Norfolk-based business Weddings with Pride is holding the Second Annual Gay Wedding Showcase in Virginia Beach.
The Feb. 11 event serves as an opportunity for soon-to-be LGBTQ newlyweds to meet wedding-planning professionals in the region.
“When we produced the first showcase in 2016, I knew the timing was right for this event,” said Eric Hause, president of Wedding with Pride said in a news release.
Hause said he recognized the need for an LGBTQ wedding event after a local couple was denied service because of their orientation.
“When the planner found out they were gay, she refused to help them,” Hause said in the release. “That’s when I know the time had come for an event of our own.”
According to Hause, Weddings with Pride surveyed over 1,000 gay couples in Virginia and North Carolina in 2015 to learn about how the couples planned their weddings. About 89 percent of participants said they are “sensitive to the possibility of discrimination by some wedding vendors,” while 76 percent ranked working with LGBTQ-owned, operated or friendly businesses as a top priority.
The Gay Wedding Showcase gives couples and LGBTQ-friendly business owners the opportunity to plan together.
“We carefully vet every wedding professional we invite to make sure that they fully embrace marriage equality,” Hause said. “Right off the bat, we offer a level of comfort with that guarantee.”
Three separate events make up the day’s festivities. The first is a chauffeured limousine tour of six wedding venues – all located in Norfolk and Virginia Beach – where couples can sample food and beverages while they tour each location.
Later, couples will head to the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront where 35 wedding professionals will be ready to mingle at the wedding expo. Couples will be treated to a fashion show, produced by House of Maya Bridal, featuring same-sex couples.
The after-party, hosted by the Holiday Inn and Suites North Beach and Astro DJs, will offer eats, drinks, dancing, door prizes and appearances from surprise guests.
“The party is an opportunity for couples to socialize with the same vendors they met that day without feeling overwhelmed or pressured,” Hause said. “Plus, we want everyone to let their hair down and have some fun.”
