Join the National Gay Wedding Association today! - "Weddings for Everyone" - Wedding Expo Begins June 1, 2022. Live July 13, & August 24, 2022.
The National Gay Wedding Association (NGWA), offers professional and educational resources to it's Members. The NGWA welcomes professional wedding & event creatives that are in invested in learning and implementing inclusive business practices for LGBTQ+ couples. No matter where you are in your inclusive awareness and understanding, the NGWA has a place for you. Start building your inclusive business practices today.
In the wedding & event industry we must learn appropriate language to talk about queer couples to understand innovative and new wedding traditions. We must reimagine the institution of marriage as it has existed sense the beginning. As advocates in the wedding and event industry, we must continue to pursue equitable standards for queer people across different cultures, and acquire new resources to support and uphold those standards by becoming aware, authentic and accountable to our couples. NGWA members put their inclusive knowledge to the test in our "Weddings for Everyone" - Wedding Expo!
For LGBTQ+ Couples, the NGWA provides a network of established Inclusive Wedding & Event Creatives and LGBTQ+ Advocates who provide invaluable experience and heart to engaged couples. Seeking inclusive wedding professionals begins with NGWA. Visit our portfolio of NGWA Members!
LGBTQ+ Couples are invited to attend Weddings for Everyone - Exclusively Inclusive LGBTQ+ Wedding Expo!
Need help finding wedding services? Let the NGWA help you find your perfect wedding professionals. Simply complete our Couple Request form.
Prefer the word “marriage” to be used when planning their wedding, instead of “gay-wedding.”
Live together an average of seven to nine years before getting married.
Pay for the wedding themselves, and have a higher combined income than straight couples.
Want to know BEFORE THEY SPEAK WITH YOU that you are inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.
Use a friend or family member to marry them.
Keep their attire a surprise until their wedding day (lesbian woman).
Interested in learning more?
Awareness, Authenticity and Accountability - Join The National Gay Wedding Association Today!
Born out of the personal experience of our Founding President Ric Simmons, the National Gay Wedding Association began as a resource for LGBTQ+ couples navigating the wedding planning process as queer people. After the landmark victory of Obergfell v. Hodges in 2015, same-sex couples were guaranteed their constitutional right to marry in all 50 of the United States. Of course, this decision was followed by a series of challenges from local government and private business owners, making wedding planning difficult for queer couples who were still denied services around the country. Which still continues today.
Living in Texas at the time, Ric started “My Texas Gay Wedding” and eventually expanded to a national platform with “My Gay Wedding.” Soon realizing that despite the excitement from wedding vendors who wanted to implement inclusive business practices, there were very few resources available to make that possible within the wedding & event industry. National Gay Wedding Association answered the call to become the go-to source for wedding vendors and event professionals in search of LGBTQ+ specific resources and education on implementing inclusive business practices. The NGWA is your ally in the wedding & event industry to help educate you along the way.
Still today in 2022, couples are denied services for simply loving who they love. Ready to be a Wedding Advocate for LGBTQ+ couples? Join us!
NGWA is a 501(c)3 non-profit professional association committed to creating inclusive awareness for wedding professionals through supporting partnerships, continuing education, and being an active advocate for LGBTQ+ couples in the wedding and event industry.
Kelly Balch
she/her
Kelly Balch Photography
To recognize individuals for their unwavering support of the Inaugural Inclusive Awareness Conference, the National Gay Wedding Association is proud to announce its first official list of Founding Members, Mentors, and Advocates. This list of prestigious wedding professionals represents individuals who are wholeheartedly and unselfishly dedicated to the National Gay Wedding Association’s mission and purpose. We offer them our deepest gratitude.
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Sara Cunningham
she/her
Free Mom Hugs Founder
Meghan Ely
she/her
OFD Consulting
Holly Gray
she/her
Anything but Gray Events
Bron Hansboro
he/him
The Flower Guy Bron
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Jove Meyer
he/him
Jove Meyer Events
Tia Nash
They/Them
Tia Nash Photography
Kirsten Palladino
she/her
Equally Wed
Jose Rolon
he/him
Jose Rolon Events
Milan Thakrar
he/him
Work With Milan-Consultant
Jaymes Vaughan & Jonathon Bennett
he/him & he/him
Advocates - Actors -TV Host
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NGWA members receive:
Dash of Pride will give NGWA members a 25% discount when they buy the Dash of Pride Certified Pro Program or Consulting Services. Please use the code NGWA25
NGWA members receive a 25% discount on the first-year Little Black Book (LBB) listing. The NGWA is the Inclusive Education Partner for Style Me Pretty wedding professionals.
National Gay Wedding Association members can enjoy discounted tickets and early admission opportunities for national and local events. Members receive discounts from our Partners while elevating their business to a higher standard of service for LGBTQ+ couples. Network with like-minded wedding professionals from around the world.
Representing Black-Owned Businesses and Entities in the Wedding & Event Planning Industry. Leveling the playing field by collaborating our efforts and presenting a united front as one cohesive body. A complete resource that allows the entire wedding and event planning industry to benefit from its unique operational model. NGWA members receive member-rate on all events and educational opportunities.
Equally Wed Pro's LGBTQ+ inclusive certification course is a deep dive into what makes the LGBTQ+ community so exceptional. It's imperative for your business that you learn the best ways to support, respect, and welcome the LGBTQ+ community, and Equally Wed Pro shows you how. NGWA Members receive a 25% discount.
Get access to over 40,000+ (and growing!) Curated Hashtags so you can focus on your zone of genius. We'll handle the Hashtags, you do the rest! Create your Hashtag Lists for the month/week/day faster than any other Hashtag platform. Our hashtags are pre-vetted, so you don't have to do any additional research. Just select the ones you want, drag, drop, then copy & paste!
NGWA Members receive 15% off monthly discount!
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The NGWA is excited to welcome WIPA as a Partner and their members from around the world. Elevating inclusive practices for all couples. Together we're stronger and better at deepening our understandings. The NGWA encourages current WIPA members to join the NGWA and receive the $50.00 partnership credit. Enjoy the benefits of NGWA membership immediately. WIPA non-NGWA members receive a conference discount.
