Kathryn never expected to be an expert and nationally-recognized speaker for All Things LGBTQ Weddings, but her background as an educator, social worker, and marketing enthusiast intersected with her own weddings planning needs to open unexpected doors.
In 1998, Kathryn and her fiancée began planning their same-sex wedding at a time when there was little guidance or acceptance for doing so. The process led to a memorable wedding in 1999 and launched a pioneering business, courtesy of Kathryn’s mother, Gretchen Hamm.
Though Kathryn consulted with her mother as she launched her groundbreaking online wedding boutiques — TwoBrides.com and TwoGrooms.com, she didn’t become formally involved in the business until 2004. A year later, Kathryn joined her mom as a full partner in the business and oversaw the acquisition, rebranding, and expansion of GayWeddings.com.
Learning the industry
Between 2005 and 2010, Kathryn got to know the wedding industry, the needs of wedding professionals and LGBTQ couples alike, the legal landscape for marriage equality, and became a trusted source for local, regional and national media outlets.
In 2011, GayWeddings launched its partnership with industry upstart, WeddingWire, and its vendor directory quickly became the most comprehensive directory of wedding professionals who were ready, willing and able to serve same-sex couples. Kathryn also became a regular speaker on the industry circuit, offering her analysis and advice on LGBTQ weddings to thousands of wedding and event professionals through conferences like WeddingWire World, WeddingMBA, Catersource, WeddingWire webinars, the NACE, blogs and magazines. She also consulted with a number of national brands looking to expand their knowledge and sharpen their practices.
Leading The Industry
In 2013, Kathryn Hamm and Thea Dodds self-published “Capturing Love,” a groundbreaking and well-received visual guide to help photographers understand the mechanics of posing same-sex couples and tips for photographing LGBTQ weddings and engagements. A year later, Amphoto Books, a division of Penguin Random House, purchased the rights to the book and republished as “The New Art of Capturing Love: The Essential Guide to Lesbian & Gay Wedding Photography.” In 2018, The New Art of Capturing Love was translated into Chinese and released abroad.
In 2015, WeddingWire acquired GayWeddings and Kathryn remained engaged with the WeddingWire team, supporting their internal and external diversity and inclusion education efforts. She continued to be a featured speaker at WeddingWire World and, following WeddingWire’s acquisition of The Knot, Kathryn joined the WeddingPro team as an expert in LGBTQ weddings and a diversity and inclusion specialist.
Kathryn continues to be available to work with businesses of all sizes to discuss the needs of members of the LGTBQ community of all generations, orientations and identities, and the shift in attitudes about LGBTQ+ identified persons amongst Millennials and Generation Z.
Contact Kathryn with further inquiries.