When it comes to the wedding industry the main focus is the bride and the “bride’s day”. There’s an assumption that all couples, guests and vendors are heterosexual. Even if you aren’t a part of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t mean that the people there to celebrate your wedding aren’t as well. You want your wedding to be a safe, uplifting, and inclusive space for all who attend. Here are some tips to accomplish that.
1. Have Gender Free Pre-wedding Events.
Instead of having a “bach” party or a bridal shower. Have an engagement party where everyone can attend and celebrate you and your partner. If you really want to have a separate party from your partner just invite the people who are closest to you, don’t be designated by gender.
2. Address Your Invitation Inclusively.
Traditionally when addressing a couple you would write “Mr. and Mrs. James Smith” instead you could write the preferred name of both guests. This also gives the invitation a more personal touch since you are addressing both people. Additionally if there is a woman in the couple you could list her name first.
3. Consider Gender-nonconforming Guests.
Ask your guests what their pronouns are with their RSVP. Your job as the host is to make sure everyone feels welcome. A great way to do this is to put your guest preferred pronouns on the place cards. When working with your stationery designer let them know this is an aspect you would like to include.
4. Have an Inclusive Wedding Party.
You no longer have to have an all girls or all boys side. All orientations and identities can be included on either side. Choose people that played a major role in supporting you and your partner. You want the people standing by your side during your ceremony to be the ones closest to you. Likewise instead of requiring dresses and suits for their assumed gender, let your party have a choice of what to wear by giving them options that still match your wedding party attire and their identity. That way everyone in your party can feel comfortable in their choice of attire.
5. Select A Venue That is LGBTQ+ Friendly.
Venues who are LGBTQ+ friendly are usually very open about being inclusive. Check their website and social media not only that they say they are inclusive but look to see if their content is also. Make sure that their photos and videos show people of different sexual orientation, gender expression and race. Also check their reviews. Do the reviews match what the website is saying about themselves?
6. State a Wedding Dress Code, But Not the Attire.
What is the difference? According to dictionary.com dress code is “a set of rules or guidelines regarding the manner of dress” and attire is specifying exactly what they need to wear, gowns for women and suits for men. Communicating your wedding dress code (ex: cocktail, semi-formal, etc.) to your guest informs them how to dress while still maintaining that they feel comfortable.
7. Choose Your Vendors With Intention.
Last but certainly not least. This is perhaps the most important piece of advice, hire LGBTQ+ friendly vendors. Weddings are an investment in your love for eachother and your guest but also in your community with your money. Hiring vendors who are inclusive not only ensures that everyone who attends feels comfortable but you are supporting a minority group of vendors, such as women, LGBTQ+, or BIPOC owned. This is an amazing and rare opportunity when you will be sending thousands to a very small community. In addition after your ceremony tag and share your vendors on social platforms. Do not forget to review them so that other inclusive minded couples will have an easier time finding them.
You Got This!
When planning an inclusive wedding it can become stressful, but I hope these tips will help lessen your stress. As always Chelsey Huff Design would love to help when designing the perfect wedding stationery for you and your partner’s special day.
XOXO – Chelsey