Proper Etiquette for Gay Same Sex Weddings?

In my same sex weddings, the couples want weddings similar their strait siblings!
As always I customize the wedding to the couples taste, family history,
wedding traditions, regional culture, lifestyle and the most current design trends.

The Big Apple said "I do" to Phyllis Siegel and Connie Kopelov!

The Big Apple said "I do" to a new era of gay rights this morning and celebrated New York City's first same-sex weddings.

Chelsea residents Phyllis Siegel, 76, and Connie Kopelov, 84, got hitched at the marriage bureau on Worth Street in Lower Manhattan at 9:02 a.m., setting off wedding bells across Gotham.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is openly gay, witnessed the ceremony that was officiated by City Clerk Michael McSweeney.

‘‘It was just so amazing,’’ Siegel said outside. ‘‘It’s the only way to describe it. I lost my breath and a few tears.’’

AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Phyllis Siegel (rear) and Connie Kopelov (front) celebrate after becoming the first same-sex couple to get married in New York City the day the state's gay marriage law went into effect.

She added: ‘‘This is the first day of the rest of our lives.’’

* In Brooklyn, retired nurse Michael Faurey, 63, and Bobby Amagna, 65, celebrated their nearly two-decade-old relationship in matrimony.

‘‘It’s [been] an 18- year struggle,’’ said Faurey. While the two grooms nonchalantly exchanged vows, judge Ellen Spodek, who officiated their ceremony, broke down in tears.

* Meanwhile at Queens Borough Hall, Greg Levine, 32, and Shane Serkiz, 33, were the first ones to show up to tie the knot, and they celebrated their 11-year relationship.

Serkiz said he hopes today’s weddings bring hope to future generations of gay Americans: "I hope this makes it a lot easier for gay and lesbian youth to understand that who they are is OK . And it definitely gets better."

* Up in The Bronx, youth pastor Carmen Hernandez, 48, and dental assistant Doris DeArmas, 50, tied the knot. When they sealed the borough’s first same-sex marriage, DeArmas told her love: ‘‘I’ve got you.’’

* Then down in Staten Island, a pair of Long Branch, NJ, lovebirds — Bedelia Sanchez, 47, and Lavern Rivera, 50 — got hitched even though their state won’t recognize the nuptials.

‘‘We have six grandchildren together,’’ Sanchez said. ‘‘We want them to understand that even though we’re homosexuals, we love each other and are very serious about our family.’’

The Big Apple weddings followed dozens of other same-sex ceremonies, conducted in the wee-early morning hours when the state’s historic Marriage Equality Act officially took effect.

Under a steamy half-moon at the stroke of midnight, Dee Smith, 25, and Kate Wrede, 21, signed their license at the North Hempstead Town Hall in Manhasset.

Kate -- in a traditional white wedding gown -- and Dee, who donned a tux, then walked across the street to a romantic park gazebo to tie the knot.

The Patchogue duo were exchanging vows by the stroke of twelve -- and then rode off for their honeymoon night in a white Rolls Royce.

Smith said she and her bride were overwhelmed by all the attention leading up to the happy event.

"We're humble people," she laughed.

They got engaged in May and thought they'd get hitched out of state next year. But when New York legalized gay marriage a month ago, Smith and Wrede set out to make history with their "I do's."

They rushed their way through selecting a gown, a tuxedo, and a limo, planned an elaborate Jewish ceremony at the Viana Hotel, and even got a cake from TLC's "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro. But up until late Friday afternoon, Smith and Wrede didn't know if they would have the necessary paperwork in place to officially wed.

At the last minute, they learned that North Hempstead town clerk Leslie Gross was going to open Town Hall at midnight to issue a marriage license to two dear friends.

Smith and Wrede contacted Gross to ask for help, and she agreed to give them a midnight marriage license as well.

But the couple had to produce their own Supreme Court Justice to be present to waive a state law that mandates a 24-hour waiting period after a license is issued.

"They found a Queens justice willing to come out here at midnight. I don't know how they did it, but they did," said Gross.

Other couples around the state were also eager to claim first-married status.

In Albany, 10 couples exchanged vows at City Hall at 12 a.m.

In Niagara Falls, longtime partners Kitty Lambert, 54, and Cheryle Rudd, 53, made a splash with a midnight wedding on Luna Island, at the feet of the gushing Horseshoe Waterfalls.

"We're so proud of everybody who crawled up this hill with us," Lambert, her eyes filled with tears, told the Buffalo News.

"This wasn't done with just the two of us. Every single person here played a part in getting this law passed."

