On June 19, 2020 a group of Black creatives & wedding professionals across the country asked their colleagues to truly make the wedding industry more inclusive and asked us to take a pledge.
Photo Credit: Elena of Belle Imagery Portraits
“Now is the time we all hold ourselves accountable. We ask that you share quarterly updates with your teams, your clients and your followers for a full calendar year. Your pledge to act is a powerful commitment to inclusivity.
Diversity is being invited to the party:
Inclusion is being asked to dance.”
The Inclusivity Pledge for Vendors and Venues
A commitment to have at least 20% of existing vendor lists to include black vendors. We discourage lists that only include black vendors.
A commitment to move towards having at least 20% of employees be black.
A commitment to refer black owned business to clients and ideally 20% of vendors be black.
A commitment to include black couples and models on websites and within marketing materials.
A commitment for action. When we share a black vendor on social media, we will get to know them by reaching out to talk about their services.
A commitment to have an inclusion statement displayed on website.
This is my first quarterly update.
In addition to the steps above for Calligraphette & Co, I am personally committed to doing the personal work. It’s a path that I know will be riddled with mistakes. I am open to receiving feedback, whether public or private, and will gladly apologize for and learn from my mistakes. As Sok Vision said, “It’s a privilege to educate yourself about racism instead of experiencing it.”
Some ways that I am doing this are engaging with truthful accounts of U.S. history and committing to both un-learning and necessary new learning. Watching movies, buying and reading novels, and purchasing art made by Black artists is a way that I will center Black people and their perspectives in my life. I will continue to engage in the necessary conversations in my life, both professionally and personally, for the long term.
Because I have not been thoughtfully engaging in the necessary material for long enough, as a function of my white privilege, I will be sharing more for my second quarterly update. I will share the resources I have engaged with so far, how I will continue to engage in this necessary work, and some of the wonderful Black creatives that I’ve worked with and follow on social media.
I am open to any questions, comments, concerns, and feedback you may have.
Please feel free to email me here or send a message through my inquiry page,
The creators of this call to action:
Video creation | @sok.vision
Graphic design | @_modelpaper
Creative team:
@iamlatreuo_photo
@ellamah
@joyproctor
@southern_affairs
@elizabethaustinphoto
@allieandjohnphoto
@ericajphotography
@flowersbyladybuggs
@liningerroodphoto
@ericaestradadesign
@theroadtomarriage
@saunterweddings
Video Speakers:
@joyproctor
@sinclairandmoore
@precioustheplanner
@kristengvy
@bydamistudiosnyc
@elizabethaustinphoto
@hjbeauties
@CakeAtelierAmsterdam
@ashtonjeanpierre