It might be more romantic than you think…

The ceremony will be held in Business Class for a start, the entire business class section will be turned into an exclusive wedding cabin, and before you even get onto the plane they'll make their airport lounge into a wedding celebration area too. There is also a rather yummy honeymoon included in the prize:

The lucky couple who will spread their love worldwide will win an exclusive wedding and honeymoon package that includes Business class flights with SAS to New York, three nights at one of New York's most luxurious hotels, the W Hotel, and then flights to Los Angeles to enjoy another three nights at the fabulous Andaz West Hollywood, as well as some of the best dining, nightlife and pampering West Hollywood has to offer, resulting in a glamorous West Hollywood honeymoon experience.

Well that sounds lovely doesn't it?

Coo! A really gay-friendly airline!

Taking a look around their site, I like the look of SAS. This is an excerpt from their "About Us" section.

Scandinavian Airlines is the national airline of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. As these are three of the world's most progressive, liberal and LGBT-friendly countries, SAS likes to represent its region and people well. This fall we are planning to launch a number of initiatives to make us even more LGBT-friendly.
SAS is already one of Europe's most LGBT-conscious airlines:
•    SAS was the first European airline to launch a gay microsite (www.flysas.com/gay) in 2007
•    SAS was the Official Airline of the World Out Games in Copenhagen in 2009
•    SAS was the Official Airline of Mr Gay World in Oslo in 2010
•    SAS is a member of IGLTA (the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association)
•    SAS works closely with the Scandinavian tourist boards to promote LGBT travel
•    Internally, SAS demands same sex travel rights with all other airlines for all its staff

What a contrast to all the woe in California, eh?

So if you want your chance to win this fab competition, go to http://love.flysas.net/?location=eu and create your profile. Let us know if you've entered and we'll do our best to help you get votes!

People, all over the world, struggling, fighting for their lives, their freedom, their rights and there was I, sitting comfortably in a car park, in a country whose leaders were squabbling about margarine.

I had another one of those moments today when I read a news article from CNN about how gay couples are still being prevented from marrying each other in California. There may be a lot wrong with Britain, but my goodness, at least we've got it right when it comes to allowing people to express love and commitment regardless of their sexuality.

Even though a federal judge made a decision earlier this month to allow gay couples to marry in California, ruling that the Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage violated federal civil rights laws, a subsequent appeals court ruling has temporarily blocked the resumption of same-sex marriages.

Gay couples in California have been struggling for the right to marry for years

This is another gut-wrenching twist in the two-year long roller coaster ride for gay marriage activists in California, and it makes me so sad for the couples who just want to celebrate their love and commitment publicly.

Proposition 8 centred on the statement that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. Well, that's upheld here too, but the difference is that we've created a civil partnership bill that allows gay couples to effectively marry without ruffling any feathers regarding the definition of marriage. If only the same could be done across the whole of America, where there is still so much prejudice.

At the time of writing this, CNN reports that same sex marriage is currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, and New Hampshire, and in the District of Columbia, while civil unions are permitted in New Jersey. Not many places when you consider the size of the United States.

It's so sad. I need to remember how lucky we are in this regard the next time I shake my fist at the news. At least we've got something right. Come on California, it's the 21st century for heaven's sake!

"We are making a major new Channel 4 series provisionally titled The Village. We are looking for individuals, couples and families who would love the opportunity to start a new life in the English countryside; they will have the chance to win a 3 bedroom cottage located in a small idyllic village in Yorkshire.

The series will follow the participants as they move to the village for a week and sample their potential new life and home. During the week's filming they will get involved in village life, meeting the residents and demonstrating to them why they would be a valued member of the community. The local residents will then decide on who wins the home and becomes the newest resident of the village.

Participants must be over 18 and initially be available to film for one to possibly three weeks during September or October. Anyone interested in applying must also realistically be looking to relocate and start a new life in the Village should they be lucky enough to win the competition.

The Village is commuting distance from Leeds and the competition is open to anyone over the age of 18.

For more information and to find out how to apply, email: thevillage@studiolambert.com or call on: 0207 534 2029 "

If that sounds like your cup of tea why not get in touch? If you are picked, let us know so we can tell everyone and we'll know who to root for!

