Why Same-Sex Marriage Would Be the Best Thing for our Economy

Imagine for a minute you're planning a wedding. It doesn't have to be your wedding, or the wedding of a sibling or best friend. Let's say you're a wedding planner. Your job is to create the best, most beautiful, elaborate, memorable and amazing wedding for the happy couple-to-be.

The people that are getting married are career-oriented, ambitious individuals who want to have a say in the plans, but who want someone else to carry them out. They're smart because they've heard of the "Bridezillas" who become obsessed with spending disgusting amounts of money on what's supposed to be a special day and who turn into evil Bitches who will fight for the best, brightest and most expensive wedding ever, despite who they hurt (or how much debt they incur) in the process.

Your job is easy. After all, there are hundreds of vendors in the wedding industry just waiting to help you out. The couple-to-be is relying on you to guide them and help them invest in the special day that will launch their future together as husband and husband, or wife and wife.

Regardless of how you feel about same-sex marriage, this is your job. You are going to be making a nice-size fee for arranging all of the details for their big event. Now, where do you go? Who do you turn to?

In the U.S., the average couple spends around $30,000 on a wedding. That does not include the cost of the honeymoon or engagement ring! This doesn't even consider the cost that is spent by the bridal party themselves or the gifts that the guests purchase for the couple. Imagine what same-sex marriage could do to boost our economy when you consider the following costs:

• Bride/Groom Accessories $125 - $400
  
• Groom Suit / Tux $175 - $300
  
• Wedding Dress $1000 - $1650
  
• Hair / Makeup $125 - $215
  
• Headpiece / Veil $225 - $375
  
• Ceremony Accessories $140 - $235
  
• Ceremony Decorations $420 - $700
  
• Ceremony Location $490 - $825
  
• Officiate/Pastor/Priest $175 - $300
  
• Rehearsal Dinner $955 - $1595
  
• Ceremony/Reception DJ $550 - $900
  
• Boutonnieres/Corsages $135 - $225
  
• Bride Bouquet $115 - $190
  
• Bridesmaid Bouquets $180 - $300
  
• Ceremony Flowers $325 - $545
  
• Flower Girl Flowers $35 - $60
  
• Reception Flowers $735 - $1225
  
• Gifts for Attendants $355 - $595
  
• Gifts for Each Other $285 - $480
  
• Gifts for Parents $125 - $210
  
• Shower Invitations $75 - $125
  
• Guestbook $35 - $60
  
• Wedding Invitation & Reply Cards $325 - $535
  
• Personal Stationery $100 - $170
  
• Save the Date Cards $125 - $200
  
• Thank You Cards $65 - $110
  
• Rings for Couple $500 - $1200 (each)
  
• Bridal Consultant/Bridal Planner $1000 - $1650
  
• Photographer $1500 - $2550
  
• Videographer $1100 - $1850
  
• Reception Beverages/Bartender $1660 - $2780
  
• Hotel Room for Couple $200 - $350
  
• Cake/Cake Knife Set/Cake Topper $460 - $775
  
• Reception Decorations $800 - $1350
  
• Favors $270 - $450
  
• Reception Food Service $5680 - $9500
  
• Reception Location $1850 - $3000
  
• Reception Rentals $825 - $1380
  
• Car Rental $225 - $380
  
• Limo Rental $500 - $835

The above costs are estimates, based on rates found in Southern California. I didn't spend nearly half this amount on my wedding (although it was approximate to the cost of my divorce).

Weddings can be put together with a much smaller - or grander budget - but the point here is that there are vendors (that are usually locally-owned businesses) that could benefit from making same-sex marriages legal.

I have never attended a same-sex wedding or commitment ceremony but I know of many couples who would be honored to stand before their friends and family and validate their relationship just as heterosexual couples have been allowed to do for generations.

Just a little something to think about.