We have some news about the next chapter of So You’re EnGAYged: after much consideration, we’ve decided to stop working on real weddings and vendor listings.
This is obviously a huge decision, and one that didn’t come lightly. We know how much you all really love this site as it is, especially the real weddings section. Both of us (Kelly and Lara) are currently dealing with health issues, as well as work/life balance (we have full-time jobs in addition to running So You’re EnGAYged). Real weddings and vendor listings eat up the bulk of our time outside of our full-time jobs, and it’s time for us to end our work on them. This means that there will be no new real weddings or vendors added to the site, but the existing ones will remain.
A ton of thought has gone into this, and though it’s a sad decision for both of us, we’re so happy with how the site has evolved over the years and the joy it has brought to us during that time. We’re not sure what’s next for SYE, but we’ll definitely be posting about it after taking some time off! Our awesome bloggers have been given the opportunity to keep blogging if they choose.
Lara: It’s been phenomenal running this site. I’ve learned so much about this community and how vendors can be truly LGBT-friendly. I’ve learned so much about the technology behind it, and what it takes to run a successful business. The people we’ve met, the loving comments we read, and the chance to work with your best friend day after day are some of the most treasured things about SYE. We keep joking – this wouldn’t be such a hard decision if So You’re EnGAYged weren’t so awesome. :)
Kelly: I can remember coming up with the idea for So You’re EnGAYged and wondering what/where/how to go about such a large project. Working with Lara, who is my best friend, to continually set new standards for the wedding industry and push for more awareness has been my driving force. I love that I’ve goten to work with so many couples as they submitted their real wedding/engagements, and in our next chapter, I hope to focus even more on serving amazing LGBT couples as they navigate the sometimes-murky waters of planning an LGBT wedding. This was an extremely hard decision to make, but I know in the end, whatever path So You’re EnGAYged takes will be one that allows me to continue to serve my LGBT and offbeat clients with my wedding photography business and gives me snuggle time with the wife.
Thanks to all you readers for being so terrific. It’s been a true pleasure creating this site for you.
All that matters is that you’re healthy and happy. I bet someone will buy this amazing site from you in no time if that’s what you want. Just get better soon so you can come back to us.
On a personal level (as personal as you can get given that I don’t know either of you), I’m glad that you’re drawing an important line and doing what is best for your overall well-being and relationship/physical health. I’m sure that if you were my friends, I’d be very proud that you’re prioritizing yourself.
On a selfish level, I’m disappointed. I love this site, especially the vendor listings. It is so amazing to me that there can be a site dedicated to the LGBT community that says: “Here are vendors that won’t judge you. Here are vendors that will be supportive of your relationship.” Obviously the old ones will still be up, but I am sad there won’t be additions to it. If this would be a easy task to farm out (easy in the meaning of “distinct and easy to separate from the other work of the site”), I would be interested in hearing about how I could help keep that part up and running.
Best of luck to both of you.
I am sad to see this part of SYE go on hiatus, but happy to continue blogging about my experiences, as long as readers find it helpful!
This is a sad change, but totally understand that health and family must always come first. Am also happy, like Leanne, to have the ability to continue to blog here.
Would you be at all interested in taking applications for temporary content editors/site managers? I would be happy to volunteer. I recently moved and needed to focus on that before I committed myself to anything. I’m the editor of Butches + Babies and Oh Meaghan. Please get in touch if you’d like me to help.
I am also interested in either helping or purchasing the site to keep this wonderful piece of the internet alive!
Wow, this wasn’t what I was expecting as a follow-up to the reader survey! :) I hope that both of you are able to take a break and sort out all of the health/family/life issues going on right now, but I do hope you’ll at least consider the offers to help (which I’m sure will only continue to come in!) You’ve built an amazing resource and community here, and it would be sad to lose that momentum.
Wow! I am so sorry to hear about your health issues and such. What you’ve done here is wonderful and I’d be happy to help however I can! Much love!
Enjoy your time off and get plenty of R & R. Health is number 1!
Hope all gets better soon. A little late, but if you decide to add vendors to site again, I would volunteer to vet/process vendors.
I’d be sad to see this website go, but understand that sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Thanks for putting up so many inspirational posts. It is great to see people whose families look like mine. And a big thanks because this is where I first found Kelly, and hired her to photograph my wedding. You were a great find!
Don’t worry, we’re not closing up shop completely yet! We won’t have “real weddings” featured each week, but you will get to follow us bloggers through our own real weddings! Stay tuned!!!
There’s nothing more important than health, so get well soon and stay healthy! All the rest is less important!
Best, Julian
Health should always come first. Get better and enjoy your time off.
Thank you for the site! To your health x
Great to hear that you are taking the time to attend to what is most important. Sad to be losing some of the great features of this site, but very grateful for all that you have done for us. Get well.
We understand the need for health and balance in your life and understand this site could be too much to maintain.
We are sad though. This is by far our LGBT wedding site and we hate to see it go. None of the other sites compare to So You’re Engayged!
We would love to help if there’s any way we could volunteer our time to keep it going. Please let us know if there is anything we can do!
I am so sorry to hear about the health issues and I hope you both will have a healthy recovery. I am so happy to have been part of this site! It is so important for people to know that you can be treated with respect and dignity. Keep loving!
So sad to see ‘so you’re enGAYged’ go =( Best of luck to you both!
Agreed with Sara! I’m very sad to see this go- let me know if I can help.