Why I Created Indiana Pride Weddings
June is Pride Month, and every year around this time I find myself thinking back to why I started Indiana Pride Weddings in the first place. A lot of people know me through Weddings By Bretta. I’ve been planning weddings, coordinating weddings, and officiating ceremonies for years. I’ve worked with thousands of couples all across Indiana. I’ve stood in barns, ballrooms, vineyards, backyards, courthouses, state parks, and just about everywhere else you can imagine while two people promised forever to one another.
What some people may not know is that Indiana Pride Weddings wasn’t created because I saw a business opportunity. It wasn’t created because it was trendy. It wasn’t created because I thought it would help me market to a specific group of people.
It was created because I saw a need.
And honestly, it was created because I got tired of hearing the same stories over and over again.
I would meet couples who weren’t sure if a venue was welcoming. I would meet couples who wondered if an officiant would make things awkward. I would meet couples who worried about being judged while trying to plan one of the biggest days of their lives. Think about that for a minute.
Planning a wedding is stressful enough. You’re trying to find a venue, choose vendors, stay within budget, figure out guest lists, answer family questions, and somehow still enjoy being engaged. The last thing anyone should have to worry about is whether they’re going to be accepted. Yet for many LGBTQ+ couples, that concern is very real.
I remember conversations with couples who told me they felt nervous reaching out to vendors. They weren’t worried about pricing. They weren’t worried about availability. They were worried about how the conversation would change once the vendor realized they were a same sex couple.
- That’s heartbreaking.
- Love shouldn’t come with an extra layer of anxiety.
- Love shouldn’t require someone to wonder if they’ll be welcomed.
- Love shouldn’t require someone to explain or justify who they are.
So I decided to do something about it.
Indiana Pride Weddings was born from a very simple belief.
Every couple deserves a wedding experience where they feel comfortable, respected, welcomed, and celebrated exactly as they are.
- Not tolerated.
- Not accepted with conditions.
- Not treated differently.
- Welcomed.
There is a huge difference.
When couples contact Indiana Pride Weddings, I want them to know immediately that they’re in a safe place. There is no guessing. There is no wondering. There is no trying to read between the lines of a website to figure out if a vendor is truly welcoming.
The answer is already there. Yes. You are welcome here. And honestly, that’s the easiest answer I’ve ever given.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of officiating weddings for couples from all walks of life. Different backgrounds. Different ages. Different faiths. Different cultures. Different stories. What I’ve learned is that every wedding really comes down to the same thing.
- Two people found each other.
- Two people decided they want to build a life together.
- Two people looked at one another and said, “You’re my person.”
- Everything else is just details.
Beautiful details, of course. I make a living helping with those details. But at the end of the day, every wedding starts with two people who love each other.
That’s it. That’s the magic.
One of the things I love most about working with LGBTQ+ couples is seeing how personal their weddings often become. Many of these couples have fought hard for the right to get married. Some waited years for the opportunity. Some never thought they would see marriage equality become reality during their lifetime.
Because of that, there is often a level of gratitude, excitement, and authenticity that is incredibly moving to witness. Their weddings are not about checking boxes. They’re not about doing things because “that’s how it’s always been done.” They’re about creating a day that reflects who they are. And I absolutely love that. I’ve seen couples throw tradition completely out the window. I’ve seen couples create entirely new traditions.
There is no one right way to get married. Your wedding should look like you. Not your neighbor. Not Pinterest. Not your cousin. You.
Indiana Pride Weddings was built around that philosophy.
We want couples to feel comfortable creating a wedding that reflects their relationship instead of trying to fit into a mold that was never designed for them. That also extends beyond officiating.
One thing I learned quickly is that finding welcoming vendors can sometimes feel overwhelming.
A couple might find an amazing photographer but wonder if they’ll be comfortable. They might find a great venue but question whether they’re truly inclusive. That’s why Indiana Pride Weddings isn’t just about me. It’s about community. It’s about building relationships with vendors who believe what we believe. It’s about creating connections with people who understand that every couple deserves respect. It’s about helping couples spend less time worrying and more time getting excited.
Wedding planning should be fun.
Sure, there are budgets. Sure, there are spreadsheets and there are family opinions that nobody asked for but somehow still show up. That’s part of wedding planning.
- But underneath all of that should be excitement.
- You should be looking forward to your wedding day.
- You should be enjoying the process.
