‘Gay marriage expected to be boost for wedding business’ – The Age
June 2nd 2015
Weddings are big business. And it could get even bigger. Australia’s wedding industry is quietly bracing for a surge in the so-called “pink dollar” in the increasingly likely event that same-sex marriage is legalised. There’s also talk that a burgeoning side industry specialising in gay nuptials may pop up: gay wedding planning, gay venues, gay celebrants.
Some businesses, such as cake shops, have already tapped into the trend and specialise in personalised cakes for same-sex unions. Denise Paras, who runs Nikos Cakes in Oakleigh, recently made a cake for gay clients in the shape of a ball and chain. Cakes for commitment ceremonies were becoming more common, she said, adding that same-sex couples generally spent more than heterosexual couples planning their weddings. “The gay community have been waiting so long to get married so I believe there will be an influx of people wanting to have fabulous weddings and they’ll all need cakes,” she said.
Melbourne celebrant and media personality Greg Evans predicts a rush to the altar if same-sex marriage is legalised, but believes any boost in business will be short lived. “There will be an initial rush, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “There will be a lot of same sex couples that will want to get married and a lot of ‘I think it’s about time parties’.”