How To Be More inclusive as a Wedding Supplier

For the last five years I have strived to become a better inclusive Wedding photographer and with this has come the training and teaching I’ve shared with the whole wedding industry.

I came out five years ago, very late in my life, and it was really an eye opening moment for both me personally (of course!) and my business and connection to the Wedding industry. This industry is very cis-het normative, we see most things showcasing white skinny Brides like Grooms don’t get married let alone the LGBTQIA+ community.

Not only do I run an LGBTQ+ inclusivity workshop, Love For All, to help with learning and understanding as well as representation within shoots, but I also do a lot through Stephanie Dreams Photography. Keeping inclusivity and a safe space at the core of what I do, what I show and how I want my couples and lovers to feel and see when they book me as their Wedding photographer.

I wanted to share some reminders on how to be more inclusive as a Wedding Supplier, so you can go into 2024 feeling like you’re more aware and able to be open on how to become a true ally to my gorgeous community.

1. Sometimes there’s no Bride.
   Maybe there’s 2 Grooms or maybe your couple don’t identify as being called a Bride (or a Groom). It’s so important that we don’t market only to Brides, people getting Married are so much more than this.

2. …and sometimes there’s two.
   Of course two women getting Married happens, how wonderful it is to see too. With “same sex marriage” only being legal for the last 10years, all LGBTQ+ weddings are a joy and so special, however we have to remember that the community is more than just two pretty femme lesbians getting Married.
   We may see women in dresses, or suits, there may not be a more masculine looking person and if there is that does not mean they’re “the man” of the relationship or that you should pose them as such.

3. Flowers, Makeup & Dresses aren’t just for Brides.
   So can we stop calling everything Bridal now, Wedding dresses, Wedding flowers, Wedding makeup…. not Bridal! And no, you won’t ever attract or truly market to anyone other than Brides if your language isn’t inclusive or you haven’t got LGBTQ+ representation within your social media or website.

4. Non Binary doesn’t look a certain way.
   Sadly marriage equality isn’t here yet, simply because the human rights of LGBTQ+ humans are still being fought for and questions on a daily basis (thanks to the Tories!) because of this Non Binary isn’t a legal gender, and so Enby humans getting married really go through being misgendered and having to protect their identity and joy so much more.
   Please remember that Non Binary people don’t look a certain way or have a certain gender expression, they’re simply people that don’t fit into the gender binary. They may where dresses and makeup, they may look androgenous, they may be medically transitioning or change their name, but they may look a way that you perceive into the binary- but that’s not your identity or story to tell.

5. Straight facing Queer relationships exist.
   Let that just digest for a moment, and truly understand what you think you see may not be what truly is. Trans people fall in love, Bi babes get married, and Queer is a whole variety of different love and different humans that to you, may fit into being straight. However if you presume and put that onto your couples you could be making them hide a huge part of them. No matter who I date, I will also be LGBTQ+ and it will always be a big part of my personality and my love story.

6. Trans Love is wonderful.
   Trans people exist. Trans people are loved. If you just believe in same sex and your inclusivity and allyship doesn’t reach to trans people then you’re simply not inclusive, not a safe space for any LGBTQ+ or same sex couple. The trans community are being villainised and demonised constantly, with human rights being questions all the time. This is a very vulnerable group that need to see and be aware that you will treat them with love, kindness and that your actual belief is that to help and support them always.

I talk a lot about inclusivity on my instagram account, so if you want to learn more and do better then head over to @stephaniedreamsphotography to follow me there