Earlier, Lambert noted "Our wedding invitations said, 'It was well worth the fight.' "

She wore a sparkly azure dress she made herself. Rudd was decked out in a white, tailed tuxedo, and their grandkids carried the flowers and rings for them.

"When I was a little girl I dreamed one day of being married at Niagara Falls," said Lambert. "The feelings you get while you stand there, it's just instantly romantic."

Additional reporting by Zach Crizer, Kelsey Huebert, Ginger Adams Otis, Candace Amos, Amber Sutherland and David K. Li

From the  http://www.nypost.com

My Question is... Was Bill Cunningham at the wedding?

Something Blue Is now New York Wedding Fashion!

Much Joy to the well deserving couple.

A Rainbow Wedding Cake!

NYC to hold lottery for first gay wedding slots!

AP)  

NEW YORK - New York City will hold a lottery for couples who want to get married on first day same-sex marriage will be legal, the mayor announced Tuesday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that more than 760 couples will be selected to get married on Sunday in the city clerk's five borough offices.

Couples can register for the lottery online or by calling 311 in the 48 hours beginning noon Tuesday. Winners will be notified by Friday at noon.

The steps are being taken to keep the day special and to avoid situations in which people wait for hours only to be turned away.

"We want to make sure that Sunday is not like a trip to motor vehicles," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Couples will not be given a specific time to arrive and should expect for the process to take about an hour. Couples who wish to get married somewhere else can enter the lottery and receive the license and waiver on Sunday, then leave for their ceremony.

For couples who do not land a spot through the lottery, the city clerk's office will continue expanded operations next week, bringing in extra judges and staff and staying open two extra hours each day, to handle the anticipated demand.

Starting Monday, those weddings will be performed first-come, first-served, but Bloomberg said he doesn't expect people to be camping out overnight to get married.

"It's not buying an iPad 2," he said.

"It's way better," added Quinn.

Officials said 2,661 couples have already preregistered for marriage licenses online, and they believe about half of them wish to be married on Sunday. In all, officials expect about 2,500 couples to enter the lottery.

Officials expect the majority of couples who enter the lottery to be local residents, although couples who live out of state can also apply.

On Sunday, judges will perform three steps all at once: granting a marriage license, granting (on a case by case basis) a waiver of the waiting period, and performing a ceremony.

Generally, Quinn said, judges refuse to grant waivers only in cases where an individual appears to be under duress or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Each couple must register under the names that will appear on the marriage licenses. The step is being taken to prevent people from giving away or selling their spots.

Each borough will hold a separate lottery, and couples can enter only one.

The one exception to the lottery system is the wedding that the mayor himself is officiating at Gracie Mansion — that of two city officials.

My Big Fat Gay Wedding In New York City!

Mayor Bloomberg anticipates big gay wedding business for New York City

BY REUVEN BLAU AND ERIN EINHORN

DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Mayor Bloomberg is looking to cash in on a big fat gay wedding bonanza.

"We'd love to have you come here," Hizzoner said yesterday of the two-bride and two-groom couples who can begin marrying in the Empire State next month.

"Stay in a hotel. Buy flowers, clothes, meals or whatever. It's good for the economy."

An analysis two years ago from then-city Controller William Thompson predicted a windfall for the city as large as $149 million within three years of gay marriage becoming legal.

Gay-Friendly Hotels in New York City

From

Gay and lesbian travelers account for a sizeable portion of the New York tourism market. In 2008, they made up 10 percent of the 47 million visitors to the city, and in 2009 New York City officials promoted Manhattan as a gay tourist destination in a $1.9 million Rainbow Pilgrimage Campaign. So it's no surprise that virtually every hotel in New York is hospitable to members of the LGBT community. Some, however, go further than others, either by investing in targeted advertising or by offering special packages and discounts. All of the hotels on this list are TAG approved or members of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

The Muse - Kimpton

W New York Times Square

Marriott Marquis New York

Grand Hyatt New York

60 Thompson



http://www.oyster.com/new-york-city/hotels/gay-friendly/

NEW YORK CITY Destination New York Same Sex Gay Weddings

Destination weddings, meaning weddings held in a vacation location away from the couple's home town, have gained in popularity in recent years. Today, this hip alternative allows a couple to combine the best of an adventurous honeymoon with a more traditional ceremony, and sometimes save money in the process.