I have personally spoken to several gay couples who have told me about how poorly they've been treated and I discussed this issue in a recent interview with Gino Meriano. He said:

"I'm so glad you ask that, because there are some people who can't believe that it is needed, but homophobia is still there, even after all these years of civil partnership ceremonies, and it is definitely present in the traditional wedding industry. I've been to straight wedding fayres and exhibited as Pink Weddings, the abuse from exhibitors and visitors was incredible."

Read the full interview here

I'm an optimistic person (on a good day) and I like to think that life for gay people in Britain is getting better. However, a recent conversation with Sharon at Best Dress 2 Impress has brought this back to the forefront of our minds.

Sharon is one of the latest wedding business owners to advertise with The Gay Wedding Organizer, and she told us how several of her customers have experienced poor treatment prior to finding her.

The first thing she told us about was this: "A lesbian couple told me that they went into a bridal shop to look for dresses together and in the end had to 'pretend' that they were a bride and her best friend looking for dresses as the shop assistants made them feel so uncomfortable. They felt embarrassed and left."

This makes me furious – and so upset for the couple involved. Have you had any similar experiences?

Sharon went on to tell us about another incident involving a gay man who wanted to enquire about dresses, but as soon as he opened his mouth the shop assistant said that she didn't serve men.

Sharon said this in an e-mail to me this week and I couldn't agree more: "In my mind this is just outrageous as you shouldn't refuse to serve a person based on colour, creed, gender etc; but this is still happening frequently. Only last week I had a text from a lovely man who had obviously been treated badly and he also wants a dress but explained that he 'understood' if I did not want to deal with him. My response was ' when would you like to visit me and try on a few gowns?'  I'm also helping him with corsets, stockings and a veil!"

All I can say is thank goodness he found Sharon.

We have to do something about this!

I have a plan brewing in my heart, one that will need a lot of input from you, dear readers. First, I want to hear about your experiences – both good and bad. This isn't to name and shame, but to bring your experiences out into the open so we can see what is really happening out there in wedding land.

•    Have you ever been made to feel uncomfortable when approaching a wedding company?

•    Have you ever been treated differently once the supplier has discovered you're arranging a civil partnership ceremony and celebration?

•    Have you had any experiences similar to the ones Sharon told me about?

Please do let us know in the comments. This is really important; we have the opportunity to not only talk about it, but also tell the industry what needs to change. Let's make that happen.

It looks like there's lots lined up for the 2010 Pride, with live music, all kinds of stalls, places to dance, socialise and have a cuppa.

One thing in particular that we're excited about is the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender wedding fair being held in the ‘Irwin Mitchell Rainbow Weddings Tent’ organised by local wedding planner ‘Boho Weddings and Events’.

Here's what they have lined up for the event:

•         Wedding suppliers exhibiting and offering demonstrations of their products and services.

•         Goodie bags filled with civil partnership information and magazines.

•         Live entertainment in the form of swing singer Chris Heathcote, dancing from Salwa Belly Dancers and DJing from Sheffield’s finest Rich Williams.

•         A photo booth area for you to dress up and have your picture taken.

•         Make-up and hair demonstrations from professional make-up artist Catherine Elizabeth

•         A bridal fashion show showcasing all the latest wedding outfits from Mirage Couture and flowers from Orchis

•         AND a couple getting married (well blessed…no way to get over the legal technicalities!) with a ceremony area set up for you to watch the happy couple get hitched!

Kelly from Boho Weddings and Events said; "This is a wedding fair with a difference with the full focus on Civil Partnerships, providing a fun yet informative day. There will be something for everyone!"

Sounds good to us! If you want to find out more and work out how to get there, go to either the Sheffield Pride site or check out the information on the Boho Weddings and Events site.

Have fun! And if you do go, let us know all about it!

I've been to many, many weddings in recent years, both straight and gay, as I'm in that phase of my life when all of my friends (and I!) have been pairing off and tying the knot. Thinking over all those weddings that I've personally attended, there have been themes ranging from a simple colour theme through to the groom being dressed in a hussar's uniform. But you know what? The ones that worked the best weren't the most fashionable, nor the most cleverly executed. No, the most memorable and successful wedding themes really expressed the couple.

An example of a wedding theme that worked

Let me give you an example (this is for a straight couple but bear with me). Two friends of mine were getting married, she was from a Hindu Gujurati background, he was from a Christian background, but neither of them came from strongly practising religious families. They decided to have two weddings, one was a Hindu Gujurati ceremony which I think was one of the best weddings I've ever been to, and the second was a civil ceremony.

