Vendor selection for minorities

Yeah there's a strong preference for gueras there. You would've had a much easier time in NYC honestly. Luckily vendors in my area do a good job representing the community, but I definitely noticed that bridal magazines are mainly tall, thin, white blondes.

You've probably thought of this already, but have you tried doing your instagram searches in Spanish instead of English? If you speak Spanish, that'd be way easier.

@PW&G THANK YOU! I

I will def be searching more on instagram.

And also thanks @lyla, I didn't even think of trying Spanish searches!

Preaching to the choir...

Here's an option, OP: if you still can't find someone IN PR, consider someone in FL - maybe they won't charge a travel fee, or a minimal fee since it's so close to PR.

I found my photographer and H/MUA on IG. The photographer travels between Florida, Bahamas and NYC (back when I booked him, he's all over now), the H/MUA travels between FL and NYC. Neither one of them charged me a travel fee.

The other option is ask MUA's here in the states for recommendations. A lot of them know/network with others in their field and they may have someone in mind.

Thank you @PrettyWitty&Gay. That had to be said and it is good POC have allies like you that will speak up about the issue although you wouldnt experience this exact situation first hand. Instagram and google has been my friend throughout this whole planning process. We have to work extra hard as it is to find vendors in general that have worked with us before. I did this when selecting the bridal boutique I went to for my dress, my photographer, MUA, wedding venue, etc. Because it is important that I see reflections of myself like others have stated. And when i say "have worked with us before" im simply stating that they actually take us on as clients. Lets be honest...even if i wanted to i could walk into a hair salon and think for one second that they would be able to do my hair if all im seeing are white women as clients and on photos on the wall. Also throw in there comfort level. I got my dress from a plus size bridal shop in a very small conservative town in Indiana. I was a bit hesistant to go there simply bc if the area - this place has AMAZING reviews btw so that wasnt an issue. It wasnt until i saw one single picture of a black woman in a candid photo that i said im going and made the 2.5 hour drive. That sold it for me and ended up finding my dress. So yes, vendors listen up! We need to be visible as part of your clientele. The wedding industry is a billion dollar business and we spend a huge chunk of that

Cheers to PW&G. I almost heard a choir sing.

@futuremrsdao I'm so tired of white vendors acting like they're trying to diversify but actually putting in no work. The wedding industry is overwhelmed by the white and the straight and I'm so tired of no one ever owning up to it

I'm late chiming in ... luckily getting married in a larger city i didn't have issues with HMUA. But photography and other vendors I definitely did. Like most others, I found those vendors on IG.

I also disagree with Kathleen about not being hired by POC. In order for me to hire you, YOU need to appeal to me. If no one in your portfolio looks like me, I'm going to move on. IMHO it's up the the small business owner that wants to expand his/her portfolio and appeal to a larger demographic to seek out those clients even if it means do a free or discounted shoot to get those looks. Many vendors don't do this. It's also one of the main reasons I tried as hard as I could to mainly support Black owned businesses throughout this entire process.

Great topic! Honestly this is a serious problem in the entire wedding industry. Idk where you are located OP, but for makeup I would definitely start with IG and munaluchi bride. Searching "MUA in MD (or whatever location) is a good place to start on IG. Unfortunately colorism is a problem in many parts of the world- I was recently in a friend's wedding in Dominican Republic and the MUA was not as skilled in darker skin tones unfortunately. Definitely search around and have your own foundation ready. Good luck!

Ok, you want to talk about dishonesty.....what about wedding photographers, and every or almost every photograph on their site are from styled shoots, details, and models on a mountain top in perfectly controlled golden hour light....ah.....but wedding days can be just like that and they can produce the same on the real day, one would be naive to believe. What about table settings getting more views on Instagram and and wedding blogs, which these days are nothing more than style blogs. Nothing about the couple.

I think most in this conversation are reasonable and understand everyone needs patience and needs to search. We're not 5, and get what we want by stomping our feet. A couple remarks are borderline racist, whether reverse or not. So, as a "white vendor" what would you have me do? If I specify African American wedding in blog titles (even if I did that, the viewer needs to look for it), I think there's a good chance that couple can feel patronized. In my galleries, I don't separate same sex weddings from opposite sex couples. They're equal. My South Asian couples and African American couples are equal to caucasian couples. I love them all equally. And am eager to serve one as much as the other. Not all have experience with different ethnicities...at one time neither did I. So, it can be a fine line of being helpful, or being patronizing and divisive. Not separating doesn't mean not caring.

@jay what do table settings have to do with intentionality re:minorities?

I'm only pointing out there are a lot of trends that could be taken as disingenuous. That being one. While some ethnic couples may appreciate being able to search for those who serve them, there will be others who feel offended by being made to feel different. Which my best intention is to treat everyone equally because they are.

@JayFarrell you're coming to this post getting offended and defensive about a real issue. It doesn't help your argument.

This topic is sensitive to say the least. We all will have our opinions. The fact is there is a lack of minorities representation in the wedding industry. Pick up any major bridal magazine and you can see that. It's been like that for years. I think the key as a minority if you want representation you have to create it. That is why I applaud Munaluchi. I can't say that enough. They found a hole and are attempting to fill it.

My vendors are a mix. Some of my vendors are from word of mouth (i.e. couples like me who could vouch for the merits of the vendor). Otherwise, I had to first go with the work that I saw on the website. If I saw a minority couple then that was great but no matter what it was when I talked to them in person that I grilled. I asked the pertinent questions and the vendors were able to show me their work at that point. Thereafter, I made my decision.

Look I highly applaud PW&G's comment but the bottom line is you can't wait around for the pictures, etc. to show up. Until that day happens when representation abounds you got to be creative and do what you have to do.

Basing my anecdotal evidence on the sample group who offered input above, seems like most if not all POC prefer intentional inclusivity to the listless approach, but maybe you've had direct feedback from a bride/groom that indicates otherwise. Whatever the case is, how bout we leave "reverse racism" out of it . .

@FutureMrs. I didn't come here for an argument. I know it's a sensitive topic and sore subject to some. It's up to each of us how to handle it and vendors to display their work. I'm only saying no one way is foolproof. What I want to know from you is what you'd have us do to make this easier and not seeming like we're patronizing ethnic couples. Assuming a photographer or stylist has this experience.

@JayFarrell

Example: If I was at a bridal expo and a photographer professionally approached me and stated they were interested in expanding their portfolio outside the "traditional brides" we see in magazines. Said photographer offers to do a 50% off engagement photo shoot and additional percentage off if we decide to book for wedding photos. I would not take that as patronizing. I would take it as a photographer who is sincerely interested in gaining a diverse clientele. There are tons of ways to market to different demographics.

Your comment: "Assuming a photographer or stylist has this experience."

Can you clarify? What special experience is needed to take pics of POC?

I will have to take your word for it, as I don't really follow those publications. I'm not responsible for them....so let me ask this one more time. What can we do as individual vendors to make this better for you? If it's there for you, even with some scrolling, and not exclusionary, what else would you have us do?

I can't believe @Jay pulled the "reverse racism" card. Fuck that noise. You want to gain clients, not turn them off, right?

@JayFarrell another recommendation would be to openly read threads like this to gain knowledge and understand - and not comment if you have nothing value added. I personally wouldn't book you based on some of your comments I've read not only on this thread but others as well. It's important to be mindful of that when you're on a forum representing yourself as a vendor.

@Jay, here we have several minority posters making suggestions for what we'd like to see and ways for vendors to attract us. Instead of being defensive, read the comments and let them sink in.