A Range Pledge From Brides

In this article, we will guide you in all you need to know about A Diversity Pledge From Brides, just read to the end and learn all you need to know on this aspect. Dear Brides readers, For too long, we have said that at Brides, “we’re committed to bringing you an inclusive look at the world of weddings, with every type of couple, and every type of celebration,” and, for too long, we have fallen short on that promise. Weddings are celebrations of love, and we need to make sure everyone has a voice in that celebration. It is our absolute commitment that everyone sees themselves represented on Brides. We recognize that many couples and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)-owned wedding businesses have not seen themselves represented on Brides over the years, both at first on the pages of our former print magazine, and more recently since we transitioned to a digital-only platform. Today, we vow to change that. Brides will diversify its own voice, but also be an ally to the established Black wedding community by collaborating with vendors, brands, and other bridal publications. Our Commitment to Anti-Racism Below you’ll find outlined our pledge—a list of actionable items to which we will hold ourselves accountable. We intend to continually revisit and add to these guidelines. We recognize our responsibility as a leader in the wedding space, and we pledge to use the power of our 85+ year legacy to urge the industry to commit to change. Below, “diverse” is defined to include representatives of different races, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, body types, and abilities. Editorial The current Brides editorial staff could be more diverse. We commit to diversifying our in-house and freelance teams, and to actively recruit BIPOC voices for our site immediately. We pledge that by the end of the year, 25 percent of Brides’ regular contributors will be BIPOC. To learn more about working with us at Brides, please email write@brides.com. So far in 2020, 35 percent of the real weddings featured on Brides have featured diverse couples. We pledge to feature more Black couples as part of our real wedding coverage. We promise that by January 2021, 20 percent of our newly published real weddings will feature Black couples. Overall, 50 percent of our newly published real weddings will feature diverse couples by January 2021. For feature articles featuring multiple sources or experts, we will always include BIPOC voices. Fashion, Makeup, Hair roundups will always feature 50 percent BIPOC imagery. We are working on a plan to update the existing articles in our library with this point in mind and will keep you updated on our progress. Moving forward, all vendor roundups and best-of lists will include 30 percent BIPOC-owned businesses. We commit to prioritize including Black-owned businesses in shopping articles. In standalone designer features, we will be transparent in our coverage if a brand does not prominently feature BIPOC models. We will also actively reach out to brands and partners and ask them to commit to change. We no longer feature weddings at plantations with histories of slavery inside or outside the U.S., ever refer to anything as “plantation-style”, or attend events on plantations. Brides editors will never be on an industry panel or participate in an industry event where BIPOC are not represented. Social We pledge to have a diverse Instagram feed that represents all couples and highlights the work of Black wedding vendors. At a minimum, one in every three posts will display diversity. We will promote content from Black vendors and Black bridal brands and give them proper credit. We will always consider diverse voices when creating new sites and social series. We have begun by launching a new Instagram stories franchise called “Meet the Vendor” with the primary goal of featuring Black wedding vendors and using this platform to share their work and amplify their voices. We have also launched a weekly on-site franchise called “Love Looks Like This,” with the goal of telling love stories from the perspective of diverse voices. We will prioritize featuring BIPOC in Instagram takeovers featuring influencers and vendors. A Diversity Pledge From Brides - Brides comprise a small team of editors who truly stand behind these commitments. We each plan to work hard to meet these promises and will report on our progress on a quarterly basis. While long overdue, we have begun to face and address our own shortcomings. We now vow to make these changes long-term and to work tirelessly to ensure representation and inclusivity live at the forefront of the stories Brides tells. Sincerely, Leah, Robi, Elspeth, Anna, Sophie, Kate, Mariah, Sam, Maggie Brides Editors