LOUISVILLE, Ky. — June marks Pride Month across the country, but it also marks the beginning of peak wedding season. In the years since the legalization of gay marriage, many in the wedding industry have worked to make planning more inclusive of couples in the LGBTQ+ community.
For vendors like Louisville's Sarah Davis, it's about simple steps to celebrate love for all. Davis runs queer and woman-owned business Sarah Katherine Davis Photography. She's been shooting weddings since she was in high school, capturing countless Kentuckiana couples on one of the most special days of their lives.
"It's just a great day to be able to document the connection between people. It's a lot of people who don't get to see each other very often all in the same place and getting to document those relationships and the dynamics between people," Davis said.
In 2014, Davis stepped out from behind the lens to help with a project to fight for marriage equality, and to prepare vendors to take LGBTQ+ weddings once it passed. That turned into Inclusive Kentucky Weddings, which Davis started running in 2020.
The site serves as a director of vendors that are accepting of and affirming to queer couples. It also provides vendors with resources to help them improve how they serve those couples.
"Vendors not assuming anything about anyone there, and just asking and accommodating everyone is the way to go," Davis said.
In downtown La Grange, 17-year industry veteran Lauren Montgomery has watched her own slice of the industry change dramatically.
"We have seen the industry explode with plus size gowns, imagery of all colors, and grooms and brides and brides and brides, and we absolutely love it," she said.
Couture Closet, Montgomery and her business partner's wedding dress boutique, is a member of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings.
Through the site, Montgomery said she's been able to connect with other vendors, like women's suit designers, in case her shop doesn't have the right fit for a customer. The shop also trains staff to use inclusive language with customers, their partners and guests.
Montgomery said it's about making sure every person who shops there can feel confident saying 'yes' to the right wedding attire.
"It says it right on the front of our website, we want to celebrate you no matter your size or age or who you're marrying or your abilities," she said. "You are welcomed here and safe here and we just want to celebrate with you."
Beyond just actively welcoming queer couples, Davis said there are many, sometimes subtle, ways vendors like photographers, DJ's and even venues can rethink how inclusive they're being.
"In the getting ready rooms, lots of venues have 'bridal suite' plastered all over everything and then have a weird cave in the basement that's like the groom's area," Davis said. "It might not be great for straight couples either, because no one wants to be hidden in the basement in the weird room. But also when queer couples are getting ready, if we're both two brides and we're both pretty femme, who gets the weird deer head, bourbon barrel, basement room?"
Davis said language is among the most important factors vendors should consider. She noted the way DJ's address crowds of guests can be limiting, if they're using terms like "ladies and gentlemen." Additionally, many contracts identify couples as "bride and groom."
"It's really easy to just control 'f' on a document and find any instance where you use gendered language and replace it," she said.
The love captured in Davis's photos is something she wants for every couple, and she hopes they can find it with inclusive vendors who will make their wedding memorable.
"They just get to inquire like everyone else does, they just see if they're available on the date and if they're a good fit for them," she said.
Davis said Inclusive Kentucky Weddings is working to expand the registry, and is particularly looking for inclusive caterers, makeup artists and dessert services.
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