The Knot Unveils Annual LGBTQ Wedding Survey Results

Now that marriage equality is a countrywide decree, it's time to crunch the numbers.

For their third annual LGBTQ Weddings Study, The Knot, the leading multi-platform wedding source, spoke with more than 1,200 LGBTQ singles or couples who were recently married or engaged and in the process of planning weddings to gauge the trends and traditions that couples are embracing or adjusting as they breathe life into their big days. The result is the title's LGBTQ Edition digital magazine.

In the study it was revealed that 95% of couples surveyed referred to the occasion as an actual wedding, as opposed to a commitment ceremony or civil union, an increase from the 82% in 2014. The term "same-sex wedding" is on its way out, as 96% of couples see them as just "weddings." Of those surveyed, 70% will be walking down the aisle, with men being nearly three times more likely to walk down the aisle together, while women prefer a friend or family member to escort them. Friends or family members will officiate half of the wedding ceremonies, and the most popular venues for receptions are restaurants, friends' or family members' homes, and historic buildings.

Newlyweds Lance Bass and Michal Turchin cover this year's The Knot LGBTQ Edition, and the magazine, which is available online at TheKnot.com, and as a 10-page insert in the Summer 2015 print edition of the magazine. It gives an all-access to the pair's nuptials and exemplifies many of the trends divined from the survey. "It was a gorgeous view of all our favorite people in the world," said Bass. Planning and etiquette advice, along with style inspiration and love stories from real couples are also included in the magazine.

More than 90% of men and 95% of women respondents to the survey said that their weddings were the best days of their life so far. With the joyous potential each wedding has, and now that marriage no longer needs to be qualified as "gay" or "traditional," there is truly cause to celebrate.

Read below for the full statistics from The Knot's annual LGBTQ survey, including the amount of people who prophetically predicted the SCOTUS ruling.

Trends:

* Of the LGBTQ couples surveyed, 96% don't consider their marriage a "same-sex marriage"--they consider it a marriage
95% of couples refer to this occasion as a wedding, as opposed to a commitment ceremony or civil union, up from 82% in 2014
* 60% of couples agree that guests could use advice and services when navigating LGBTQ wedding etiquette
* 95% of couples agree that vendors need a way to communicate that they're LGBTQ friendly, and 81% of couples look to vendor reviews when seeking LGBTQ-friendly wedding vendors
* The most popular reception venues include restaurants (13% for men, 16% for women), family or friends' homes (13% for men, 12% for women), and historic buildings or homes (11% for men, 8% for women)

Traditions:

*57% of men and 69% of women had a formal proposal, and for 71% of those couples, it was a surprise
*56% of men and 76% of women exchanged rings with their engagement; 36% of men and 56% of women at the time of their proposal, while 20% of couples purchased them after the proposal
*97% of couples exchange wedding bands at the ceremony
*70% of couples walk down the aisle; men are nearly three times as likely to walk down the aisle together, while women prefer a family or friend escort

Spending Habits:

*LGBTQ weddings are small, intimate affairs--men have an average of 77 guests and women have an average of 71 guests; 9 in 10 LGBTQ weddings have less than 150 guests
*Men spend an average of $15,992 on their weddings, compared with $13,055 for women; 23% of men and 21% of women spend more than $20,000
*85% of men and 79% of women pay for the majority of the wedding themselves

Supreme Court of the United States:

*100% percent of couples are excited that the issue of marriage equality has been brought to the Supreme Court
*97% of couples believe that the Supreme Court vote will pass and marriage equality will be nationally recognized once and for all