What about the theme? They came up with a picture that ran as a motif throughout both; a little oil lamp on the one side, a candle on the other, with the smoke winding up from both of them entwining in the middle – a beautifully expressed metaphor for the union of their different backgrounds and families. The motif was in a deep red on a cream background, and the bride's sari at the first ceremony was the same colour, with her wedding dress for the civil ceremony being cream with a red accent. Every little detail throughout both weddings picked up on this theme of the two symbols and the red and cream colour. At the civil ceremony there was an ice sculpture of the motif at the centre of the evening buffet.

Why did that wedding theme work? Because it was meaningful, simple and beautifully expressed.

Don't be tempted to have a wild wedding theme for the sake of it

I've spoken to many gay couples planning their weddings and something several said was that they almost felt pressured to have something bold and grand, a bit like a Mardi Gras theme, and were stressed because it wasn't them. I had a conversation like this at a gay wedding fayre a couple of years ago next to a giant pink swan-shaped carriage. Very 'Big Gay Al' but not for all gay couples – and that is absolutely fine! If you are flamboyant and larger than life all the time (several of my friends are!) then having a flamboyant and larger than life wedding theme would fit – in fact, your friends might feel a bit worried if your wedding day was straight laced and conservative! But if you are normally quiet and unassuming, turning up in a giant pink swan would make you feel awkward and make the wedding theme seem like a play in which you'd been poorly cast.

The wedding theme should express you as a couple

If you both have a favourite colour, then use that as your colour motif. If both of you have a common interest or hobby, maybe that could inform your theme – and that is exactly the kind of wedding theme that your guests will love, because it will make them think of you.

Perhaps you have a funny story about how you met, or a place that's special to you. That could form the wedding theme's focus – all you need to do is find a simple idea to build a theme around – once you have that in place, then the rest is easy; it's just a matter of picking things to match.

It may be that you see a wedding invitation design that inspires you, it could be a favourite film that you both share or a love of a particular historical era. These could create a theme ranging from the subtle use of a vintage motif right through to influencing what you wear, such as vintage wedding outfits.

This is what choosing a wedding theme boils down to:

•    Choose something that you both genuinely love as the initial focus for your theme, something as simple as a colour, or a hobby, a favourite era etc
•    A very simple idea can grow into a theme echoed throughout the wedding
•    Don't be tempted away from your genuine preferences by trends and fashion fads
•    Have a theme as grand or as subtle as you feel comfortable to be

Remember; it's your day.

If there is still something you're worried about regarding wedding themes that I haven't covered here, simply leave a note in the comments below.

They're looking for couples to feature in the fourth series and the big incentive (apart from your minutes of fame of course) is that they'll contribute £12,000 to the cost of your wedding. Wow…

So, if you want a chance for your big day to be in a big wedding TV show, all you need to do is email weddings@renegadepictures.co.uk or call 0207 462 4539. Good luck! And if you are picked, please do come and tell us!

Even if you haven't made a final decision on destination, if you know you want to go somewhere exotic you'll need to have your inoculations done well in advance. The other thing you need to bear in mind is your idea of a perfect holiday. Whilst you may be happy to spend some time on the beach, your partner may need some kind of sports or activities so you need to find a destination that will cater for both of your tastes.

Last minute deals for honeymoons?

Last minute deals may give you the best bargains, but as this is your honeymoon you might not want to leave anything to chance. The other thing to keep an eye on is the timing of monsoon and hurricane seasons. Whilst the prices may be lower at those times, you don't want to be hiding in a hotel basement or getting rained on during your honeymoon!

Some resorts offer special deals for honeymooners ranging from free champagne and chocolates on arrival to a night of free accommodation if there is a stopover. If you dress smartly so you're more likely to get an upgrade on your flights by letting them know you're on your honeymoon.

Not all resorts are gay-friendly

Some of the well-known tropical resorts only allow heterosexual couples to book so you (sadly) need to check that the one you choose is gay-friendly.

Other practical matters

Order the travellers cheques in good time and note down the numbers in a notebook in case they're stolen, and make a separate note of your passport numbers too in case those go astray. Aim to have all of the paperwork in order at least two weeks before you go, just to make sure you don't go totally grey.

—

This is an excerpt from the e-book, to read more practical advice, simply download your free copy of the Gay Wedding Organizer e-book here.

Over to you!

Where are you planning to go on your honeymoon? Is there anything you're worried about, or need help with? If so, be brave and let us know in the comments so we can help!

