#LoveIsOurBusiness, a new initiative launched by VOW for Girls on Valentine’s Day, seeks to unite the global wedding industry to end child marriage by asking that wedding-aligned businesses, media, and wedding professionals take the following public pledge to support girls:
"As a company that celebrates love, we support VOW for Girls. Because #LoveIsOurBusiness, we believe every girl should be able to choose love on her own terms and no child should ever be a bride."
Brands and media outlets that have taken the pledge so far include wedding payments platform Maroo; wedding dress designer Justin Alexander Bridal; leading African lifestyle, fashion, and wedding outlet Bella Naija; wedding industry leader The Knot; womenswear designer Natori; event professional software Aisle Planner; online name-changing service NameSwitch; direct-to-consumer wedding party apparel company Birdy Grey; and personalized bracelet company Names For Good.
Notable wedding industry professionals participating in the initiative include VOW's Global Ambassador Sarah Haywood; VOW Regional Ambassadors and leading wedding planners Mwai Yeboah, Lotte Groosman, and Estelle Bogaert; as well as VOW Advisory Council members, luxury planner Emily Campbell and luxury photographer Rebecca Yale. The initiative also has the support of the Wedding International Professionals Association (WIPA).
"Weddings are a series of choices," says Clay Dunn, CEO of VOW for Girls. "From the moment couples say 'yes,' a multitude of other choices begin to unfold. Each of these choices, from cakes and dresses, to venues, photographers, and honeymoons, can have a big impact."
Every year, 12 million girls, some as young as 8, become child brides, which is equivalent to one girl every 3 seconds. It's estimated that an additional 10 million child marriages may occur over the next 10 years due to the impacts of COVID-19.
"Child marriage removes a girl's ability to choose and own her future," adds Dunn. "The primary aim of #LoveIsOurBusiness is to ensure girls have the support they need to create a life they want and choose love on their own terms."
Justin Alexander Bridal has made a commitment to VOW for Girls and its initiative to raise $100,000 in 2022 by holding fundraising challenges with its employees, adding a donation banner on its email signatures, and linking to its Vow Donation landing page on social media: https://www.justinalexander.com/vow-for-girls.
“As a VOW Champion partner and Advisory Council Member, I will actively engage with VOW programs as much as possible in the coming year so that I can learn from the lived experiences of girls and the leaders of the organizations VOW supports. I look forward to getting my hands dirty and helping in any way I can,” said Justin Warshaw, CEO and Creative Director, Justin Alexander.
To learn more about the initiative visit LoveIsOurBusiness.org and follow along at @vowforgirls.