Gay Weddings are Good for Business

Research, data, advice and tips on the business of same-sex weddings from Bernadette Coveney Smith, the nation's leading gay wedding expert. In 2004, Bernadette opened 14 Stories, the first company in the U.S. to specialize in planning legal same-sex weddings.

Photos in Your Marketing Strategy to Gay and Lesbian Couples

Bernadette Coveney Smith - Thursday, June 03, 2010
I get asked this question all the time by wedding industry vendors: how do I market to gay and lesbian couples?

It's the #1 question I'm asked.

My answer is: start by including photos of gay and lesbian couples on your website and in your other marketing materials.  

Instead this photo to the left is what we normally get. (Photo by Teesside, UK)  Lots and lots of photos like that - a very attractive couple and they look lovely and happy and they should.

And I'm not saying that you shouldn't include such photos - but it would help your business to show greater diversity in your online portfolio and in your printed materials.  If you advertise on a gay wedding directory website or print ad, do not include a photo of a straight couple in your ad!

I try not to be a shameless self-promoter but I do think this is important.  I offer a class for those in the wedding industry looking to reach the LGBT marketplace.  

The next question I'm asked is: if I've never shot or worked a gay wedding, how do I get photos for my website?

Go through your portfolio and choose some shots of the bride or the groom alone;  choose some where the gender may be ambiguous; use ample detail shots and long shots - and for more ideas, look at the photos on this very website, www.GayWeddingInstitute.com.

Comment (1) | Subscribe to this Blog | Contact Us | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink | Copyright 2012 14 Stories


Bookmark and Share
Comments
julie commented on 03-Jun-2010 04:17 PM
great post. luckily GLBT businesses have more (and good) choices these days when it comes to buying Gay and Lesbian images for advertising.

One of the reasons I started my company was to provide GREAT GLBT stock photography images (of couples).

http://www.homostock.com

cheers
julie
Post a Comment




Captcha Image

Real Conversation During Setup of a Gay Wedding

Bernadette Coveney Smith - Friday, January 15, 2010

This is a real life conversation that happened during setup of one of my clients' gay weddings:

Banquet Manager:  Where are the bride and groom sitting?
Bernadette:  There are two brides and they are sitting over there (points to the seats).
(a few minutes later)
Banquet Manager:  I'm sorry, can you remind me where the bride and groom are sitting?
Bernadette: There are two brides and they are sitting over there (points to the seats).
Banquet Manager: OK....then where are the two grooms sitting?

Now, I knew that this Banquet Manager wasn't homopobic because the owner of the catering company (her boss) is gay and so were some of her colleagues.  She was, in fact, very nice.

But her immediate thought after hearing me say that there were two brides was not to think that this was a same-sex wedding - but rather to think that it was a double wedding, with two straight couples.

I mention this because gay weddings are not on most people's radars.  Most of the world is not used to gay weddings and if you are a wedding planner, you will have similar conversations.  This is an example of heterosexism.

If you've worked at gay weddings, have you ever had a similar conversation? Or if not, do you have an example of a vendor making assumptions about your clients?



Comment (2) | Subscribe to this Blog | Contact Us | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink | Copyright 2012 14 Stories


Bookmark and Share
Comments
Juliet Douglas commented on 15-Jan-2010 06:39 PM
I had an October wedding for a lesbian couple last October and surprisingly we didn't have any conversations like that! The only slip up was when the amenity from the hotel read "Mr & Mrs.". I believe the hotel was not aware because one of the brides had somewhat of a unisex name. My sweet couple told me about it but had a good laugh.
RIck Aguilar commented on 15-Jan-2010 09:23 PM
Dear Bernadette,
I had a similar experience in Chicago when I was photographing a gay wedding at a public garden. We had overheard someone asking another member of the wedding party if the two ladies were marring one man,I guess he couldn't fathom two women being together?? But as continued to take photos we also heard a little girl ask her mother what was going on and after she told her the girls response was one day I am going to marry my best friend too! That story we did share with the couple.
Post a Comment




Captcha Image

Gay Wedding Glossary: Homophobia

Bernadette Coveney Smith - Friday, September 07, 2007
Gay Wedding Glossary

Homophobia: Encompasses a range of hateful, negative and fearful attitudes and actions towards LGBT people.  Homophobia is different than heterosexism in that homophobia involves intentional action and is not accidental.

Derivatives include transphobia and biphobia.

Comment (0) | Subscribe to this Blog | Contact Us | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink | Copyright 2012 14 Stories


Bookmark and Share
Comments
Post has no comments.
Post a Comment




Captcha Image

Gay Wedding Glossary: Heterosexism

Bernadette Coveney Smith - Sunday, September 02, 2007
Gay Wedding Glossary

Heterosexism/Heteronormative: Actions, attitudes and institutions that reflect the assumption that all people are heterosexual. Often functions through omission and language. For instance, forms that use “husband” and “wife” instead of “spouse”or "partner" - or the common exclamation about a charming young child, “Oh, she is going to break some boy’s heart!”

Heterosexism is rampant in the wedding industry, particularly with the wide reference to "the bride" and all things "bridal."  Heterosexism is different from homophobia in that heterosexism is often accidental and even the most well-meaning people are guilty of expecting one bride and one groom.


Comment (0) | Subscribe to this Blog | Contact Us | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink | Copyright 2012 14 Stories


Bookmark and Share
Comments
Post has no comments.
Post a Comment




Captcha Image

Previous 1 2