Let’s talk about some of the best lesbian weddings on television!
Like, What was the first lesbian wedding on TV?
How about the first same-sex union on a children’s show?
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own star-studding wedding or you’re just interested in LGBTQ+ pop culture, we’ve got you covered!
Check out the best lesbian weddings on television!
Best Lesbian Weddings on Television
Whether it’s a drama, fantasy program, kid’s show, reality series, sitcom or soap opera, lesbian weddings have made their mark on television.
Let’s start with the show that started it all!
1. Friends (First Lesbian Wedding on TV)
This 11th episode of season 2 of Friends is television’s 1st lesbian wedding.
The show was pretty well-known for breaking from tradition when it came to sitcoms during its 10-year run, so it makes sense that they’d be a pioneer in the same-sex wedding frontier.
Let’s look at the basic details and stats of the show (so you know exactly how to find the episode), then we’ll talk about why it was so important.
- About the show- Friends is a television sitcom that aired for 10 seasons, from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004.
- Who got married– Carol Willick (Jane Sibbett) and Susan Bunch (Jessica Hecht).
- When did it happen? Season- 2, Episode #- 11
- Episode title– “The One With the Lesbian Wedding”
- Original air date– January 18, 1996
As the first lesbian wedding on TV, Friends had a duty to do it right and not turn it into comedic fodder.
Thankfully, they pulled it off beautifully! Ross (Carol’s ex-husband) even stepped forward and offered to walk Carol down the aisle (her parents were, sadly, not very supportive).
Perhaps the best part of televisions first lesbian wedding, though, happened off screen.
NBC only received less than 5 complaints, proving that the LGBTQ+ community had more allies than they may have thought they did at the time. .
2. Queer as Folk
The Queer as Folk show that we all know and love is actually based on a British series of the same name.
Although the show specifically follows the lives of five gay men living in Pittsburgh, it also incorporates numerous other LGBTQ+ characters into the ensemble.
One of those couples, Lindsay and Melanie, tied the knot in a season 2 episode.
- About the show- Queer as Folk is a serial drama television series that aired for 5 seasons, from December 3, 2000 to August 7, 2005.
- Who got married– Lindsay Peterson (Thea Gill) and Melanie Marcus (Michelle Clunie).
- When did it happen? Season- 2, Episode #- 11
- Episode title– “The Wedding”
- Original air date- March 31, 2002
3. Gay Weddings
Gay Weddings was a reality television miniseries that aired for 1 season, from September 2, 2002 to September 5, 2002.
- About the show– The series follows 2 gay couples and 2 lesbian couples as they prepare for their upcoming wedding.
- Who got married– Couple #1- Lupe, age 32, a marketing representative and Sonja, age 39, an emergency room supervisor.
- Couple #2– Dale, age 32, an entertainment lawyer and Eve, age 30, a graduate film student.
4. All My Children
If you’re looking for the first lesbian wedding on daytime TV, you’ll want to check out this one on All My Children.
The February 13, 2009 episode of All My Children is daytime television’s 1st same-sex wedding, period.
- About the show- All My Children is a television soap opera that aired for 41 years, from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011.
- Who got married– Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) and Reese Williams (Tamara Braun).
- Original air date– February 13, 2009
5. Grey’s Anatomy
Like Friends, Grey’s Anatomy has pretty much changed the landscape of television over the last 15 (and counting) years.
One of the most beloved couples of the show, Callie and Arizona (oh, how I miss them both so much!), were finally married in season 7.
- About the show– Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama television series that has aired for 15 seasons, so far, premiering on March 27, 2005.
- Who got married– Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) and Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez).
- When did it happen? Season- 7, Episode #- 20
- Episode title– “White Wedding”
- Original air date– May 5, 2011
The episode was full of raw emotional scenes, but perhaps the most heartbreakingly poignant moments happened between Callie and her parents.
It did a great job of highlighting the complex emotions of dealing with an unsupportive mother on what’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life.
6. The Real L Word
While the show The L Word followed the lives of fictional lesbian friends, The Real L Word follows real-world women on their everyday journey in LA.
- About the show– The Real L Word is a reality television series that aired for 3 seasons, from June 20, 2010 to September 6, 2012.
- Who got married- Sara Bettencourt and Whitney Mixter.
- When? Season- 3, Episode #- 27
- Episode title– “Perfect Day”
- Original air date– September 6, 2012
Check out that fabulously romantic proposal above!
