On the Straight and Narrow

I am reading Wedding Planning & Management, Consultancy for Diverse Clients, by Maggie Daniels and Carrie Loveless.  It is not your average wedding planning book.  It is full of historical and cultural research, well written and full of great business strategy.  What troubles me is that in a book geared toward “diverse clients”, out of 491 pages there are only a couple of paragraphs about same sex couples.  After giving a painfully objective overview of the varying opinions of same-sex marriage, it concludes with:

Same-sex commitment ceremonies, whether legal or symbolic, are increasingly taking place all over the world.  As a wedding consultant, you will need to determine if this is a niche market you would like to pursue.  Most wedding-related vendors are not in the business of turning away clients, and same-sex ceremonies and receptions tend to be as extravagant and planning intensive as those of heterosexual couples.  However, if this is not within your comfort zone, you should become familiar with wedding consultants in your area who regularly work with same-sex couples so that you can make referrals as necessary.

Really?  I don’t think this is too cool, personally.  First of all, there is a blatant assumption that everyone reading this book is straight.  And then, thanks for permission to discriminate!  Imagine if this were written about interracial couples…

Interracial commitment ceremonies, whether legal or symbolic, are increasingly taking place all over the world.  As a wedding consultant, you will need to determine if this is a niche market you would like to pursue.  Most wedding-related vendors are not in the business of turning away clients, and interracial ceremonies and receptions tend to be as extravagant and planning intensive as those of white couples.  However, if this is not within your comfort zone, you should become familiar with wedding consultants in your area who regularly work with interracial couples so that you can make referrals as necessary.

It was written in 2007.  Sheesh – come on people.  Get with the program!

Weddings Unveiled has been asked if we will work with straight couples and the answer is yes.  In fact, I am meeting the bride-to-be of a heterosexual couple this Wednesday.  But I will conclude here with what I have summed up based on my research.

Heterosexual commitment ceremonies, whether legal or symbolic, are increasingly taking place all over the world.  As a wedding consultant, Weddings Unveiled will need to determine if this is a niche market we would like to pursue.  Most wedding-related vendors are not in the business of turning away clients, and opposite-sex ceremonies and receptions tend to be as extravagant and planning intensive as those of same-sex couples.  However, if this is not within our comfort zone, we will become familiar with wedding consultants in your area who regularly work with straights and will make referrals as necessary.