Here at Katelyn Faye Photo, we believe Love is Love. And I want to help you learn how to identify LGBTQ+ Friendly Vendors in the wedding space.
You’re envisioning your perfect wedding day. Full of joy and love. A moment that you can remember forever. Having vendors who are safe, kind and fair (with sincerity) is something I have found to extremely important. I believe it’s best to hire gender-affirming people to work on your day. Having a vendor who is silently judging can be so loud.
When planning your big day, you want to find someone who is inclusive and kind to all different people. Whether or not you identify as part of the queer community, it’s important to work with vendors who stand up for human rights. So how do you find them?
Here’s some ideas on how to identify LGBTQ+ Friendly Vendors when looking for your big day!
Look for pronouns on their website! Do they list their pronouns in their bio? Ask for yours? Keep an eye out for this not-so-subtle nod to their priorities.
How do they ask for names on the contact form? Are they saying “partner”? Or strictly bride/groom language. It can be really isolating for queer couples to excitedly try to reach out to a vendor only to be met with exclusion immediately on the contact form.
Is there diversity on their website? Are you seeing real-life queer couples posted and celebrated? Do they have more than one or two pieces of affirming action on their site?
Watch out for Performative Actions: to quote an article from The Knot: “A big caveat regarding the experience that marriers are looking for is that it shouldn’t be performative. Campbell shares that he sometimes comes across “vendors who are so passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ folks that the passion can move into the realm of fetishization. At times, this can be almost as frustrating and belittling as someone being blatantly discriminatory. Be wary of people who want to put you in boxes you don’t identify with, even if it’s coming from a place of excitement. The LGBTQIA+ community isn’t monolithic, and we deserve to be appreciated and celebrated in our diverse and complex ways of being.”
Don’t be afraid to ask! Sometimes just reaching out can result in a great relationship with a vendor! Being upfront about your needs and desires can go a long way in finding a good fit when looking for LGBTQ+ friendly vendors!
It is okay to ask, and take your time to choose vendors that align with you.
