I'm Coming Out!

I was with a couple today who have been together for 11 years and came out to their families about two years ago. Coming out is a process they struggled with and when planning their wedding, coming out is the last thing they wanted to do.

But did you know that each wedding has an average of 43 vendors? Think about it: the venue, caterer, bartender, invitation company, limo, etc. And we don't always hire the first people we meet, so over and over again, we come out as we plan, and hope for the best.

I always advise coming out by phone or email before your appointment, almost the first words out of your mouth so you're not catching a vendor off guard, and so you can take their temperature on the subject right away. For example, on a phone call, "Hi, I'm getting married next July to my partner Brad. It's a same-sex wedding and I wanted to check on your availability and rates." How do they react?

What's your secret for coming out effectively?

Photo by Katje Hempel