We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zabrina Zablan-Duvauchelle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zabrina below.

Zabrina , appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I was planning my wedding, my partner and I had a negative experience with wedding vendors who were not willing to work with us due to our sexuality. It was frustrating and disheartening, and we felt excluded and unsupported during the planning process. We also didnʻt have family participation and that was difficult for us to navigate alone.

But instead of giving up, I saw an opportunity to create a solution. I began researching and planning how I could offer a unique approach to wedding planning that would be inclusive and supportive of all couples, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. I knew that there must be other couples who are facing the same challenges, and I wanted to create a personalized and tailored experience for them. I wanted to ensure that every couple could feel seen, heard, and understood throughout the planning process.

As I developed my business plan, I saw a gap in the market for a queer-owned wedding planning business. I also recognized a growing demand for LGBTQ+ wedding planning services as more and more couples were looking for vendors who could provide a safe and supportive environment. Despite the challenges of starting a new business, I was confident that my idea was worthwhile and could make a positive impact on the industry. I also am ingenious to Hawaiʻi and I wanted to create a service that was for natives by natives. Having clients feel ownership and autonomy of their wedding was also really important to me as well.

I feel like The Gay Agenda Collective offers a unique perspective and understanding of the needs and preferences of LGBTQ+ couples and any non-traditional couples. I am committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all my clients, and I am proud to be part of a growing movement to make the wedding industry more welcoming and supportive for everyone.

Zabrina , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Okay, so a little about me :)

My name is Zabrina Zablan-Duvauchelle, owner of The Gay Agenda Collective (TGA), a queer owned wedding and event planning business. I am also indigenous to Hawaiʻi (Kanaka), and I believe strongly in creating a safe and inclusive space for both native Hawaiians and the LGBTQ+ community.

Growing up in Hawaiʻi, I always had a passion for event planning and design, but never truly pursued it. After attending college (for something that was not in wedding planning lol) on the continent and gaining experience through many different jobs, I decided to start The Gay Agenda Collective. Using my personal experience and work experience, it felt like the right fit. I started TGA in LA and later moved the business back home to Hawaiʻi.

As a queer person myself, I knew firsthand the challenges that LGBTQ+ couples face when planning their weddings. I saw an opportunity to create a business that would not only provide top-notch wedding planning services, but also offer a safe and supportive space for all couples.

At TGA, I offer personalized wedding planning services that are tailored to each couple’s unique vision and preferences. I work closely with my clients to understand their needs and help them create a wedding day that reflects their personalities and values. I have clients dig deep and really figure out what traditions (old or new) they want to to include on their wedding day that is reflective of them. Our whole motto is to make sure couples feel like they can make choices based on their wants, and not out of obligation.

In addition to my wedding planning services, I also offer event design and coordination services for corporate events, private parties, and other special occasions. We have recently started doing a TON of baby parties, which we love.

I am most proud of the positive impact that my business has had on the wedding industry in Hawaiʻi. By offering inclusive and supportive services, I have helped to create a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ couples and others who may have felt excluded or unsupported in the past. I am grateful that I am one of few in my industry who has made this their whole companies mission, but I am hopeful for more companies like mine to start up and offer similar services so we can serve the larger community.

Ultimately, what I want potential clients, followers, and I guess my fans (lol) to know about me and my brand is that I am committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and beautiful experience for everyone. Whether you are planning a wedding, a corporate event, or a private party, I am dedicated to helping you create a memorable and meaningful occasion that reflects your unique vision and values. I want you to feel like you can make your own choices and that you feel included, represented, and loved.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up in a religious my whole life, I was taught that being “gay” was wrong or immoral. For years, I struggled with accepting my own identity as a queer person because of the messages I had internalized from my religion and the community around me.

Throughout my education, from kindergarten through college, I attended religious schools where being LGBTQ+ was never accepted or even acknowledged. I actually got in trouble my senior year of college and had my scholarships almost stripped because of my sexuality. This made it even harder for me to come to terms with my identity and love myself for who I was.

It wasn’t until later in life that I began to unlearn the negative messages I had internalized about being queer. I realized that my identity was not something to be ashamed of or hide, but rather something to embrace and celebrate.

Through my own journey of self-acceptance and self-love, I learned that being queer is not bad or wrong, and that everyone deserves to be loved and accepted for who they are.

This lesson has been a powerful one for me, and it has helped me create my dream job as a wedding planner and my commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive space for all couples. I know firsthand the challenges that LGBTQ+ couples can face when planning their weddings, and I am dedicated to helping them create a wedding day that celebrates their love.

I feel like I still am unlearning a lot of the harmful ideologies, but I am in such a better place now.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started building my audience on social media, I was doing it all myself. It was a lot of trial and error at first, but as I began to find my voice and my niche as a queer-owned wedding planning business in Hawaii, things started to fall into place. One thing that has been helpful for me is having an open lane as one of the only queer-owned wedding planning businesses in Hawaii. This has allowed me to have more fun with what I post and to be more creative with my content. It has also given me a unique perspective and voice in the wedding industry that has resonated with my followers.

Recently, I have hired a social media manager who helps me post regularly and has allowed me to focus more on my business and my clients. With their help, I have been able to consistently post engaging and relevant content that has helped to grow my audience on social media. Honestly, the help has been a life saver.

If I were to offer advice to someone just starting to build their social media presence, I would suggest finding your niche and your voice early on. Be authentic and genuine in your posts, and try to provide value to your audience in some way. Consistency is also key – try to post regularly and engage with your followers whenever possible. Iʻm not talking commenting “cute” or “love that.” I mean ENGAGE with them. That is the whole part of social media. Lastly, don’t be afraid to have fun with it! Social media can be a great way to showcase your personality and your unique perspective, so don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine through.

Oh, and hire someone if it is too overwhelming!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thegayagenda.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegayagenda.co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegayagenda.co/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zabrina-zablan-960b70123?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegayagenda_co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjQxR9wFWfaNfWTkiiFWIjw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gay-agenda-collective-kapolei
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegayagenda.co?lang=en

Image Credits
@Monicalindaphotography @Mahinachoy @joncu @thesinglers