It’s Pride Month, and what better time to celebrate a couple we had the pleasure of getting to know when we put together their wedding for LIVE TV! We have already told you about their Real Wedding (for the whole story with all the wedding details, click here), but we thought it would be great to follow up with Liz & Ang, and find out just what it was like to be a single-sex couple in the spotlight for their very important day.
Q (The Wedding Guys): First of all, what was it like being selected for the very first same-sex ceremony to be television on TV?
A (Liz/Ang): We likely would not have entered the contest if it wasn’t for our daughter. She has wanted us to be married, and have a large wedding, for a lot of years. We could only legally be married within the last handful of years, and by the time it was legal for us we were very busy with so many other things – to plan a wedding was not our top priority. Olivia’s (our daughter) video was fully created by her and was moving – so we entered it. She was very proud, and we were proud of her.
As for the wedding ceremony being on TV, by the time we got to that day we were comfortable on the Twin Cities Live set and with all of the employees. The ceremony was the next logical step in the process. We were able to invite our family and friends to the set to participate in the ceremony. We were happy to be married in front of our loved ones. Elizabeth Reis, the co-host of Twin Cities Live and our officiant, did such a wonderful job getting to know us and our kids. She captured us, our kids, and journey perfectly.
We do not take lightly the importance of our wedding being on TV. We know that we represented our LBGTQ community in a very public way. We tried to show a couple and family like any other – those who love each other and want to live a full life as a family unit like anyone else. We know that there were so many people and couples who came before us and paved the way for us to stand together, on TV, and be married. We don’t forget them and the struggles they had to make our day perfect. We know that it is important for our kids to see strong adults who believe in love and each other. We also know that it is important for all humans to see people (and families) like theirs.
Q (TWG): Were there any challenges to having such a public wedding?
A (L/A): When we were first picked to be Cupids Couple we tapped into some comments on TCL’s social media and saw some negative comments from viewers who were not happy they chose a same sex couple. We dismissed their comments and chose not to read comments on social media moving forward. Other than that, we did not encounter any challenges but we might have been sheltered by the great people we worked with (The Wedding Guys and the Twin Cities Live staff) if there were any challenges to speak of. Overall, we thought the process was smooth.
Q (TWG): What aspects of wedding planning were most important to you?
A (L/A): For us, it was important that our children (ages 10 and 8) were involved in the wedding planning. We went into this wedding as a family of four and we wanted all of our voices heard. Everybody did a great job including all of us in the process. Other than that, we were wide open for whatever came our way.
Q (TWG): Were there things that made the process challenging (you already had the audience partaking, but what about finding the right things to wear, for example?)
A (L/A): The process was actually quite smooth and all of the vendors were amazing. If I had to pick any challenges it would be that we are not young and have been together for a long time, so we have had a lot of years to think about and “plan” a wedding in our minds. Some of what I thought I would want I had to take out of my mind. For example, I [Liz] was not set on wearing a traditional white wedding dress. I would have been happy in a pretty black dress. We were able to go to Posh Bridal once before Twin Cities Live brought cameras to look at dress options and try on a few. Of course, once I had them on I fell in love with them and felt very comfortable in all of them that I tried on. We left feeling comfortable with one of us wearing a traditional white wedding dress.
We knew that a part of the process was to give most of the control to The Wedding Guys. They did a great job of creating a theme and chose a lot of wonderful options for the audience to choose – all while keeping us included in the process.
Q (TWG): Did you have expectations of yourselves, or others, of things you needed to do, or not do? (traditions, etc)?
A (L/A): The only expectation we had was to keep our kids a part of the process. We would go to a vendor and arrive as a tribe of four for everything. We often joked that we do everything together. It was fun to have Olivia [our daughter] and Luke [our son] a part of the process.
Q (TWG): Did you have a vision for what the day would be like? Did that come to life or was it a variation of that, or very different?
A (L/A): The reality of our day far exceeded what our vision had been. Everything and every detail was perfect. We were able to spend the morning at our reception venue [Bavaria Downs], using the bridal space to get ready, spend time with our family, and have lunch. The entire venue is incredible and the staff was amazing. Everything at the studio from the décor, flowers, special guest [cellist and singer, Keri Nobel], Twin Cities Live staff, The Wedding Guys, and our ceremony exceed any expectations we had. At the reception – the cake was lovely, the food was amazing, and décor was stunning, the photo booth was so fun, and the DJ was fantastic. Our day was perfect in every way!!
Q (TWG): Do you have tips for other same-sex couples planning their wedding? Anything you would recommend they consider that you know now that you’ve been through the process?
A (L/A): Other than to hire The Wedding Guys? (wink, wink). We don’t have any specific tips. As you are planning your wedding, stay confident in what you want and choose vendors who will work with you.
Q (TWG): Were there any types of services that understood your needs better than others? Were there some vendors that you needed to hand-hold a little more, to get what you needed?
A (L/A): All of the vendors were picked by The Wedding Guys. They were all amazing. Seriously, every time we would go to a store or meet with a vendor we had the best time and felt comfortable. We often left with hugs and the best well wishes.
