Pride Month is here, and we need to talk about the wedding industry. At Sash + Bustle, we’ve spent over a decade working with thousands of marrying people, and one thing is crystal clear—there’s no single “right” way to love or celebrate love.

Yet, despite the progress, the wedding world still clings to outdated traditions that exclude and alienate so many couples. It’s time to call it out! Here are three areas where the industry seriously needs to do better:

Bad Binary Assumptions

Choosing a wedding look is deeply personal, and every marrier deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and comfortable in what they wear. Whether someone presents as masculine, feminine, or somewhere in between, they should feel empowered to wear whatever makes them feel their best.

It’s time to ditch the outdated, binary approach to wedding fashion and embrace the full spectrum of personal expression. Let people wear what they want—full stop.

Archaic Language Still Runs Rampant

It’s 2025! The days of assuming every wedding involves a “bride” and a “groom” should be long gone. A small but meaningful shift? Using inclusive terms like marrier or spouse instead.

And let’s not forget: not every fiancé identifies as “he” or “she.” Addressing people by the pronouns they’re most comfortable with isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s the bare minimum.

Representation is Still an Afterthought

There’s nothing worse than being an engaged LGBTQ+ couple, searching for vendors, and only seeing representation during Pride Month. True inclusivity isn’t a once-a-year marketing moment—it’s an everyday commitment.

Real representation matters all year long. It’s not about checking a box, it’s about making sure all love stories are seen and celebrated, always.

The Bottom Line

The wedding industry has the power to create spaces where everyone feels welcome. But to do that, it needs to move beyond outdated traditions and make inclusivity the standard—not the exception.

Because representation and inclusion aren’t destinations—they’re a lifelong commitment. And we’re here for it.