How to Choose Wedding-Day Fashion for a Queer Couple.

The standard question started it all: What would my ideal wedding look like? Curtis Cassell, his caterers, and coworkers often asked this question after a long weekend of weddings. Cassell shares his thoughts with Brides: “Then, I realized that we as queer people often ask if they’d wear a suit or dress.” “Our options are literally either black or white,” that is, up until recently.

LGBT+ people are opting for something other than the traditional white or black suit when choosing wedding-day attire. Queera Wang, Cassell’s brand, aims to offer a range of wedding attire beyond conventional options. Cassell says, “When I started working on the label and the first collection, it was clear that the brand did not necessarily land on womenswear or menswear.” “I took bits and pieces from masculine and feminine elements and made a Frankenstein out of them,” Cassell says.

PHOTO BY HOLTZ WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

When you think of wedding attire, what are some things that spring to your mind? Do you feel the need to look sharp and professional, which is why the sleek tux? Do you feel dreamy and ethereal in a long white wedding dress? Cassell’s work is the same. It’s just different from what is expected.

Queera Wang has replaced the traditional tuxedos worn by dapper dandies with deconstructed beige trousers and jackets. Linen is used in place of wool. The classic wedding dress has been bippity-boppity-boop into a garment that looks like an Edwardian. The sleeves of billowing shirts are dramatic with their dramatic puffed sleeves and long, elongated necklines. People are changing, and so is their vision of what they want to wear on their wedding day. He jokes that everyone wants their wedding to look like the Met Gala. Even the choices of colors are not the norm. There’s an earthy beige here and a seductive red elsewhere. You can even choose a deep blue.

The collection is beautiful, but it also speaks to the larger picture. Queer people constantly change the rules of wedding attire, and the options they have for choosing what to wear on their big day are endless. I don’t want to be seen as a ‘genderless brand. Gender-powerful is more accurate. Cassell says, “I love tapping into masculine and female fashions and merging them.” It doesn’t end there. Many of my clients have bodies that don’t fit the rack. It’s not about serving someone’s identity.

In queer wedding fashion, avant-garde isn’t necessarily the only option. Noa Santos and Ross Matsubara found inspiration in film for their wedding dresses. Matsubara says that Matsubara and Noa Santos wanted their wedding attire to reflect their Hawaiian wedding and personalities. Matsubara states that Noa prefers to be minimalistic, clean, and simple, while I gravitate towards patterns, unique details, and sheen. We didn’t want our suits tied to any particular season or collection. The claims should be timeless.

They took their ideas together to David Hart, a New York menswear designer, to create their perfect looks. They were able to create a dream-like environment in which everything seemed effortless. Matsubara chose a bold, jade green paisley print with a sheen in dark hunter and jade. The suit created the illusion that the colors changed depending on how the light hit it. Santos chose a dark hunter green suit in silk-linen fabric. The accessories were similar: matching Magnani patent leather shoes, extensive Tom Ford bow ties, and vintage gold knots.

It was not just the beautiful final designs that made the couple memorable but also the entire process. Hart was involved in creating everything from choosing fabrics to creating silhouettes, which became a lasting memory. Matsubara says that Hart’s tailors and studio are in Greenpoint. This is an area we rarely visit, so the tuxedo designing process was a fun little adventure for us. We would always go to Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. for happy hour oysters, wine, and after each visit. We would talk about the wedding and remember the incredible journey. It became a very memorable tradition.”

The choice of wedding attire for queer couples comes down to personal preference, just like with other types of weddings. There are endless options and no boundaries, but it is essential to remember that what you wear directly affects your couple’s happiness. Cassell said that she had received emails from people stating that they couldn’t imagine getting married until they saw my clothes. “Those are the most empowering moments.

PHOTO BY HOLTZ WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Decide on What Matters

One shoe size doesn’t fit all, just like most things. One couple who chooses to be avant-garde doesn’t necessarily mean that another couple who prefers traditional attire is wrong. Your wedding is yours, and your opinion is final. Start by asking yourself basic questions. Do you feel confident going bold? Do you prefer a more classic style? Decide what you value in clothing and how you and your partner will embody that.

Display your personality

The wedding is only one thing. It is essential to showcase your and your partner’s personalities whenever possible. It can be easy to choose something different than the norm. A red suit or a shirt and t-shirt with a billowing collar say enough about your personality. It would help if you also thought about the small details, such as changing the color of your shoes or the bow tie. Perhaps you’d like to wear a unique shirt or adorn your brooch with a stunning pin. It’s all about the details.

Take into account the formalities of the wedding.

Although you don’t have an obligation to follow these codes at your wedding, they can help you decide on your dress. If you ask them, it might be respectful for your guests to wear black ties. At the very least, it should be in some way. A tuxedo is a dress that can be tailored to your taste.

Make a wedding wardrobe.

Do you need options? Or do you want a drastic wardrobe overhaul? It would help if you made compromises with your partner. You might consider having two wedding looks. You may feel you need a formal ceremony in a sharp tuxedo or dress, but you also want something glamorous and campy for the reception. You can never go wrong with a wardrobe change.