September 14-16, 2021 – Palm Springs, California
National Gay Wedding Association – Inclusive Awareness Conference #sharethelove
Join us in beautiful Palm Springs, California for The National Gay Wedding Association’s annual conference. September 14-16, 2021. Connect with like-minded wedding professionals for support, education and advocacy. We are so excited to be welcoming some very exciting speakers from around the country. Learn from LGBTQ+ Wedding experts to help you follow the road that’s driving this billion dollar industry. Experience an inclusive wedding as invited guests to our national contest winner’s wedding. A lucky couple will win a destination wedding to Palm Springs. Sara Cunningham will be the Officiant at this history making event. Make sure your on the guest list. Our conference itinerary is for attendees to experience an event like no other. Tickets are limited.
The National Gay Wedding Association welcomes you to Palm Springs, California and the iconic Riviera Resort & Spa. We are very excited to have you as our guests. Set in the heart of the Uptown Design District, the Riviera embodies a unique historic footprint of old Hollywood’s elite such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. A cool retro vibe and midcentury flair that allows guests to live in the moment and celebrate the past of Palm Springs.
Palm Springs pride itself on inclusiveness, and we are always very excited to #sharethelove. Living in a city that is over 50% LGBTQ+ and a City Counsel that is the nation’s first LGBTQ+ City Counsel, you can only imagine the love we feel everyday. We invite you to come join us for our first annual Inclusive Awareness Conference. Never under estimate the importance of demonstrating inclusiveness. We have planned a history making event! See you there.
Welcome to Palm Springs.
Conference Itinerary
3:00 – 6:00 – Hotel Check-In Registration
6:00-9:00 – Welcome Dinner & Reception. Silent Auction.
Wednesday 9-15-20 – Day #2
8:00 – 4:30 – General Session – Inclusive Awareness Conference.
11:30 – 12:15 – Luncheon – Key Note Speaker
4:30-5:00 – Receive Inclusive Awareness Certification.
Break
6:00-7:00 – Hors D’oeuvrves & Open Bar
7:00 – *The Inclusive Wedding Experience – Wexler Garden
7:30 – 8:00 – Reception & Cake Cutting with couple.
8:00 – Dinner –TheDollyPartonLegacyInclusiveAwareness
Thursday 9-16-20 – Day #3
10:00 – 12:30 – Drag Bingo! Mimosa & Champagne Brunch.
Check-Out
SARA CUNNINGHAM is not only the proud, loving Mom of an LGBTQ child, but she has become a leading voice for faith parents of LGBTQ children. She is a moving speaker, powerful advocate and ally, and the author of the book, “How We Sleep At Night”, an intimate, raw, challenging, and emotional memoir of her personal journey regarding her son’s homosexuality. In her writing and speaking, Sara conveys a unique authenticity and an undeniably tender, caring heart. She and her husband have been married over 30 years and live in Oklahoma City.
In 2014 Sara and her husband stood with their son at the Oklahoma City Pride Parade and had profound experience with a beautiful Spirit filled LGBTQ community.
2015 Sara stood at the Oklahoma City Pride festival with a homemade “FREE MOM HUGS” button and the impact of that day lead her to form the non-profit “FREE MOM HUGS.”
In 2018 Sara had a FB post go viral (See Stand-In mom) and started a FREE MOM HUGS nationwide movement that caught the attention of American actor Jamie Lee Curtis. Follow FREE MOM HUGS on all social media. Freemomhugs.org
The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Wedding Experience
Your Invited: September 15, 2021 – 7:00 pm
Meet Cathy O’Connell and her team! Come see the FABULOUS wedding ideas and inspirations that Cathy and her team will put together as they showcase The Inclusive Wedding Experience. Inclusive Awareness Conference attendees will be invited guests to our LGBTQ+ Destination Wedding.
Come experience the beauty and love as Sara Cunningham – Free Mom Hugs, officiants the wedding everyone will love. #sharethelove
The Dolly Parton Inclusive Awareness Legacy Award
The National Gay Wedding Association Establishes Award Honoring Dolly Parton -2020 Recipient.
When you think of Dolly Parton, the word “inclusive” springs to mind. Dolly’s unconditional love defines her. Dolly brings inclusivity to life in her 2019 original series on Netflix, Heartstrings: a series of eight stories celebrating family, faith, love and forgiveness, inspired by Dolly Parton’s iconic country music catalog.
There is going to be some pretty big shoes to fill after our 2020 recipient Dolly Parton.
The 2021 recipient for The Dolly Parton Inclusive Awareness Legacy Award will be announced January 2021.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
The Official Stationary for The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Awareness Conference, #sharethelove
The Official AV Provider for The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Awareness Conference, #sharethelove
The Official Tux for The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Awareness Conference, #sharethelove
The Official Host Hotel for The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Awareness Conference, #sharethelove
Thank you to our sponsors.
Meet Jamie Thrower Founder, STUDIO XIII LGBTQ Photographer – Portland,Oregon
Queer Photography: For Us, By Us
The Official Photographer for The National Gay Wedding Association Inclusive Awareness Conference – 2021
Studio XIII (thirteen) was born out of the idea that I wanted to use my photography to support my LGBTQ community by honoring and sharing our love stories with the world.
I started shooting weddings before marriage equality was the law of the land. I found myself noticing how heteronormative the wedding industry was, and that LGBTQ weddings seemed to be something that a lot of industry professionals carefully tiptoed through. I saw the need for a space where LBGTQ weddings were not just an added part of the narrative, but took up the entire space. Because we need more queer spaces, do we not?!
As a queer business owner myself, I’m a photography studio that not only celebrates the love stories of my community, but also supports and encourages other LGBTQ individuals , families and business owners. Being an active part of the LGBTQ community is so important to me, and helps me connect closely with the incredible humans that I photograph. I’m an activist and always want to use my art and my privilege to work harder for those who need it. The struggles we have overcome as a community, the work we still have to do, and the importance of fighting for our rights and demanding to be seen and valued—-this is why I want to tell your story.
Questions – Admin@NationalGayWeddingAssociation.org
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