On February 5, E! will become the first American television network to broadcast a celebrity wedding between two men, when Lance Bass and Michael Turchin exchange vows in front of their families and friends.
With exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the couple's very special and emotional road to the altar,
E! will share the couple's unique story with viewers the world over, beginning with the chance meeting that started it all. As with every love story, Lance and Michael had to overcome the typical obstacles of any relationship, the most difficult being that at the time they found each other, same-sex marriage in
California was not legal. That is no longer the case. LANCE LOVES MICHAEL: THE LANCE BASS WEDDING airs February, 5 at 8:00pm only on E!
The special will reveal, in their own words and those of close friends, how Lance and Michael met, fell in love, and found themselves in the midst of a not-so-perfect proposal. Cameras will be on hand throughout the planning stages of the wedding, capturing all of the drama, fun and excitement that go into building one couple's perfect day... and one they have decided to share with a worldwide audience. When the big day finally arrives, cameras will be everywhere as both grooms prepare to exchange rings and vows. Family members and friends will be interviewed, footage of the actual ceremony will be featured, and the reception to end all receptions will carry on into the wee hours, no doubt.
Lance and Michael's story has mostly been kept out of the press until now. A chance meeting at an event in Palm
Springs four years ago quickly turned into an inseparable friendship and, eventually, true love. While the marriage topic crept into their conversations more than once, Lance remained reticent to take that life changing step. In the special, the couple recalls the "moment" in October 2013 where, after a reunion performance with *NSYNC at the VMA's, Lance was finally in a place of certainty and asked Michael's family for his hand in marriage. After a resounding and supportive "yes" from Michael's parents, Lance proposed. It wasn't perfect and it wasn't glamorous, but it did the trick.
Planning a wedding is never easy, and this one promises to be unique in every way. Cameras will capture every minute as Lance and Michael meet celebrity wedding planner Sharon Sacks, who hopes to become the gatekeeper for the gay wedding of the decade. Lance and Michael recognize the importance of their families in blessing this union, and both will be very present throughout the process. Lance comes from conservative
Southern stock, while Michael's family is liberal and Jewish. The couple was more than a bit nervous about how their respective families might react to their news. Neither family is shy when it comes to stating what they want for their son's special day, and Lance's mother makes no bones about what she expects for her famous son's nuptials. And with celebrity pals like
Lisa Vanderpump offering her advice for a long marriage, Lance and Michael have plenty of support planning the big event.
The emotional and romantic 90-minute special culminates with the ceremony itself followed by an extraordinary reception headlined by world renowned DJ
Tracy Young. With
Jamie Lynn Sigler and
JoAnna Garcia Swisher serving as officiates and their respective mothers giving them away, Lance and Michael will finally enter the realm of wedded bliss. From the incredible one-of-a-kind wedding bands, to the heartfelt vows and every spectacular detail in between, this will be a day Lance and Michael (and viewers) won't soon forget.
"Lance Loves Michael: The
Lance Bass Wedding" airs February, 5 at 8:00pm only on
E! and is executive produced by
Brian Graden, Lois Curren, Gaurav Misra & Leane Vandeman for
Brian Graden Media.
About
E! Entertainment
E! is the only global, multiplatform brand for all things pop culture. The network is currently available to 98 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. Eonline delivers breaking entertainment news and in-depth coverage on television, movies, music, celebrities, fashion, beauty and lifestyle. One of the fastest-growing, most influential digital properties, Eonline is a leader in online video and mobile and a leading entertainment brand across social. Popular
E! programming includes core franchises, "E! News," "The Soup," "Fashion Police" and "True Hollywood Story," as well as the network's popular series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Total Divas," "#RichKids of
Beverly Hills" and "Botched." Additionally, E!'s "Live from the Red Carpet" signature events keep fans connected to their favorite stars on pop culture's biggest nights.
E! is a network of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.
Photo by: Ricky Middlesworth