Some destination weddings just involve the eloping couple, others include a few close friends and family, and still others are full blowout affairs with multiple parties over a long wedding weekend.
So is a destination wedding right for you? Here are the pros and cons:

Pro: A Complete Package
Resorts and tourism organizations have seen the dollar signs behind this trend and so work hard to keep a destination wedding stress-free and simpler. As part of a package deal, many offer the complimentary services of their on-site wedding consultant who will help you coordinate all of the ceremony essentials (marriage license, cake, officiant, etc.) All you have to do is show up! Also talk to your wedding coordinator about organizing activities for your guests such as sightseeing, SCUBA or snorkeling excursions, sports, or shopping. If your resort has a spa onsite, give your guests gift certificates for spa services to help them really enjoy their stays.

Con: Planning a Wedding Long Distance and Legal Red Tape
For those of you not getting married at a resort, you'll have to juggle all those details yourself long distance. If your destination wedding is in a foreign country or even another state, you might run into complications when trying to get a marriage license. Consider hiring a coordinator who specializes in destination weddings to help you over these speed bumps. You'll want to know how to get a marriage license in that location. You can also consult the marriage site at about.com for laws in popular destinations. And, check with those tourist boards, who may have literature available to help you find local florists, photographers, and venues.

Pro: Avoiding Stressful Family Situations
With a smaller invitation list, you can avoid feeling "forced" to invite the cousin you can't stand, or the in-law that everyone fights with. Just invite your very closest friends and family to the intimate ceremony and celebration, or keep it romantic and don't invite anyone. You can always send them pictures!

Con: Family Members and Friends You Love May Not Be There
Particularly for far-away locations, some guests may not be able to attend due to the expense, or the difficulty of getting time off of work. Older guests may not be able to travel so far away from home. Talk to those who are truly essential before you book tickets and send invitations. On the plus side, you'll have far more time to spend with the guests who come to a destination wedding than those who come to a more traditional wedding.

Pro: You'll Save Money By Not Having 200 People at a Reception
Spending a luxurious wedding weekend in a dramatic location can often cost less than a seated dinner at a nice location. Destination Wedding Etiquette calls for the bride and groom to pay for the hotel rooms, food and most of the guests' expenses. Guests pay for their own airfare. If money is an issue, look to domestic locations or countries with a favorable exchange rate, and consider keeping the guest list small.

Con: Some of your loved ones may not be able to afford to travel that far
Again, talk to those who are truly essential before you've made the final decision on your destination wedding location. Consider paying for some of your guests' airfare, and look into group discounts through travel agents.

Pro: By Combining Wedding and Honeymoon, You Can Afford to Go to that Dream Honeymoon Locale
Instead of spending your honeymoon at a Bread and Breakfast close to home, you can have the trip of a lifetime in an glamorous location. Best of all, you'll have an excuse to return there for a 5-, 10-, or 25-year anniversary.

Con: With Your Family Around, and a Wedding to Worry About, Will You Really Get a Honeymoon?
Of course, you'll be in a beautiful place, but will you have enough romantic alone time? To get around this, make sure you schedule it and insist on it. Arrive a few days before everyone else (you may need to do this anyway for marriage license requirements), or have a honeymoon nearby afterwards. If neither of these are possible, find interesting things your wedding party can do while you and your fiancé have couple time.

From http://weddings.about.com/
www.nancysweizyevents.com

Happy July 24th for Same-Sex Marriage in New York Starts

Same-sex marriage will become legal in the U.S. state of New York on July 24, 2011.

A bill to make it so was passed on June 24, 2011 by the New York State Legislature and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In 2006, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that there is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage in New York.[1] Following the 2006 Court decision, the New York State Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation in 2007, 2009, and 2011. However, the New York Senate rejected same-sex marriage legislation in a 38–24 vote on December 2009.

After negotiations between Republican members of the Senate and Governor Andrew Cuomo, regarding protections against discrimination lawsuits for religious groups and non-profit organizations, a same-sex marriage bill known as the Marriage Equality Act passed the State Senate by a vote of 33–29 on June 24, 2011.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the measure the same night, allowing the law to go into effect on July 24, 2011.

Were To Get A Same-Sex Marriage License In New York City?

June 24, 2011, marked yet another New York milestone in LGBT history. On that day, Governor Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act, allowing same-sex couples to marry legally in New York for the first time. The Act will go into effect 30 days after its signing.
With the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, people from all over the country and all around the world are asking the question: can I come to New York City and get married? The answer is yes! Whether you're a lifelong local or someone who has dreamed of coming here your entire life, New York City is the ultimate spot for you to tie the knot.

Here's what you need to know:
Who can get married in New York now that the Marriage Equality Act has passed?
The Marriage Equality Act allows same-sex couples to get married in New York just like opposite-sex couples, with the same rights, responsibilities and privileges under State and City law.

Can I get married in New York City even if I don't live there?
Yes. Couples who reside in New York or in another state or country are all welcome to marry here.

