Why This Policy Exists

Dark Wedding Collective exists to connect couples with trusted, creative professionals whose work reflects genuine skill, artistry, and lived experience within the alternative wedding world.

Couples do not simply buy a product when planning a wedding, they place trust in people. They choose photographers to document memories, florists to interpret emotion, designers to create meaning, stylists to shape atmosphere, and makers to bring imagined worlds into reality.

Because of this, authenticity matters.

AI has become increasingly common in creative industries, and while it can be useful for inspiration, concept development, moodboarding, or internal planning, it creates a challenge when used to represent work that has not yet been created, delivered, photographed, or experienced.

In a wedding setting where trust, emotional investment, and expectation are deeply intertwined, representation must remain honest and transparent.

This policy is designed to protect:

• Couples who rely on supplier portfolios to make informed decisions

• Suppliers whose real craftsmanship deserves visibility and fairness

• The integrity and reputation of Dark Wedding Collective as a curated, trusted platform

• The creative industries that rely on genuine skill, experience, and artistry

Core Principle

Suppliers featured within Dark Wedding Collective must represent their work honestly.

Portfolio imagery, website imagery, directory listings, social media examples, and exhibition materials should accurately reflect what a supplier has genuinely created, delivered, photographed, styled, or produced.

AI-generated imagery must never create a misleading impression about a supplier’s experience, capability, or real-world portfolio.

Dark Wedding Collective Position on AI

Dark Wedding Collective is not anti-AI. We recognise that AI can be a useful creative tool, however, AI imagery becomes problematic when it replaces proof of real work.

In creative industries, couples make decisions based on visual trust. If a supplier shows imagery that implies they have created florals, gowns, cakes, styling, ceremonies, venues, décor, photography, or installations that do not exist in reality, this creates a risk of misrepresentation.

Acceptable Use of AI

AI imagery may be acceptable when:

1. It is Clearly Labelled

AI-generated visuals must be openly disclosed.

We expect any AI images to be labelled as follows:

• “Concept visual”

• “AI moodboard”

• “AI Styling concept”

• “Visual inspiration only”

Transparency is essential.

2. It Supports Rather Than Replaces Real Work

AI may sit alongside genuine portfolio imagery but should not dominate or substitute it. We expect AI imagery to form less than half a suppliers imagery.

A portfolio and associated social communication should still prioritise:

• Real weddings

• Real commissions

• Real products

• Real installations

• Real styling work

• Real client outcomes

3. It Is Used for Editorial or Conceptual Storytelling

Clearly labelled concept campaigns or creative exploration pieces may be appropriate if it is clearly communicated as such and there is no implication that the supplier has physically delivered that exact work.

4. It Is Used Internally

Moodboards, proposal development, concept planning, and private client visualisation are acceptable uses that do not affect public trust.

Unacceptable Use of AI

AI imagery is not acceptable when it:

1. Replaces a Genuine Portfolio

Suppliers may not rely primarily or entirely on AI-generated imagery to demonstrate their work.

If a supplier has no real examples yet, this should be honestly communicated.

2. Misrepresents Experience

AI imagery must not imply a supplier has completed work they have never delivered.

3. Creates Unrealistic Expectations

AI-generated visuals often gloss over real-world constraints. When imagery suggests unattainable scale, lighting, styling, floristry, craftsmanship, or production quality without disclosure, couples may be misled.

4. Is Presented Without Disclosure

Any attempt to present AI imagery as real work may result in removal from the directory, fair participation restrictions, or refusal of future applications.

Portfolio Requirements for Dark Wedding Collective Suppliers

To maintain trust within the directory and events:

Suppliers portfolios must contain:

• Genuine work examples

• Real photography

• Styled shoots clearly credited

• Collaborative projects accurately described

• Honest representation of current skill level and offering

We understand that newer suppliers may still be building portfolios. For emerging businesses, authenticity matters more than scale. A small but genuine portfolio is far stronger than an artificial one.

Guidance for New Suppliers Building a Portfolio

If a supplier is early in their journey, we encourage:

• Collaboration shoots

• Behind-the-scenes process content

• Product photography of real prototypes

• Workshops or collaborative editorial projects

Authentic growth is welcomed.

Review Process

Dark Wedding Collective may review imagery used by suppliers across:

• Directory listings

• Applications

• Social media

• Websites

• Fair marketing

• Exhibition materials

AI imagery should never dominate, and where imagery appears unclear, misleading, or inconsistent, we may request clarification.

This is not intended as punishment. It is intended to protect trust.

Enforcement

Where suppliers are found to be misrepresenting their work through AI imagery, Dark Wedding Collective may:

1. Request clarification or image labelling

2. Request removal of misleading imagery

3. Request portfolio updates

4. Pause directory approval

5. Decline exhibition applications

6. Remove a supplier from the directory or events where trust has been compromised