Gay Weddings are Good for Business

Research, data, advice and tips on the business of same-sex weddings from Bernadette Coveney Smith, the nation's leading gay wedding expert. In 2004, Bernadette opened 14 Stories, the first company in the U.S. to specialize in planning legal same-sex weddings.

Gay Marriage & the States: New Hampshire

Bernadette Coveney Smith - Friday, January 01, 2010

Let's talk about the Live Free or Die State, that great very libertarian state of New Hampshire, and hows its laws affect gay couples and wedding vendors:

New Hampshire, does, as of today, January 1, 2010, issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples
Prior to this, New Hampshire had civil unions
New Hampshire has a law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (though not gender identity). This means, as a wedding industry vendor, you are required by law to work with all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. It's illegal to discriminate.
According to the U.S. Census, in 2005, there were 5,578 same-sex couples living in New Hampshire (about equal number of male and female couples).

A good number of my clients come from other states and will be legally marrying here in Massachusetts or in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Do you know of anyone planning to marry in New Hampshire? How are you planning to prepare yourself to reach this market?