The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings, Third Edition

The original wedding planner for gays and lesbians-now updated in light of recent legalizations of gay marriage-and as useful, witty and inspiring as ever Fraught with logistical and social pitfalls, wedding planning is never easy-but for gay and lesbian couples, it presents unique challenges. Traditional wedding advice doesn't address the particular issues facing same-sex spouses-to-be. With notable foresight, Tess Ayers and Paul Brown published the first edition of this book in 1994, when legal same-sex marriage was only a dream. Today, as same-sex marriage continues its state-by-state march to legality, this updated edition is more relevant and helpful than ever. Bursting with real-life anecdotes and surprising history, this user-friendly guide covers how to share the news, structure a ceremony, and throw a great party-and tackles tough questions from "Why get married at all?" to "Which band should we book?" For any couple seeking an unforgettable wedding, this is the indispensable handbook.

Tess Ayers has worked in advertising and graphic design, written for game shows, and was a producer on a number of television talk shows. When she and her partner Jane Anderson decided to have a wedding ceremony in 1992, they were unable to find a proper guide for gays and lesbians, and this book was conceived and born two years later. In the years since then Tess has been busy raising their son, now 17, and works on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations. Tess, Jane and Raphael happily divide their time between Los Angeles and Marin County.
Paul Brown worked in theater (where he treasured every moment), a bit in television (not so much), and had a stint in “celebrity journalism” (seemed like a good idea at the time). For more than fifteen years he taught Special Education in Los Angeles. He met Tess Ayers several months before her wedding over three decades ago (then called a “commitment ceremony”). When the honeymoon was over, they collaborated on the first version of The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings. Paul was never married himself, but he knew how to plan a wedding. He died in 2021.