Inclusive Marketing for Your Wedding Business That Goes Beyond Rainbows

Inclusive Marketing Strategies for Wedding Vendors Who Truly Welcome Everyone

If you're here, you probably already know that being inclusive isn't about slapping a rainbow on your logo every June and calling it a day. But what exactly do you do to show people you truly are inclusive? 

Inclusive marketing means making LGBTQIA+ clients feel genuinely seen, safe, and celebrated in every part of your wedding business.. It also happens to be one of the best ways to build a brand rooted in trust and authenticity, not just during Pride Month, but all year long.

In this blog, I’m breaking down how wedding vendors (especially beauty pros) can shift from performative to powerful with their inclusive marketing. We’ll cover everything from updating your contact form to showing real representation in your photos and language.

What you'll find in this blog:

• How to attract LGBTQIA+ and ally clients year-round

• Where to add inclusive language to your site and emails

• Easy swaps to show you're a safe and affirming vendor

• Real examples from my own biz and clients

• AI generated images of example clients and ways to show diversity

Definitions You Might See in This Post:

Inclusive marketing: Content, language, and imagery that makes people of all identities feel seen and respected

Rainbow-washing: Using LGBTQIA+ symbols for clout or profit without any real support for the community

Pride marketing: Campaigns or branding done during Pride Month (June) to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community

👉 Before we get started, I want you to pay attention to all the images included. While the couples are different, the style of photograph, hair and makeup, and posing is all very similar. This is what make a brand cohesive when showing diverse couples.

Why Inclusive Marketing Matters (Even If You Think You're Already Doing It)

If you’ve ever added "bride and groom" to your contact form without a second thought, you’re not alone. Most wedding templates were built with hetero-norms baked in, and many vendors just haven't updated them. But here’s the thing: LGBTQIA+ couples are out here searching for vendors who don’t make them feel like an afterthought.

If your website, social content, or emails only show straight-presenting couples, you might be unintentionally repelling the clients you want to serve.

And let’s be honest, people can feel when you’re just checking boxes.

Let’s fix that.

Where to Start: Your Website, Contact Form + Copy

You don’t need a total rebrand to be more inclusive. Start with these quick wins:

• Add a "you are safe here" badge to your website footer (we have one on Marry Me Design Studio). I made mine in Canva.

• Replace "bride and groom" with "Person 1 / Person 2" or "Name / Pronouns" (sharing pronouns should always be optional)

• Let clients self-describe instead of using dropdowns for gender

• Avoid assumptions in your services page (like "You’ll feel like the most beautiful bride"—do all of your clients identify as a bride?)

If you're using a CRM like HoneyBook, it's easy to customize your forms and email templates with inclusive language.

Show Real Diverse Representation

Photos matter. A lot. But inclusivity in imagery doesn't mean just one gay couple buried three pages deep. It means showing real, diverse couples across your website, social, and portfolio. With their permission, of course.

Here’s what that can look like:

• Featuring LGBTQIA+ couples on your homepage and social media all year

• Captions that use their pronouns and describe the love story, not just the look

• Credit your queer vendors + collaborators visibly

And don’t forget: inclusion also means showing diversity in race, body type, age, and ability.

But what if your paying client all look the same? This is exactly what happened to me in the beginning. Most of my clients looked like me: fair skin, blonde, with light eyes. I wasn’t doing any styled shoots and my marketing relied heavily on posting my own makeup looks to Instagram.

When I realized the discrepancy between who I wanted to serve and my current clientele, I began joining and coordinating styled shoots with intention. I looked for vendors with the same values and was specific about the models I wanted to capture.

Styled shoots don’t have to be over the top. They can also be simple with a photographer and venue. Especially if the couple is already or married and still has their wedding attire. Be clear with your vision. A Pinterest board can help to communicate what you want.

Use Inclusive Language in Emails + DMs

A few thoughtful changes to your outreach can go a long way:

• "Hey there" instead of "Hi bride!"

• "Tell me about your partner" instead of "Tell me about the groom"

• "I'd love to hear your love story" instead of assuming a gender dynamic

When I shifted my email templates to be more inclusive, I saw replies from couples who said, "We booked you because we felt safe just reading your form."

Celebrate Pride Without Rainbow-Washing

Yes, show up for Pride Month, but only if you're showing up all year.

Here are ways to do it well:

• Donate a portion of June sales to queer orgs

• Spotlight LGBTQIA+ clients or vendors you love working with

• Update your booking form and site before promoting Pride

• Pay LGBTQIA+ creators such as your models or provide a reasonable and agreeable trade

Not sure if your site is sending the right message? Our Website Audit Checklist can help.

The Real Impact of Inclusive Marketing

When your marketing is truly inclusive, you attract clients who:

• Feel respected and seen

• Are willing to pay more for a safer experience

• Refer you to others in their community

Inclusive marketing builds trust. And trust is what books dream clients.

If you're booked out but not attracting the clients you actually want? This might be the missing piece.

Ready to Be a Safer, More Booked-Out Brand?

If this blog has you rethinking your website copy or client flow, you're not alone. I work with beauty pros every day who want their brand to be beautiful and inclusive.

Need help updating your site? Start with one of our Website Templates built with this in mind. Or get support fast with Website AssistantGPT, your on-demand website writer.

Want a client management tool that makes inclusive marketing easier?Try HoneyBook.