Who gives the speeches at a gay wedding?

In short: whoever you want to! If both you and your partner want to make a speech, go ahead; when it comes to gay weddings there are no hard and fast rules to wrestle with.

If you are having more than four speeches (i.e. both partners, best man or woman, fathers, mothers) then you might want to consider splitting them over the meal so people don’t have to sit and listen for a long time. The timing is entirely up to you, as is the order – you may want to let the most nervous speaker make their speech first so they can relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Before the meal, spread throughout, before the cutting of the cake, all are viable opportunities – the only thing you need is for everyone to be gathered together.

Practical matters to make your speeches go smoothly

Check if the venue has a microphone and that all the speakers have some water too – people tend to get a dry mouth when nervous. If you have arranged a chreche for the children of guests, you should let them know when the speeches are so the youngsters can be whisked away if you want them to be; it reduces the chance of a crying baby throwing you off your stride.

Give people who will be making a speech plenty of advance notice, and make sure they are happy to speak, there's nothing worse than discovering that they have a phobia of public speaking on the day before the wedding!

General speech making advice

Don't feel that you have to speak for a long time. No speech should last more than ten minutes, otherwise people will start to fidget. Make some notes just in case the nerves get to you on the day and practise it on someone else first if you are very nervous. Don't forget to slow down when you're speaking, and if you can bear it, make eye-contact with people as you talk.

—

This is an excerpt from the e-book, to read the extra bits about what is covered in the speeches (like who thanks who), simply download your free copy of the Gay Wedding Organizer e-book here.

Over to you!

Who will be making speeches at your wedding? Is there anything you're worried about, or need help with? If so, be brave and let us know in the comments so we can help!

The simple answer is this: whatever you want to wear is the right combination! If you both want to wear grand weddings dresses, then do! If one of you wants to wear a slick top hat and tails outfit, then wear it! The most important thing is that both of you wear something that makes you feel fabulous.

Focusing on wedding dresses

If one or both of you decide to go for a traditional style wedding gown, there is a lot you can do to make finding your perfect gown easier, and style guides to help you find the best dress for your shape.

It's well worth your while to spend a couple of hours on the internet looking at different wedding dress designs (there are hundreds of sites out there and it doesn't cost a penny). Pick out wedding gown styles that you like and print them out. If you have a wedding planning notebook, paste them in. Wedding gowns are strange in that there are so many different styles that are "in fashion" at once, so you might be spoilt for choice!

Armed with said wedding notebook, the next thing to do is book an appointment at a bridal gown shop, and you can find gay-friendly suppliers in this book.

An appointment is the best way to guarantee that one of the staff are available to give you their full attention, and it is absolutely essential on a Saturday when every other bride in the area is off work too!

Keeping an open mind

It can be nerve wracking to choose a dress as it's for the most important event of your life and is probably the most expensive dress you'll buy. A good assistant will look at the dresses you like and will make a selection of gowns for you to try on. Keeping an open mind in this situation is so important; you may find that a dress in a style you'd never normally consider is the perfect one!

Wedding gowns and the dreaded body shape

There's quite a lot to bear in mind in terms of finding the right wedding dress. Firstly: shape. There are certain styles that suit certain shapes more than others.

Full skirts and tailored bodices are good for people with bigger hips but a smaller waist as the fullness of the skirt hides chunky thighs and bottoms.

If you're tall and thin, go for softer, elegant lines and wide or scooped necklines. For the very petite, something in an A-line, or a design with princess seams is a good bet, with nothing to cut you off at the waist and make you look smaller.

If you have quite a boyish figure, with a small bust and thick waist, you'll look good in an Empire line, preferably one with some fabric gathered over the bust to make it look like there's more there and balance you out.

If you're self-conscious about your upper arms, you can get wonderful jackets with some dresses to cover up them up, and short bolero style jackets accentuate slender waists and detract from small busts too.

The assistants at these shops know all the tricks so it really pays to listen to them. If you're having a winter wedding you could have had a glorious velvet coat or cloak.

—

This is an excerpt from the e-book, to read the extra bits about choosing colours and how to avoid underwear disasters, simply download your free copy of the Gay Wedding Organizer e-book here.

Over to you!

What are you planning to wear for your wedding? Are you both going for dresses, suits or something completely different? I'd love to hear from you, so be brave and let us know in the comments!