Same-Sex Marriages Bringing In Millions Of Dollars KTVU News July 18, 2008
The legalization of same-sex marriages in California has made homosexual and
lesbian couples happy. They are not alone. The wedding industry is seeing a boom
in business. State and city coffers aren't doing too badly either.
The Williams Institute at U.C.L.A. predicts gay men and lesbians will spend
$684 million on wedding cakes, photographers, tuxedos, hotel rooms and related
wedding trappings during the next three years. The institute estimates the State
of California will haul in some $64 million in taxes and another $9 million in
marriage license fees.
San Francisco's Convention and Visitors Bureau figures the city, the
self-styled birthplace of same-sex marriage, is rightly due a share of the
bonanza. "The San Francisco Controller's office has estimated that it will mean
about $24 million in economic impact from people outside of San Francisco coming
into the city to marry," figures Dan Goldes of the Convention Bureau.
There's plenty of competition for those dollars. Palm Springs has vowed to
become the Las Vegas of same-sex marriages, and is offering gay-friendly wedding
packages.
A Palm Springs jeweler reports doing a brisk business in his-and-his wedding
rings.
The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite is also pitching gay weddings and honeymoon
packages
A popular on-line site is offering groom-and-groom and bride-and-bride
wedding cake toppers, and selling about a hundred sets per day.
Bay Area wedding-related businesses also have been cashing in nicely. Tony
Wells of San Francisco's Not Just Flowers says he sells "Lots of boutonnieres
and corsages for mothers, corsages for aunts, for uncles. It's just been really,
really busy. It's been really amazing how much business has come our way."
Chrissie Edersma and Sacha Clayton have been together five years. Friday
afternoon they were at San Francisco City Hall making it legal, with a
celebration to come later. It all costs money, of course.
Eldersma and Clayton listed some of things they are spending money on:
bouquets, dresses, cake, champagne, the marriage license, and a copy of the
certificate.
If same-sex marriages are anything like heterosexual marriages, some won't
work out, and divorce lawyers will be cashing in too.
