How to Find Black-Owned Wedding Vendors for Your Wedding
As a Black-owned wedding planning company, we’re huge proponents of intentionally choosing your team of vendors for your wedding. When researching and vetting for our clients, we consider more than just portfolios. We always build vendor teams that include a diverse collection of business owners, because our network itself is diverse, but sometimes we receive special requests to prioritize certain communities.
The wedding industry, like many others, has seen a significant shift in recent years: couples are prioritizing hiring and supporting vendors in alignment with their values. Whether you’re looking to support your own community or a community that you feel compelled to stand behind, being purposeful in your hiring is yet another way to create a wedding that speaks to who you are and what’s important to you.
Check Black-owned Wedding Media Outlets
Black-owned wedding publications have been consistently highlighting Black vendors and creatives since long before 2020. The originals, like Black Bride and Munaluchi Bride, have been around for over 10 years. And there are many more:
These publications not only feature lots of Black-owned wedding vendors, but many also have vendor directories to search through. There are also curated directories of Black-owned wedding vendors, like Ethos West Collective, that are based on style and expertise.
Search Your Socials
Yes, follow the publications listed above on social media. You’ll also find a lot of great Black-owned wedding businesses by searching on Instagram and TikTok. Be as specific as possible: sometimes searching “Black wedding” will yield black wedding dresses or guests following an all-black dress code.
Add terms to your search like bride, groom, or couple — you can also unlock much more inspiration by searching for specific cultural backgrounds beyond African-American (Afro-latina/o or Naija, for example).
Dive Into The Lists
Several major wedding publications, like Brides, Over The Moon, and Junebug Weddings, have compiled lists to spotlight Black-owned wedding businesses. These lists can be intimidating, because they are incredibly extensive. A good old fashioned CTRL+F for your city, region, or just adjectives that speak to your aesthetic can save you a whole lot of time.
Trust the Black-owned Vendors You’ve Hired
The best wedding pros have strong networks. We know who you should call. If you’ve already found one Black wedding vendor that you connect with, ask who they like to work with! There’s nothing better than recommendations from experienced vendors that understand your priorities, needs, and style.
As you plan your wedding, it’s worth taking the time to explore the rich talent and varied perspectives that Black-owned wedding vendors bring to our industry. We’re out here.