7. The Fosters
ABC Family (now Freeform) sounds like a station that’s all about kiddie shows, but it’s actually one of the most cutting-edge teen and YA networks.
Their show, The Fosters, is all about a lesbian couple raising a mix of biological, adopting and foster children.
- About the show- The Fosters is a family drama television series that aired for 5 seasons, from June 3, 2013 to June 6, 2018.
- Who got married– Lena Adams (Sherri Saum) and Stef Foster (Teri Polo).
- When? Season- 1, Episode #- 10
- Episode title– “I Do”
- Original air date– August 5, 2013
Early on in the series, we’re treated to a beautiful wedding between the two main adult characters, Lena and Stef.
Although, to be honest, they definitely had a rocky time leading up to the big day. I won’t say more because I don’t want to give away spoilers.
8. Glee
Glee fans were finally treated to the moment they’ve been waiting for when Brittana (or Santittany, if you will) said I do.
- About the show- Glee is a musical, comedy-drama television series that aired for 6 seasons, from May 19, 2009 to March 20, 2015.
- Who got married- Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) and Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera).
- When? Season- 6, Episode #- 8
- Episode title– “A Wedding”
- Original air date– February 20, 2015
You know how people always say, “Today I married my best friend!”? Well, in this case, it was absolutely true!
9. Black Mirror
With a dark and twisty show like Black Mirror, don’t expect this lesbian wedding to give you the warm and fuzzies.
Even though it was just as and reality-bending as the rest of the series, this is still one of the best lesbian weddings on TV (and one of the highest-rated episodes of the series).
- About the show– Black Mirror is an anthology, sci-fi, thriller television series that has aired for 5 seasons, so far, premiering on December 4, 2011.
- Who got married– Kelly Jane Booth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis).
- When? Season- 3, Episode #- 4
- Episode title– “San Junipero”
- Original air date- October 21, 2016
By the way, there are entire blogs dedicated entirely to trying to explain the ending of this episode!
10. Sense 8
Although Sense 8 is another darkish and mind-bending show, the wedding between Neets and Nomi was full of beautiful moments.
- About the show– Sense 8 is a drama, mystery, sci-fi television series that aired for 2 seasons, from June 5, 2015 to June 8, 2018.
- Who got married– Amanita “Neets” Caplan (Freema Agyeman) and Nomi Marks (Jamie Clayton).
- When: Season- 2, Episode #- 12
- Episode title– Amor Vincit Omnia
- Original air date– June 8, 2018
Are you crying after watching those beautiful vows?
11. Steven Universe
The Steven Universe “Reunited” episode is important because it was the 1st same-sex wedding on a kid’s show.
- About the show– Steven Universe is an animated television series that has aired for 5 seasons, so far, premiering on May 21, 2013.
- Who got married– Ruby (voiced by Charlyne Yi) and Sapphire (voiced by Erica Luttrell).
- When: Season- 5, Episode #- 23 & 24
- Episode title– “Reunited”
- Original air date– July 6, 2018
As Pride explains, the episode made LGBT history with the proposal, and they really brought it on home with the monumental wedding episode.
12. The Originals
One of my favorite shows, The Originals, gave viewers a treat before it went off air after just 5 seasons.
After being torn from her family and raised by a bitter sociopath for thousands of years (most of which was spent sleeping), Freya finally gets her happy ever after with Keelin.
- About the show– The Originals is a drama, fantasy, horror television series that aired for 5 seasons, from October 3, 2013 to August 1, 2018.
- Who got married– Freya Mikaelson (Riley Voelkel) and Keelin Malraux (Christina Moses).
- When: Season- 5, Episode #- 11
- Episode title- “Til the Day I Die”
- Original air date– July 18, 2018
Considering the way Freya and Keelin met, not to mention the trials they endured over the time-jumping series, it really is a miracle that they made it to the alter at all!
13. Orange is the New Black
The wedding in this episode was facilitated by Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne), so technically, it is classified as a “prison wedding” and not a “legal” marriage, since Nichols is not a licensed officiant.
- About the show– Orange is the New Black is a comedy-drama television series that aired for 7 seasons, from July 11, 2013 to July 26, 2019.
- Who got married– Alex Vause (Laura Prepon) and Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling).
- When? Season- 6, Episode #- 13
- Episode title- “Be Free”
- Original air date- July 27, 2018
From monumental firsts to mind-bending to just plain beautiful, these 13 shows definitely pulled off the best lesbian weddings on television!
