Same-sex matrimony adds bliss to Mass economy: $111 million and counting
Apparently, queers in Massachusetts missed Serena’s Queercents series about how to have a wedding on a budget. A recent survey [The Fiscal Impact of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts] looked at how much money was spent on nuptials by same-sex couples in the commonwealth over the last few years.
- Nearly half of same-sex married couples in Massachusetts have spent $5,000 or more on wedding-related expenses, including invitations, flowers, clothing, entertainment, catering, and other related expenses.
- Nearly one in ten same-sex couples spent over $20,000 on their wedding,
- The average same-sex couple spent approximately $7,400 on their wedding.
The study [download PDF here at Marriage Equality Works] concludes that marriages have had a positive economic effect on the Massachusetts economy with current estimates at $111 million. That’s a lot of smack for the privilege of being able to kiss the bride. If you’re getting married in Massachusetts or other states (Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Maine) allowing same-sex couples to marry; then by all means enjoy the ceremony and celebration, but be sure and set a budget for the big day.
There is nothing worse than starting off wedded bliss with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
Photo credit: stock.xchng.
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Let’s hope the CA Supreme Court read this article too!! Timely post for those of us waiting to learn whether or not we’ll be dismarried in CA. We’ll be setting a much lower than average budget for our second marriage together if it comes to that.
What a timely post, Nina. It will be interesting to see how the CA rules today on Prop 8. Maybe they’ll look at the budget and realize that queers have spent a shit ton of money in Cali to get married since the decision last year. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
P.S. Thanks for the plug on the wedding series. ;^)