Randi Martin, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Voter approval of Maryland’s same-sex marriage act has made area wedding planners very happy.
“It’s very exciting,” says Tracy Bloom Schwartz, president of Creative Parties in Bethesda. “This is great and it’s great on every level of life.”
After D.C. passed a similar law in 2009, Bloom Schwartz saw her business pick up.
“We have been involved on some level or another with 18, maybe 20 same-sex weddings.”
But, she says everyone in the wedding business benefits.
“We need a venue, we need catering, food of some sort, beverages served. You need a band or a DJ or entertainment of some kind.”
Bloom Schwartz says while the national average cost for a wedding is $25,000, in this area the average is $50,000.
After the D.C. law passed an additional $1 million dollars was spent on weddings.
“That generated revenue and jobs and kept people employed and paid taxes to the city,” Bloom Schwartz says.
And Creative Parties is ready, she says.
“It’s a party!”
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