More than six years after marriage equality became the law of the land for residents of Washington, D.C., some same-sex couples in the area still find it difficult to realize their dream wedding. Whether it’s identifying wedding vendors who share your vision and will support your relationship, or finding wedding fashion inspiration that mirrors your style, it’s an uphill battle for lots of queer folk planning weddings in the DMV.
That’s part of the reason why GayWeddings.com, a wedding planning and inspiration website that’s been around since 1999, organized a panel of knowledgeable same-sex newlywed couples to chat about what it’s really like to plan a two-bride or two-groom wedding in the area. Hosted by GayWeddings’ sister company, WeddingWire, in their Chevy Chase headquarters on Sunday, May 1, it’s expected to be a fun, informative afternoon for couples getting ready to tie the knot.
Moderated by a wedding planner who’s gearing up for her own two-bride wedding, Sarah Peterson, owner of Sincerely Pete Events, the panel will give couples a chance to learn the down and dirty details, tips and tricks and wedding planning hacks that saved the day for the diverse group of newlyweds.
“Although marriage equality certainly isn’t a new concept in the Washington, D.C. area, it can still be a vastly different process for same-sex couples planning the weddings of their dreams, compared to straight couples,” said Whitney Teal, content manager of GayWeddings.com.
“I hear from couples all the time that they didn’t get a call back from a vendor when the person realized they were same-sex, or that they had to do some editing on vendor contracts, or things like that. There’s still a lot to learn about how to navigate the wedding industry when you’re queer.”
Although couples will have lots of information to avail themselves to at the event, it won’t be all business. Expect champagne cocktails, treats from DC’s Buttercream Bakeshop and tunes courtesy of DJ Tezrah. Most importantly, engaged and pre-engaged couples will have the opportunity to meet other couples that are planning weddings.
The event is free and open to anyone, but registration is required, so grab your tickets at this website. If you have any questions about the event, shoot an email to the organizers at community@gayweddings.com.