- You should be making memories before the wedding even happens.
- That’s what I want for every couple who contacts us.
I also think visibility matters. Sometimes people ask why a business would specifically create an LGBTQ+ wedding brand when they already own a wedding company. The answer is simple. Representation matters. When a newly engaged couple starts searching online and finds Indiana Pride Weddings, they immediately know they’re not alone. They immediately know someone created a space specifically with them in mind. I’ve received messages from couples who said they felt relief after finding our website.
- Relief. Think about that word. Relief.
- Not excitement first. Not joy first. Relief.
- Relief that they found a place where they didn’t have to wonder.
That’s exactly why Indiana Pride Weddings exists.
If it gives even one couple peace of mind during the planning process, then it has done its job. Of course, Pride Month is about more than weddings.
- It’s about history.
- It’s about progress.
- It’s about visibility.
It’s about recognizing the people who fought for rights many of us now take for granted. And while there is still work to do, there is also a lot worth celebrating.
Our Team of Celebrants, Officiants, Pastors and Ministers
Every time I officiate a wedding for an LGBTQ+ couple, I think about how far we’ve come. Not nearly far enough. But far enough that more couples are able to stand in front of their family and friends and legally marry the person they love.
- That matters.
- Those moments matter.
- Those stories matter.
- Those marriages matter.
One of my favorite parts of officiating is watching the look on a couple’s face immediately after they’re pronounced married. It doesn’t matter if there are two guests or two hundred guests. It doesn’t matter if it’s an elaborate venue or a simple park ceremony. The look is always the same.
- Relief.
- Happiness.
- Excitement.
- Maybe a few happy tears.
- And usually a giant smile.
It’s one of the reasons I never get tired of this work. After all these years and thousands of weddings, I still love seeing that moment. I still love hearing the stories. I still love meeting the people behind the wedding. And I still believe everyone deserves that experience.
So this Pride Month, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to the couples who trusted me with one of the biggest days of their lives. Thank you to the families who showed up with open hearts. Thank you to the venues and vendors who continue to create welcoming spaces. Thank you to the community that has supported Indiana Pride Weddings from the very beginning. Most importantly, thank you to every couple who chose love. Because at the end of the day, that’s really what this is all about.
- Love.
- Not labels.
- Not expectations.
- Not opinions from strangers.
- Just love.
The kind of love that makes you laugh until your stomach hurts. The kind of love that gets you through hard days.
So this Pride Month, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to the couples who trusted me with one of the biggest days of their lives. Thank you to the families who showed up with open hearts. Thank you to the venues and vendors who continue to create welcoming spaces. Thank you to the community that has supported Indiana Pride Weddings from the very beginning. Most importantly, thank you to every couple who chose love. Because at the end of the day, that’s really what this is all about.
- Love.
- Not labels.
- Not expectations.
- Not opinions from strangers.
- Just love.
The kind of love that makes you laugh until your stomach hurts. The kind of love that gets you through hard days.
The kind of love that makes ordinary moments feel special.
The kind of love that says, “I choose you.” Every single day. That’s why I created Indiana Pride Weddings. Because every couple deserves a place where they can be fully themselves. Because every couple deserves to feel welcomed. Because every couple deserves to feel respected.
Because every couple deserves a wedding experience free from judgment. And because love is a pretty incredible thing. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from. No matter who you love. Happy Pride Month from all of us at Weddings By Bretta and Indiana Pride Weddings.
We’re glad you’re here.
Planning Your Wedding Ceremony
Your wedding ceremony is the reason the entire day exists. Everything else happens after the vows are spoken. That is why the ceremony deserves attention, planning, and care. It should reflect who you are and how you want to begin your marriage.
Jessica and Eric. Kendyl and Cameron.
Two weddings. One venue. Two completely different ceremonies. Both exactly the way those couples wanted them. If you are planning a wedding in Greenwood, Indianapolis, or anywhere in Central Indiana and want a ceremony that reflects who you are as a couple, I would love to talk with you. When couples work with me and my officiant team, we guide you through the entire ceremony process, help craft the wording, and make sure everything runs smoothly so your family and friends can focus on celebrating with you.
Bretta is the owner of Weddings By Bretta and Just the Two Of Us Wedding Services, providing wedding officiant services and custom ceremony creation for couples throughout Greenwood, Indianapolis, and Central Indiana since 2012