#QueerVendors is back!

Hey there!

I'm Victoria (she/her), and I'm beyond thrilled to announce my return to a project that's been stirring in my heart for far too long. Last year, I dipped my toes into promoting queer talent in the wedding industry with the launch of the first-ever Instagram account dedicated exclusively to promoting queer-owned wedding businesses like ours. The response was electrifying—brief yet profoundly affirming. I heard from queer photographers, wedding planners, officiants, florists, and designers from around the world who were just as excited as I was to celebrate the amazing work queer vendors are doing in this industry.

But life got busy, and after a couple months I had to put the project on hold– until now. Over the last several weeks, I've been working hard behind the scenes to build momentum and ensure that when Queer Vendors relaunches, we'll be prepared to grow and sustain it.

Last year, creating that Instagram account allowed me to share the work of amazing queer vendors I might never would have otherwise met! And in the process, I learned two important things:

1. There's a real hunger for queer inspiration in the wedding industry, from vendors and couples alike.
2. Queer vendors are the epitome of creativity and innovation in this space.

It's clear to me that our community is shaping the future of weddings. The world is starting to recognize our magic, but we know there's still so much more to share!

So here's what Queer Vendors is dreaming of...

📮💌 A monthly newsletter promoting YOUR work, starting next month!

Launching in May 2024, this monthly newsletter is tailored for an audience of wedding vendors (with allies warmly welcomed!) and shines a spotlight solely on the remarkable work of queer wedding professionals—all at no cost. It's a chance for queer vendors to discover one another, and it's a chance for allied vendors to learn from the best and queerest the wedding industry has to offer! Think of this as the ultimate round-up of queer wedding inspo and expertise, straight to your inbox every month. It's also your FREE monthly opportunity to promote your work and get on more "preferred vendors" lists.

We want the first installment of the Queer Vendors newsletter to be JUICY, so please submit YOUR work!* Deadline to submit is Monday, May 6, to be sent out on Friday, May 10.

⭐ Submit to the Queer Vendors Newsletter using this form. ⭐

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• A blog post you wrote about tips/trends/anything!
• A link to photos highlighting your favorite wedding moments
• A blurb advertising your podcast
• An invite to join your affiliate program
• An exclusive offer with coupon code QUEERVENDORS  

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ A more profitable Pride Month for queer-owned wedding businesses

Our goal is to feature 30 queer wedding vendors on our Instagram account during the month of June—one for each day of the month. June is considered Pride Month in many places around the world, and queer folks know better than anyone that the added focus on the LGBTQ+ community (while sometimes annoying its capitalist performativity 🙄) can be harnessed to get lots of added exposure for our businesses.

⭐ Submit to the @QueerVendors Instagram account using this form. ⭐

🌈❤️ A Game-Changing, Totally FREE Queer Vendor Directory

This is the dream that inspired @queervendors in the first place: an online directory spotlighting *exclusively* queer vendors—at no charge, forever. When I entered the wedding industry as a queer officiant three years ago, I didn't know any other professionals in the wedding industry, and I had to work HARD to find other queer vendors at all. And I thought: it shouldn't be this hard.

I searched far and wide for a public vendor directory that promoted queer-owned businesses, but I couldn't find one that checked all the boxes. Some were queer-only but super local, some were free but featured queer and allied vendors alike. And just about everything required business owners to pay for the privilege of being listed at all. I still haven't found anything out there designed to be a one-stop-shop for queer folks planning their wedding (or for a queer wedding industry newbie to meet values-aligned vendors). It's about time there existed a place where *anyone * can go to find the queer wedding pros of their dreams!

This Queer Vendor Directory is still in its pre-launch phase, so for now the best way you can support is by submitting your info (if you're a queer vendor) and sharing the news with other queer vendors.

⭐ Join the Queer Vendor Directory (coming soon!) using this form. ⭐

But enough about our dreams. What are you dreaming of for the wedding industry and beyond?

Before I sign off, let me share a bit about the person behind Queer Vendors:

• I'm Victoria Wick (she/her), the proud owner of Something New Ceremonies—a ceremony coaching and vows business that helps marriers empower their loved ones to officiate their special day.
• My journey to officiating began during three immersive years studying ritual arts and storytelling at the University of Chicago Divinity School, followed by a stint as a progressive Christian pastor. Suffice it to say, I'm a bit of a ceremony nerd. If you share the passion, let's connect!
• I wear my queer, autistic, and disabled identities like badges of honor. They've shaped me into the nuanced, empathetic wedding professional I am today. But, full disclosure, it's an ongoing journey—one I'm eager to share with kindred spirits navigating similar paths.

I'm so excited to relaunch Queer Vendors, and I'm honored to invite you on this journey with me! Together, let's amplify queer voices, celebrate love in all its forms, and spark a queer revolution in the wedding industry.

⭐ You can find all the useful links shared in this email on our brand new website! ⭐

With boundless excitement and unwavering pride,
Victoria