While many heard wedding bells when gay marriage became legal in New York, others heard cash registers. And not just the divorce lawyers. The City of New York's tourism agency, NYC & Company, says the gay wedding industry could be worth millions of dollars to Gotham, and it's ready to take romantic gays for every penny they've got.
Even before gay marriage was legalized there was rampant speculation about how much money it could bring to the state—one estimate put it at $184 million for the state's economy, with $142 million of that going to NYC—and it isn't like New York hasn't targeted gay tourists before. But this time the city is looking to go all out.
"NYC & Company is working to create a multi-channel, global communications and marketing campaign—NYC I DO—to promote the vibrancy and attractiveness of the five boroughs as a gay weddings destination," Kimberly Spell, the agency's chief communications officer, said.
As we mentioned this weekend, within hours the city created a dedicated gay wedding page which will be expanded on in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, for those who are looking forward to get married day one, the city is taking precautions by trying to get extra judges on duty to waive the usual 24-hour waiting period. "I just don't know that everyone is going to rush to New York the first day given there are alternatives," Mayor Bloomberg said of the city's first gay marriages. "But we will be ready. Will there be lines the first day? Yes. Get ready for it. Get used to it. It's a lot better than no lines."
