The Pride Shindig 2021

Man, that feeling of success is always so sweet but even more when you’re not entirely sure the success was possible. When Cassie of Bride’s Best Friend and I had our first exploratory meeting back in early 2020 (pre-pandemic), we were just trying to understand our goals and dreams. When I first hosted The Pride Shindig back in 2019, I had no real idea of what I was doing. All I knew was that Austin deserved an event that wasn’t cis-hetero focused. As a transhuman, there’s so much about the wedding industry that annoys the hell out of me. I’m a big proponent of the idea that the term same-sex is transphobic and discourage vendors from using it unless they’re positive of genital ownership of clients. As the vice president and board member of The Wedding Network Texas, I work hard on educating vendors on how to conduct their business with inclusivity in mind. I’ve even made a badge for the industry to use on their websites to shout to the world their enthusiasm for inclusivity. To say this is a passion for me is an understatement.

After a few rescheduled days (lookin’ at you Corona), Cassie and I finally knew we could execute this incredible event, even if it meant four weeks of exhaustive communication and organization. When The Pride Shindig 2021 was done, we were relieved and ecstatic that we were able to provide an amazing boutique experience for everyone involved. Of course, we’re already planning next year!!

Thank you to every vendor that supported this endeavor and making it a delight for the attendees and for one another. Y’all are amazing and my gratitude is wordless. Here’s to next year!!