When Kirsten Palladino, co-founder and editorial director of Equally Wed, started planning her wedding in 2008 to her now-wife, Maria, she found the experience challenging for one big reason: "We noticed that that there was really nothing on the market that felt true to who we were," she said. "There was nothing mainstream that included us in terms of wedding magazines or blogs."
Palladino was planning a celebration that didn't fit into the hetereonormative traditions defined by western society. Now, more than a decade later, LGBTQ+ couples still face many of those same hurdles.
"Marriage equality is relatively new in this country, so for many years weddings only consisted of a bride and a groom," explained event designer Jove Meyer of Jove Meyer Events. "They were viewed exclusively through a cis-gendered lens, with traditions, terms, and wedding culture created for only them."
Both Meyer and Palladino believe weddings should be more inclusive, and work actively to reframe conversations and educate both wedding vendors and couples on how to be more inclusive.
To start, Meyer created an ally pledge to ensure everyone he works with is committed to making the wedding industry more diverse and equitable. Palladino penned a comprehensive a glossary of inclusive language for Equally Wed to help vendors better understand LGBTQ+ couples.
As our definitions of a couple evolve, so should our references to their celebrations.