Wedding planners in California are licking their lips at the prospect of a business bonanza, as same-sex marriages become legal from tonight. The Golden State expects a multi-million euro windfall as gays and lesbians flood in to tie the knot.
California hopes to monopolize the industry by being the only American state to allow non-residents to marry. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Massachussetts, but only for people living in that state.

Tony Moraga from the Golden Gate Business Association said there is money in marriage:

“The business community has realised the immense market that is available to them now because of same-sex marriage, and I think this is really going to show that they can capitalise on it, and it is going to totally change everything, because this is the new Summer of Love.”

Research in Los Angeles shows that more than 50,000 Californian couples will walk down the aisle in the next three years, with perhaps the same again coming from outside the state. The whole marriage business could be worth half a billion euros and create thousands of new jobs.

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