Gay Marriage Show in New Jersey

TOPICS: Lesbian and gay market. Global gay and lesbian marriage market. Gay weddings. Lesbian and gay weddings show in New Jersey. Gay PR. Gay marketing. Gay advertising, gay markets, gay marketing, gay PR. New York Time article on New Jersey gay marriage show.

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This is an ongoing US gay marketing week.

Yesterday's New York Times article on New Jersey gay weddings is an informative read.

Just like the new trends developing in the UK and elsewhere, the advent of gay weddings creates new gay marketing opportunities for businesses large and small. From gay weddings organizers to Bloomingdales, gay weddings market growth seems set to continue.

Here is an extract of that NY Times gay marriage article:

A Different Kind of Gay Marriage Debate
Published: March 23, 2007

EDISON, N.J., March 21 — At first blush, the wedding show at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center seemed pretty straight. Exhibitors as mainstream as Macy’s, Fortunoff’s and Hilton presented place settings and room rates. Chocolate-covered strawberries were free for the taking.

But by the front door, a few items put a little gay in this gala. Twin candied apples iced to look like tuxedos stood on a table. There was a banner for MarryMeGay.com that advertised videographers who can do “elegant and beautiful” — or “so camp and fabulous you’ll be squealing with delight each time you watch it.”

And then there was Sheila Gay Gross, an ordained interfaith minister who has joined about a dozen New Jersey couples in civil unions. She was offering to officiate at even more ceremonies using words like “I now pronounce you as one, united legally as you already are in mind, heart, body and soul.”

The state’s first Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo, held here Wednesday night, came six months after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples deserve the same rights as heterosexual married ones. And that evidently includes the right to a ride in a stretch Cadillac sport utility vehicle.

Marcie Horowitz and Margaret Maloney of Westfield, partners for 22 years, stood near a display of tiaras and flower girl dresses as they discussed their upcoming ceremony. Ms. Malone noted that no one at the convention hall was referring to the ceremonies as civil unions.

“Everyone’s saying marriage or wedding,” she said.

Ms. Horowitz laughed, recalling how people had been congratulating her on her engagement, which is not a term she uses. The right language, however, is hard to come by.

“You say to people, ‘I’m getting ...’ what?” Ms. Horowitz said.

“Civil unioned,” “civilly united” or “unionized,” perhaps?

“Now we say to people we’re getting married,” Ms. Maloney said.

“Everyone seems very open, but I’d be surprised here if they didn’t get it,” said Andy McGibbon of West Milford, who was planning a celebration for Nov. 10, the 11th anniversary of the day he met his partner, Walter Solares. “How could you not get it? It’s like found money.”

The potential for profits is huge. Forbes magazine reported in 2004 that if all the same-sex couples in the United States were allowed to marry, they could expect to spend $16.8 billion on their weddings.

And companies that make up the marital industrial complex are beginning to notice. [Organizers] also noted that Bloomingdale’s, which had a spot at the expo, has renamed its bridal registry as a gift registry because, she suggested, “not all couples include brides anymore.”
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