Ric Simmons

Born out of the personal experience of Ric Simmons, the National Gay Wedding Association began as a resource for LGBTQ+ couples navigating the wedding planning process as queer people. After the landmark victory of Obergfell v. Hodges in 2015, same-sex couples were guaranteed their constitutional right to marry in all 50 of the United States. Of course, this decision was followed by a series of challenges from local governments and private business owners, making wedding planning difficult for queer couples who were still denied services around the country.

In response, Ric started “My Texas Gay Wedding” and eventually expanded to a national platform with “My Gay Wedding.” He soon realized, despite vendors that were eager to implement inclusive business practices, there were few educational resources available within the wedding industry. Ric created the National Gay Wedding Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to fulfill that niche with the goal of being the “go-to” source for wedding vendors and professionals in search of LGBTQ-specific resources, and tips on implementing inclusive business practices.

With 30 years of education and marketing experience, Ric realized the opportunity to bring understanding inclusivity through training and education. Inclusivity is not a badge on a website;  it begins in the heart, with a sincere desire to better understand those around you and to answer the call to do better.