Preston Mitchum
Preston Mitchum
This week on Weddings-ish with Jove, we sat down with Preston Mitchum—policy strategist, attorney, activist, and cultural force—to talk about love, commitment, and what it means to build a wedding (and a life) rooted in values. From the very beginning of the conversation, it was clear that this episode would be as expansive as Preston’s work: deeply personal, politically aware, and unapologetically joyful.
Preston shared the path that led him from law school to progressive policy work, including his pivotal role at The Trevor Project and his advocacy around mental health, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ+ youth. Woven throughout the conversation was a through-line we come back to often on Weddings-ish: weddings don’t exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by who we are, what we fight for, and the communities that hold us. For Preston, love and activism are not separate lanes—they inform one another.
Photos by: Edward Underwood Photography
We then shifted into Preston’s love story with his husband, Donald—how they met, how the relationship unfolded during the uncertainty of the pandemic, and how honesty, fairness, and aligned values became the foundation of their partnership. Their engagement story—spanning Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona—was full of humor, intention, and the kind of real-life chaos that makes the moment even sweeter. It was romantic without being performative, thoughtful without being rigid—very on brand.
When it came time to plan the wedding, the couple approached it with the same clarity. Hosted in Washington, DC, the celebration unfolded over an entire weekend, prioritizing time together, chosen family, and ease. With the help of a trusted planner, Preston and Donald created an experience that felt elevated but deeply human—three days, multiple gatherings, and one very clear message: this was about community.
Photos by: Edward Underwood Photography
One of the most powerful design moments came in the form of their seating chart, which honored influential Black leaders and visionaries—names like Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, Octavia Butler, Marsha P. Johnson, and Pauli Murray—transforming a functional detail into a cultural statement. It was a reminder that weddings can be reverent without being traditional, and that meaning often lives in the details guests least expect.
Fashion also played a starring role. From a richly embellished ceremony look to coordinated second outfits and a perfectly chosen first-dance song (Lauryn Hill, no notes), every decision felt intentional but unfussy. Preston spoke candidly about letting go of perfection, trusting the process, and realizing—like so many couples do—that what matters most isn’t whether every detail is noticed, but how the day feels.
Photos by: Edward Underwood Photography
The episode closed with a conversation about representation, visibility, and why seeing Black queer love celebrated so publicly still matters. Preston reflected on how their wedding, while never intended as a political act, became one simply by existing—by centering Black love, Black joy, and Black history in a space where it is still too often absent. It was a powerful reminder that weddings can be both intimate and expansive, personal and resonant far beyond the room.
As always, Weddings-ish isn’t just about the party—it’s about the people, the context, and the meaning we make together. Preston’s story is one we won’t soon forget.
On this week’s ask Jove, Jove and Sloan talk about how to have boundaries with Mom during wedding planning
LISTEN NOW!