How To Be An Ally For Your LGBTQ+ Wedding Clients

How To Be An Ally For Your LGBTQ+ Wedding Clients - Eternity

How To Be An Ally For Your LGBTQ+ Wedding Clients

27th June 2023

“Love knows no boundaries, and every couple deserves to celebrate their union in a way that reflects their unique identity and journey.”

As the world has progressed with the growing awareness of same-sex weddings, we have witnessed some absolutely breathtaking desi LGBTQ+ weddings in recent years.

Honestly, some couples can find planning an LGBTQ+ wedding quite daunting, whilst it is an exciting change of acceptance, many couples can still face certain comments which would make them uncomfortable.

For that reason, we want our couples to easily be able to spot allies, who they can trust and work with for their most special celebration.

Being an ally isn’t just about putting it in your bio, or changing your logo to the pride colours for a month, it’s about the long-term changes you make to ensure all your clients feel comfortable and fairly treated from the moment they begin their journey with you.

In this blog post, we will explore some essential steps that wedding suppliers can take to authentically ensure a warm and welcoming environment for their LGBTQ+ couples, and become an ally – if this is something you and your brand authentically supports.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: CREate an inclusive environment

A first impression is a lasting impression!

This starts from your website, your social media, your reviews, and anything which may be the first point of interaction for potential couples to find you. You want your first impression to reflect your authentic diversity and inclusivity.

Whether it be showcasing images and stories of LGBTQ+ couples you have worked with in the past, or using inclusive language throughout your communications; adopting these steps can let potential clients know that they will be respected and celebrated when working with you.

Do a quick brush through of your website, social media channels, and contracts to ensure that you are using gender-neutral language on firms.

ARE YOU DOING THIS TOO?
A lot of suppliers unintentionally use the terms 'brides & grooms' on any communications. Try to change it to 'the happy couple' or something more generic.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: Educate yourself

It’s crucial, as wedding suppliers, to educate yourself and your teams about LGBTQ+ issues and terminology. Familiarise yourself with the diverse range of identities, pronouns, and expressions that exist within the LGBTQ+ community.

Pronouns

Pronouns are an important aspect of someone’s gender identity and expression, and as mentioned above, to create a friendly and open environment where your couples feel comfortable enough to express their preferred pronoun.

Whilst most commonly known pronouns like “he” and “she” are widely used, it’s crucial to acknowledge and respect the pronouns that individuals choose for themselves. Some individuals may prefer gender-neutral pronouns like “they/them,” while others may use pronouns such as “he/him,” “she/her,” or a combination like “he/they” or “she/they.” (sometimes, there are explicitly stated in their Instagram bio’s / email addresses – keep an eye out!)

Majority of the time, if a couple does have a different pronoun to what you may have assumed, they will likely correct you and not get offended in the first instance. However, if their preferred pronoun is ignored, this could send the potential client the wrong message and appear ignorant.

Gender identity terms

In addition to pronouns, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the terminology related to gender identity. Here are a few key terms to understand:

– Transgender: An umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.
– Cisgender: Refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth.
– Non-binary: A gender identity that does not exclusively align with the binary concepts of male or female.
– Genderqueer: An identity that encompasses a range of gender identities that are not strictly male or female.
– Genderfluid: A gender identity that may vary over time or in different contexts.
– Agender: An identity where an individual does not identify with any specific gender.

Expressions

Language evolves, and new expressions and terminology emerge to reflect the diversity of identities within the LGBTQ+ community. Some common terms and expressions to be aware of include:

– LGBTQ+: An acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning. The “+” symbolizes inclusivity for other identities.
– Queer: An umbrella term that can encompass various sexual orientations and gender identities outside of heteronormativity.
– Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous cultures to describe individuals embodying both masculine and feminine spirits.
– Ally: A person who supports and advocates for the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, even if they don’t identify as LGBTQ+ themselves.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: stay connected

As an ally, it’s important to know other LGBTQ+ wedding ally suppliers that you can work with too. If you know your couple may want to be working with allies, you could add a lot of value to them and nurture your relationship with them better, by connecting them to like-minded people.

It’s important to remember that everyone has a right to their own opinion, and it’s best to respect anyones who chooses not to openly advertise as an ally.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: adapt your offering

There are so many wonderful & loving traditions within our culture, which have all been around for centuries, to symbolise what was applicable to the world at that time. As life has evolved, some of the traditions may also need to be adapted to suit same-sex weddings, to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome.

For example, a ‘Kanyadaan’ traditionally means ‘giving away the bride’ in Sanskrit, which may not be applicable for a wedding where to individuals identify as males. As priests or wedding planners, it’s important to work with your couple and guide them appropriately.

Additionally, if you are a photobooth company, tons of wedding signage often says ‘Mr & Mrs’ – think of providing different options to suit different genders.

Check out this post on Embracing Queer Marriages In South Asian Marriages.

OUR PLATFORM
At Eternity UK, we have always aimed to be inclusive. Whenever any couple logs in, we ask them to provide their preferred title of Bride or Groom.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: ACCEPT MISTAKES

It’s very normal to make mistakes – in everything we do! When it comes to same-sex weddings, couples may have faced challenges whilst getting to that point – albeit this is now rapidly changing as families become more accepting.

If you do accidentally call someone the wrong pronoun, or don’t understand something, simply apologise and ask the individual / couple to explain it better and educate yourself. A little goes a long way.

BECOMING AN LGBTQ+ WEDDING ALLY: Become an advocase

Engage

It’s basic human tendency to prefer working with someone you have a common interest with. That’s why, it’s important for you to have a unique platform to be an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Engage in conversations about LGBTQ+ issues, share resources, and support LGBTQ+ initiatives. Participate in relevant events and actively contribute to creating a more inclusive wedding industry. Your efforts will not only attract LGBTQ+ couples but also inspire other suppliers to follow suit.

We post tons of useful tips & posts for couples and suppliers over on our Instagram. By sharing it to your audience, you may immediately catch the attention of a potential couple, who will identify you as an ally and may reach out.

Promote

As an LGBTQ+ couple, it can be intimidating whilst planning a wedding in our culture, purely due to stories we often hear in the media or through our own communities about some families struggling with acceptance. That’s why, we think it is extremely important to promote yourself as an ally wherever you think it is important – your website, email banner, or social media.

Below, we have created a downloadable graphic suppliers can use as a badge for potential clients, as we celebrate love in all forms.

#LoveIsLove