I'm an LGBTQ+ Wedding Planner to the Stars, But This Pride Month, I'm Most Proud of Being a 'Guncle

June has always been a vibrant month for me.  As a wedding planner, I’m proud of the love stories I’ve helped bring to life, the barriers I’ve helped break in the wedding industry and the joy I’ve seen unfold at countless LGBTQ+ weddings. I’ve planned a wedding in 48 hours and worked with celebrities, but I’m most proud of the family I helped create.

Amid all the love stories I’ve helped tell for my clients over the years, a quieter, deeper love story was unfolding in my own life. My sister and her wife gave me the gift of becoming a "guncle" — a gay uncle, to my niece and nephew.

The very first wedding I planned was for my sister and her wife in 2010, before same-sex marriage was legal in most states. As gay siblings, it felt profound to watch my sister walk down the aisle with her chosen person, as this wasn’t necessarily something either of us saw as guaranteed after we came out.