When can same-sex couples begin marrying in New York?

The Marriage Equality Act allows same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses starting 30 days after the Act was signed into law. State law generally requires couples to wait 24 hours after receiving a license before they can be married. For more information, visit cityclerk.nyc.gov.
How do I get a marriage license in New York City?

To get a marriage license, apply for one from the New York City Clerk’s office. Once you obtain a license, it is valid for 60 days. For more information, visit cityclerk.nyc.gov.
Can my spouse and I get married in New York City if we were already married in another state or country?

Yes. You and your spouse can get married again in New York, whether you reside here or not. (Note: New York already recognizes lawful marriages, including same-sex marriages, that were performed elsewhere.)

FROM
http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/marriage_bureau.shtml

Manhattan Marriage Bureau
141 Worth St
Manhattan – TriBeCa
NY 10013

The Launch Of New York Hort Couture

Please come and visit my new Blog

New York Hort Couture

http://newyorkhortcouture.blogspot.com

Photo from the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala

Wedding plans bloom as NY legalizes gay marriage

By DAVID B. CARUSO, Associated Press –

NEW YORK (AP) — As the news flashed around the globe that New York state had legalized gay marriage, New York fashion designer Malcolm Harris didn't waste any time. He dashed off a Twitter message to his boyfriend of nine years: "'Will you marry me?

A city away, in Boston, Bernadette Smith decided to immediately relocate her business planning gay weddings to New York City.

In Brooklyn, pastors Ann Kansfield and Jennifer Aull received their first two requests to wed gay couples at their church in the borough's Greenpoint section. They scheduled one for Labor Day weekend.

Even as supporters of gay marriage celebrated victory in New York on Saturday, preparations were being made to make gay weddings a reality in the state.

Couples who had talked about going out-of-state to wed changed their plans. Reception venues got their first calls. Churches that accept gay unions said they were looking forward to hosting ceremonies.

After a lifetime of waiting, there was a sense of urgency.

The law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo late Friday night doesn't take effect for 30 days, but Harris — who got a "yes" to his Twitter proposal — said he and fiancé K. Tyson Perez planned to get a marriage license right away, wed on paper, and then have a blowout reception in six months.

"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him," Harris said.

"This is going to be as traditional as it gets. We're going to do it at the Four Seasons, a place that is like gay church to me," he added about the atmospheric restaurant where he planned to hold the event.

The law passed amid opposition from the largest and most influential religious groups in the state, but in New York City, at least, there were still an ample number of churches that have already said they would happily officiate a gay marriage ceremony.

The Rev. Stephen H. Phelps, senior minister at the Riverside Church, in Manhattan, said he was looking forward to replacing the commitment ceremonies that have been done there for years with something state-sanctioned.

"I think it is an occasion for members of our society who have been burned by narrow-minded religion to see that it doesn't have to be that way," he said.

At a gay pride celebration in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park, the Rev. Joseph Tolton of the Rehoboth Temple Christ Conscious Church, a Pentecostal congregation that is predominantly gay, said he couldn't wait to start.

"I'm going to be very busy on Saturdays," he said.

Congregants Yvonne Lindesay, 55, and her partner Elaine Livingston, 62, said they're planning to get married after living together for two years, after watching the results of New York's critical Senate vote on television Friday night.

"I cried. Our phone was ringing off the hook — from straight people too," Lindesay said.

Smith, who founded a gay wedding planning business in Massachusetts after it legalized gay marriage, said she had been hoping to relocate to New York for some time, and had already begun laying the groundwork to establish a New York officer for her company, 14 Stories, in anticipation of the vote."

The move is partly a matter of survival, she said. Over seven years, her client list has been dominated by people traveling to Massachusetts from elsewhere to wed — a type of tourism that may now shift to the Big Apple.

"I was supposed to have a gay wedding today with a gay couple from New York," she said. "They were a no-show. Of course, for a good reason."

She said New York has quite a set of parties to look forward to.

"The weddings are incredible," she said. "I think maybe because there is a lot of pent up anticipation ... It's really about appreciating and savoring the legality of it. Because some couples have literally been waiting for years and years. To be around that energy, where they are not taking a thing for granted ... there's usually not a dry eye in the room."

At the Greenpoint Reformed Church, Aull said she and co-pastor Kansfield, who got married themselves in Massachusetts years ago, have presided over same-sex unions before. But she expects there will be something different, more joyous, about being able to do it legally at home.

"There is always a little bit of a bittersweet aspect when you are doing a marriage, and there is a sense that it is not recognized by anyone," she said.

Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed to this report. (Julie Walker was my bride!)