For decades, there has been a glaring lack of diversity in the bridal industry. You rarely see ethnic models grace the cover of popular bridal magazines and black designers and boutique owners are seldom recognized as being amongst the best in the business. The trickle-down effect has left black women with few options for wedding finery that fits their skin tones and diverse body types, as well as being left feeling excluded, this can also result in lower self-esteem, confidence, and body image issues.

If you have a platform as a wedding professional, you have an opportunity. There are thousands of talented black wedding professionals who can do just as good a job or better as any other wedding pro. If you don’t know who they are, start paying attention.  You must amplify their voices and content. Build relationships and connect with others.

It’s time to demand that the wedding space is safe for everyone and all groups—especially those who face the most discrimination. Being diverse isn’t enough. Tokenism is performative. But collectively, we can educate ourselves in the insidious ways racism shows up in the wedding industry and take action to create a more inclusive environment. Models of Diversity tell you how…

Take inventory of your business.

Ask yourself questions including, but not limited to:

• Do my materials represent diversity of body shape, ability, age, race, gender expression, etc.?
• How diverse is my space? Do I possess the means to make change?
• Do I provide information, services, and/or resources that are inclusive to all

Cultivate an environment of diversity and inclusivity

Have you got black designers?  Do you offer dresses with a multitude of ‘nudes’?  If you have a list of preferred suppliers, actively seek out Black and brown vendors (and any other underrepresented group) to ensure that you are fully representative.

Reviews and recommendations will make the world of a difference to your vendors. Use your voice to sing their praises wherever you can!  Make the effort to highlight and amplify the BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ team of businesses who bring their clients visions to life.

Practice cultural competence

This simply means that you and staff can interact effectively with people from different cultures, respect and respond to different people’s needs, beliefs, and practices, and work to learn about cultures that aren’t your own.

When you can acknowledge someone else’s lived experience, it shows respect, inclusion, and builds trust.

It’s not enough to be non-racist anymore. Part of your anti-racist journey will include unlearning your own unconscious and implicit bias. Holding yourself and others accountable. Just because something doesn’t affect you directly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care. On the contrary, your ability to “not care” is proof of your privilege.

Sitting with temporary discomfort can lead to lasting change when you implement these steps. When we collectively take action, we can move in the direction of creating a more inclusive, diverse, safe, and equitable wedding industry to be proud of. It’s not truly a safe space until it’s safe for everyone.