co-owner, Travel Chaps

"We travel as a same-sex couple. Our clients tend to be 35 and up, and LGBTQ+ clients want to be treated the same as everyone else, but it’s about providing reassurance about what is safe. Where am I going to have issues? Where am I not going to feel like a marginalised, second-class citizen? Where am I going to be treated with respect?

Look at where it’s legal for gay couples to get married, because it reassures the customer that you know what you’re talking about. Italy, Greece and Mexico are our go-tos.

Once you have a shortlist, pick three or four favourite places you’ve sent clients to before, and speak to suppliers and business development managers about whether they’ve arranged same-sex weddings previously.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If I have a supplier that’s tried and trusted – for example, I know Victoria Beachcomber Resort in Mauritius does a great job and pulls out all the stops – then the pressure’s off a little bit.

They are a couple in love and want to get married abroad, so don’t forget to ask clients the usual questions: Where do you want to go? What do you picture? What kind of weather do you want? How many people do you want there, and do you want us to book that?"

Image credit: Peerapong Thinhanwong

Sandra Doyle, travel consultant, Destination Rainbow

"Most of our couples who have gay weddings are in their mid-20s to mid-30s. The biggest reason they come to Destination Rainbow is because we are an LGBTQ-owned company; I had an LGBTQ+ destination wedding myself.

You must consider all key items such as finding a venue, booking caterers, florists, photographers, musicians etc. Each has to be an LGBTQ+ friendly provider who will respect people’s genders and identities. Even small things matter, such as how the client’s room is set up – for example, if it’s two women, not to have a female and male dressing gown and slippers.

Our most popular destination for same-sex weddings is Greece, especially since they legalised same-sex marriage in 2024, and we are now seeing enquiries for Thailand since they did the same last year.

For a marriage to be legal in the UK, it must be legal in the destination, so there may be places where the ceremony can only be symbolic. We also inform clients of the laws around public displays of affection in destinations where same-sex marriage is illegal.

Ask a client their pronouns at the start, and look at the imagery and advertising your company is using – is it inclusive? If you make a mistake with somebody’s identity or pronouns, apologise and move on. And, above all, don’t sell something as LGBTQ+ safe if you don’t know it is."

Lead image credit: Perfect Weddings Abroad

Fast fact 

Pride Month runs from June 1-30. WorldPride takes place July 25-August 8 in Amsterdam, where the first same sex weddings were held in 2001.