✓
Queer-owned
Self-identified and completely opt-in. A vendor does not have to be queer-owned to be included.
How we curate
Welcoming is a practice, not a badge.
“Everyone is welcome” is nice. It also doesn’t tell a queer couple very much. We ask vendors about the things they actually do, then keep those answers clear and specific.
NO VIBE-BASED BADGES.
NO PAYING TO LOOK INCLUSIVE.
NO MAKING COUPLES DO THE RESEARCH FOR US.
NO PAYING TO LOOK INCLUSIVE.
NO MAKING COUPLES DO THE RESEARCH FOR US.
01 · Queer inclusion
What we actually ask.
These details are specifically about LGBTQ+ experience and business practice. Identity is always self-described; we never infer whether a business is queer-owned.
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Trans + nonbinary inclusive
We look for specific practice: respectful language, relevant experience, intake processes and how clients are actually treated.
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Gender-neutral forms + contracts
No automatic bride/groom assumptions where partner, spouse or the couple’s own language will do.
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Pronoun-aware intake
Couples and wedding parties can tell a vendor how they want to be addressed without having to correct a pile of assumptions first.
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In their own words
We ask every applicant: “What does queer inclusion look like in your business?” Specific answers matter more than a rainbow logo.
02 · Practical information
Useful, not performative.
These are planning details, not measures of how “queer” a business is. We show them separately because they can make a real difference to a couple or their guests.
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Accessibility accommodations
Relevant information might include step-free access, accessible washrooms, sensory considerations, ASL-friendly communication or other accommodations a business can provide.
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Food + dietary accommodations — where relevant
For caterers, cakes and venues with food service: vegan and vegetarian menus, gluten-free preparation, allergen protocols, alcohol-free options and similar guest needs. We are not asking what the photographer eats.
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Service area
Where a vendor regularly works, rather than an optimistic list of everywhere they might theoretically travel.
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Pricing + useful logistics
Enough practical information to help couples decide whether a vendor is worth contacting before everybody spends time on an enquiry.
What verification means.
When you see BELOVED ✦, it means we have confirmed the inclusion information displayed on that profile with the vendor. It is a trust marker for the information we publish — not a claim that any business is perfect forever.
What money cannot buy.
A paid profile buys a richer listing: more information, portfolio space and visibility. It does not buy acceptance into the directory, a BELOVED ✦ mark, or a better inclusion assessment. Free and paid vendors are held to the same inclusion standard.
The point of all this
Less decoding. Better choices.
Queerly Beloved isn’t trying to declare the One True Perfect Wedding Vendor. We’re trying to give couples better information up front, make expectations clearer, and reward businesses that can talk concretely about how they work with queer people.