What does inclusivity at a wedding mean to you? Does it mean accepting a couple as they are - LGBTQ+ or otherwise? Does it mean not just working with vendors who are affirming of an LGBTQ+ relationship, but they’re actually a good, quality vendor? Does it mean regardless of the couple, allowing your wedding party to wear what they feel most comfortable in, even if that means the maid of honor wears a suit? No surprise here, but it’s all of the above! In this episode, we have Zabrina Zablan-Duvauchelle, sharing her personal experience getting married, and taking that experience to create The Gay Agenda, an event planning company focusing on creating space for the LGBTQ+ community.
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How to create a thoughtful and inclusive wedding experience for you and your guests

• Set the tone - be open to breaking old traditions, take on new traditions, and come up with less conventional ideas to include everyone, regardless of background.
• Create your chosen family - biological family and/or friends who are like family. These people will be the ones supporting you and your partner throughout the planning process or as Joe likes to say - your “ride or die”. What do these people mean to your partner? This chosen family needs to be supportive of both of you.
• Create your vendor team based on vendors who are both allies and also great at their jobs. Hire a wedding planner that can help you find vendors who can support both, or rely on your chosen family to help you - this should not have to be the responsibility of the couple getting married. Take the labor off the couple of having to come out to their vendors.
• Breaking down gender barriers
  • Mixed gender parties are great - give your wedding party ownership of how they can dress - let them wear a jumper or pants instead of a dress if they want to
  • Eliminate the bouquet toss
  • Create new bouquet toss tradition - toss to all single people, not just women, or give them a key to unlock the bouquet (and some money)
  • Review with your officiant and MC their programs, to confirm their language is inclusive of your relationship
  • Instead or Mr and Mrs (or Mrs and Mrs), how about “the newlyweds” - it keeps everyone equal.
• The number one tip/takeaway from this episode - never assume anything. Always ask your clients what they prefer and this will be a game changer for your business.
• Breaking a gendered dress code → let’s do a vibe or aesthetic vs a dress code
  • Body positivity is a thing, what looks good on one person won’t look good for everyone.
• Allow guests to feel liberated, loved and remembered by making them feel included.
• What do we do with family stuck in tradition? Find a way to look past it, and let them do them. Protect yourself and your investment - rescind their invite if you need to. Lean in on your chosen family to guide you through it, and surround yourself with that vibe

Find Zabrina/The Gay Agenda
https://www.thegayagenda.co/
All socials @thegayagenda.co

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