Always Fabulous Events - Philadelphia Area Party & Wedding Planner

For the wedding industry, the law is irrelevant
(from Blue Bayou)

Same sex marriages remain in legal limbo in most of the United States, but that hasn't stopped a fast-growing gay wedding industry from booming:

Unlike the multibillion dollar traditional wedding industry, experts say the gay wedding business is harder to track. Some estimates place its value at up to $1 billion.

In 2005, gays spent $7.2 million with vendors found at the Rainbow Wedding Network Web site, according to data collected by the site, which publishes a national magazine and hosts wedding expos. That's up from $2.1 million in 2002, according to Cindy Sproul, who co-owns the North Carolina firm.

Marriage-minded gays and lesbians are purchasing basics like flowers and limousines. But vendors say couples also are spending on items with a same-sex twist: rainbow bejeweled rings, double-bride thank you cards and "His and His" towel sets.

"We almost completely parallel what heterosexual couples are doing," Sproul said. "The only difference is there may be two grooms, or two brides."

Sproul estimated gay couples spend about $20,000 on ceremonies in states offering some form of recognition, like Massachusetts and Vermont. But couples elsewhere also are investing: Sproul said couples average $15,000 on ceremonies in states that have banned gay marriage such as Georgia, where an annual wedding expo her company hosts draws about 500, mostly black gays and lesbians.

Vinyelle White and Madeline Jones of Richmond spent $4,000 -- a month's worth of their combined income -- on their August ceremony, a homespun affair with handmade invitations.

"It may sound really stupid to say, but why not," said White, who visited gay wedding Web sites before choosing an African-themed wedding. "We're showing this is how much we love each other, whether it's legal or not."

The wedding ceremony boom points out an interesting aspect of the debate over same sex marriage. Opponents talk about it as if legal recognition of these marriages means that same sex marriages will appear where there were none before. This is, of course, silly; same sex couples have been getting married for many years. The government just hasn't recognized them.

Gay marriage is here, in all 50 states and all over the world. The only real issue up for debate is how governments will treat the married couples.

As for the wedding ceremony business... well, as someone who's a bit cynical about it regardless of the gender of the participants, I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Yes, gay couples should be able to blow a whole lot of money throwing a big party, just like straight couples do. Personally, I think spending the money on something like a down payment on a house might be a smarter idea.

For those who make a whole lot of money convincing people that if they don't have the right flowers, napkins, bridesmaid dresses, music, and limo to carry them off at the end, the "special day" will be ruined, gay couples are just a great opportunity to expand the market.

That's the thing about business - it's almost always apolitical. And for the marriage business, the legal status is clearly irrelevant; the gay wedding business is likely to keep booming, no matter what happens to the law.