Featured Vendor Profile: GayWeddings.com
12 Aug
Who knew that the founders of two of the best same-sex wedding resources online live so close to each other? :D Kathryn Hamm lives right in the DC metropolitan area (like us – well, before Kelly moved!) and is the president of GayWeddings.com! We’re really excited about working with her in the future, but in the meantime, check out our interview with her!
Please tell us a little bit about GayWeddings.com.
GayWeddings.com is dedicated to providing products, resources and information networking to same-sex couples who seek to affirm their life-long commitments to each other through commitment ceremonies, civil unions, domestic partnerships, civil marriage and other alternative weddings.
In carrying out our day-to-day business, we treat our customers and employees with dignity and respect and commit ourselves to lead as an agent of change toward equal rights for the GLBT community.
What do you love about what you do?
I am a creative person and have always enjoyed working with people and making a difference in what I do. Building an online business and developing a product line for an underserved market has satisfied my entrepreneurial side, but I have most enjoyed connecting with couples and helping them with their wedding celebrations. As an added bonus, my straight mom (our founder) and I have taken great pride in our vanguard business. We love that GayWeddings.com is a ground-breaking site (established in 1999) and that our work has inspired many straight allies to better understand why marriage equality matters.
Too cool that you work with your mom! How did you get into doing what you do?
My mom was inspired by the commitment ceremony my partner and I had back in 1999 and the dearth of products and resources which existed at the time.
I had been helping my mom informally with the business marketing and design on the side when she got started, but eventually decided to join her full time and become a partner in the business. If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be a gay wedding expert, I wouldn’t have believed you! So, my evolution feels based on serendipity far more than it does on design!
What distinguishes GayWeddings.com from other same-sex wedding resources?
Though we were the first site of it kind and, for many years, one of the only sites out there, we have seen more resources become available online. One thing which still distinguishes us from many of the other resources is that we offer planning tips and resources, but we also continue to offer a full-service boutique. Though we have a small handful of affiliate products available, we have our own warehouse and offer personalized customer service to our customers. So, though many may come to us thinking that they are shopping at a generic online store, we have a very personal, family business feel and love getting to know our customers.
What does your dream gay wedding look like?
My dream gay wedding includes a legal marriage certificate which is recognized in every state in the Union and at the Federal level.
Amen! What do you think is especially special about gay weddings?
We have always described gay and lesbian weddings as Transformative. We believe that it’s the most effective grassroots strategy for opening minds and changing hearts about the issue of same sex marriage. How convenient that most are such a great time as well!
Unlike a gay pride parade, wedding rituals speak a language of relationship that most heterosexuals understand. When our straight friends and family bear witness to our exchange of vows in this context, they understand our relationships and the power of love. Suddenly, a same sex relationship is not quite so “foreign” and easy to relegate into a second-class category. This is where Transformation happens.
Awesome. So what’s your favorite moment?
My favorite moment is the transition when the palpable nerves of those in the room who have never been to a same sex union give way to a joyful embrace of a loving couple (regardless of sexual orientation). In my experience, you know this has happened with the grandmothers are out on the dance floor…
Here are some other ways to connect with GayWeddings.com:
- http://shop.gayweddings.com
- www.twitter.com/gayweddingscom
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/GayWeddingscom/99770759466
(Photo by Chris Rose courtesy of the Oliver/Walitsky wedding)
