Finding LGBTQ+ Friendly Wedding Vendors

Celebrating Pride Month!

While April showers bring May flowers, June comes bringing rainbow power – which has coined it to be a month of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community.

Throughout the month, there are countless events and campaigns created to both empower and raise awareness for the beautiful community.

Photographer Credit - Foto Bohemia

FairyTail Pet Care is a wedding vendor that offers inclusive wedding day pet care – priding itself in servicing all couples and domestic animal breeds alike.

Wedding planning can be a long and daunting process for all couples if the right vendor relationships are not established and cultivated.

When planning a wedding, it is important for couples to be conscious in their search for vendors who identify being in and allies of the communities that the couple wishes to support.

Photographer Credit - Jessica Cruz Photography

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Here are four ways for couples to seek vendors for their wedding that are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community:

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1. Use established wedding planning resources with built-in search filters, such as WeddingWire, The Knot, and Equally Wed.

Photographer Credit - Ashley White Photos

For example, on WeddingWire, users can utilize the “Support Diversity” feature to choose to support from a diverse selection of business owner communities. When business owners sign up to be vendors for these sites, there is an option to self-identify as being members of marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ community.

Another means of ensuring that a vendor is inclusive is to review their portfolio to validate their diverse representation. Vendors who proudly identify themselves as being a part of marginalized communities have great tendency to be understanding, flexible, and empathetic to their clients, which makes them great partners in curating the perfect customized experience for all couples.

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2. Search for supporting #hashtags on social media

Photographer Credit - Sarah Fosco Photography

In this day and age, social media is a great platform to stay connected, be up-to-date on current trends, and gaining a sense of belonging to the global community. Couples are turning to social media to try and find wedding vendors, which is an amazing opportunity for vendors to tailor their content accordingly.

Couples can search for inclusive vendors by using some of these representative hashtags: #LGBTWedding, #LGBTWeddingPlanner, #LGBTWeddingPhotographer, #LGBTOwned, #LoveIsLove.

Hashtags are a limitless filtering tool that users can use to search and showcase their beliefs. Not only will couples be able to find vendors who represent their interests, but they will also be able to find inspiration from other shared content by LGBTQ+ couples.

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3. Join online communities of interest

Photographer Credit - Matthew Schuler Photography

A great way to be involved and participate in online communities is by searching and joining specific Facebook Groups. Not only are these tailored Groups available on the global and national level (ex. “LGBT Couples & Wedding Vendors”), they are also available on more local levels, such as the state, county, and city (ex. “LGBT Friendly Wedding and Event Vendors in Southern California”).

These groups provide tight-knit and interactive communities that couples can seek support through others’ personal experiences and gain insight through customer reviews.

For couples who may not be as active on social media, there are also a plethora of resources available through general online searches for LGBTQ+ wedding vendors (ex. LGBTweddings.com).

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4. Connect and engage with vendors before hiring

Photographer Credit - Rad Red Creative

Conducting due diligence when searching for the right wedding vendors will make or break a wedding planning experience. Couples can be working directly with their vendors anywhere from years or weeks to plan the perfect day.

With that, having open and intimate professional relationships with vendors will allow for a smooth, seamless, and enjoyable experience for all parties involved. There are many factors that come into play when choosing vendors, and having them support or represent the communities that couples advocate for should absolutely be at the forefront.

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Heba & Lyric, Co-Owners of FairyTail Pet Care - Las Vegas

Pride month is near and dear to Heba and Lyric, co-owners of FairyTail Pet Care - Las Vegas, who are proud to not only be business partners, but also life partners. As members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, they strive to inspire others to love and accept all walks of life.

As women of color in the LGBTQ+ community, Heba and Lyric understand the challenges of being in marginalized groups and are dedicated to using their first-hand experiences to pave the way for future leaders in the wedding industry and pride community to feel empowered to pursue their authentic self and dreams.