5 Wedding Planning Tips for LGBTQIA+ Couples From Philly Pros
“It’s the vendor’s responsibility to show couples that we value them as customers, so we should step up in ways that demonstrate we are interested in their business,” says one expert.
Peter Unrein (left) and Morgan Muller / Photograph by Sweetwater Portraits; planning by BEloved Events
These Philly-area wedding vendors share five tips for LGBTQIA+ couples planning their Big Days.
1. Ask All the Difficult Questions
There’s not much that Bailey Crouch and Eliza Hammer Gage haven’t heard since launching Philly-based BEloved Events, a queer- and woman-owned wedding planning firm, in 2024. The business partners (who are both married to trans men) field questions about everything from emergency elopements and navigating difficult family dynamics to readying close friends to serve as officiants. Crouch and Gage now present their clients with an 84-point checklist to help plan the day, from walking down the aisle to cutting the cake.
Sophia Hull (left) and Meg Calcaterra / Photograph by One Eleven Images; hair and makeup by Beauty & Bridal Philly
2. Seek Out Supportive Vendors
Pennsylvania has a progressive approach to unions, but not all industry vendors share those views. Donna Forsythe, an endorsed humanist celebrant and owner of Lehigh Valley Celebrants — whose team frequently officiates marriages in the Philly area — encourages couples in the midst of planning ceremonies to assemble a team of vendors who are allies. She suggests tapping into the networks of LGBTQIA+ vendors you’ve already enlisted or combing through websites and social media accounts of businesses for clues about inclusivity.
3. Chat With Bridal Boutiques Before Scheduling
Share a few of your dress inspo photos with shops to determine if they have styles for all body types, says Laura Calderone-Weber, owner of inclusive boutique Laura & Leigh Bridal in Cherry Hill. This is also a great way to suss out if the shop is welcoming to queer couples. “It’s the vendor’s responsibility to show couples that we value them as customers, so we should step up in ways that demonstrate we are interested in their business,” says Calderone-Weber.
Jess Cohen (left) and Amy Daskilewicz / Photograph by Lindsey Armour; gowns from Laura & Leigh Bridal
4. Look for Beauty Experts Who Offer Glam and Grooming
For those LGBTQIA+ marriers with different visions for their wedding-day look, it helps to find a beauty professional who can do both makeup and grooming. Kelsey Ferro, owner of Beauty & Bridal Philly in Quakertown, says she’s always refining the descriptions of her services so they better convey her commitment to inclusivity. She currently offers a bridal hair and makeup package and a grooming package (which includes light skin care, concealing, and touch-ups for short hair).
Evan Thornburg (left) and Pegah Maleki / Photograph by Shannon Collins Photography
5. Consider an Elopement (on a Weekday!)
Big weddings are often planned more than a year out (or longer) and held on a weekend. Abington photographer Shannon Collins says a weekday elopement offers more availability of venues and vendors and can be arranged in a matter of months — an important note for those planning nuptials on short notice or with a truncated timeline out of concern for the shifting political climate. These ceremonies tend to be more intimate — like the queer weekday elopement Collins photographed with six guests (and the pair’s dog) at Morris House Hotel in Washington Square West — with a reception held later on for an anniversary or other significant date in a love story.
Published as “Love for All” in the Summer/Fall 2025 issue of Philadelphia Wedding.
