Brighton Gay Wedding Show
Celebrating 7 years of the UK's official Gay Wedding Show.
Sunday, November 14th in Brighton saw an amazing event provide a spectacular finale to the seven-year celebrations in 2010.
The show gave hundreds of same-sex couples inspiration, fun and facts about planning their Civil Partnership together.
Gino Meriano, Founder of the Gay Wedding Show comments “Back in 2004 also on the 14 th November when we held the UK's very first Gay Wedding Show, I was humbled by the comments from couples thanking us for helping them and for smashing through the hidden homophobia from suppliers, venues and even Councils at the time despite legislation being passed. Now in 2010 we are still thrilled by couples' comments and encouragement to keep on helping make their day truly special.”
The 2010 Gay Wedding Show in Brighton was another huge success with so many visitors being introduced to some of the very best suppliers, venues and hotels the UK has to offer. The show was packed with entertainment, ideas and innovations, which made this one of the most avant-garde shows in 2010.
Meriano continues, “I am proud to see such ongoing support for our community through the shows and the commitment of those who prove they truly deliver equality for same-sex families as well as helping raise the profile of Civil Partnerships and legal rights”.
The example ceremonies were a sheer delight to see and gave couples a wonderful firsthand opportunity to experience the special touches from Brighton and Cornwall Register Offices.
The Corn Exchange was filled with vibrancy from the show's ambassador, Fonda Cox, the live sounds of ABBA MIA and the uplifting Gospel Singers all added WOW factors and even gave the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra a run for their money.
The Gay Wedding Show are proud to have John Lewis, Lambrini, MTA, A City Law Firm and Alliotts as sponsors for this year and excited by the plans for 2011.
In the opening speech Gino Meriano shared insights into the success and impact of Civil Partnerships for gay and lesbian couples rights. The estimated new wedding market now worth over £44 million in 2009 alone and topping £282 million since its introduction in 2005 has demonstrated the benefit same-sex couples have for local communities and dispelling all the negativity created by the poorly informed.
Manchester Gay wedding Show Manchester scores a 10 : 10 : 10 for the record number of gay and lesbian couples planning their weddings
10/10/10 was a beautiful sunny day in Manchester, as the UK's official Gay Wedding Show opened its door for the seventh successful year helping couples plan and book venues and suppliers for their special day.
As the North's number one show for same-sex couples, The Gay Wedding Show in Manchester presented some of the best exhibitors who actively value and support the gay community.
Guests were welcomed with goodie bags and a Rosé sparkle courtesy of the show's newest sponsor Lambrini. While the fun and excitement from show hostess Dixie Tucker kept couples, their friends and families entertained; the experts on hand from Pink Weddings inspired couples with ideas and options for how and where to have the perfect ceremony, celebration and honeymoon.
Visitor numbers bucked the opposite-sex trend by being 25% up on last year and for the second year running the girls represented 76% of couples planning their wedding.
Gino Meriano founder of the Gay Wedding Show commented "it was one of the most talked about shows with the highest amount of on-the-day bookings ever seen. I was humbled by the number of couples thanking the team for bringing such a vital opportunity to support them make their day a reality with ease.”
Cheshire East Register Office enthralled and moved many same-sex couples with their amazing example Civil Partnership ceremonies demonstrating for yet another year how they are the only proactive register office around the area to support gay and lesbian couples at the show.
Meriano continues "following another successful year in the North demonstrating the need and demand for a show where same-sex couples can meet potential suppliers without experiencing hidden homophobia or feeling uncomfortable, we look forward to 2011 continuing to find more exhibitors willing to invest commitment and demonstrate true equality to our community.”
In 2009, Manchester held 117 Civil Partnerships which equates to approximately £1,000,000 of new wedding business from Manchester alone. This rises to £1.7 million when looking at the 244 couples who held their Civil Partnerships around Greater Manchester.
Meriano comments, “It's crazy that we still hear outlandish comments that same-sex weddings are not worth taking seriously from businesses and even some public services. I understand the commercial opportunity and while we all recognize the market is still so young, I cannot sit back and do nothing when I continue to hear from gay and lesbian couples that they simply cannot find out what's available to them legally and book businesses that end up discriminating and ruining their day".
Final preparations are underway for 2010's Gay Wedding Show finale in Brighton on the 14th November at the Corn Exchange.
The team would like to thank all its sponsors for 2010 for their support and attendance at the shows from Lambrini, MTA, A City Law Firm, Alliotts and for over 5 years now John Lewis
Cardiff Gay Wedding Show
The Ryder Gold Cup, The Marathon and The Gay Wedding show makes the big 3 for this city today.
The show opened its doors at Cardiff City Hall with some of the best suppliers around helping same sex couples plan their day
What's changed :
It was lovely to see an encouraging number of couples turn up for the day, including their family and friends. Some of the stats for Cardiff made for interesting and possible change for the future of Civil Partnerships, over 90% more women than men this year, age range from 21 to 60 and bookings as far as 2014.
Couples sought advice from The Pink Weddings team for the options open to them for their ceremony.
Gino Meriano founder of the Gay Wedding Show comments “ this highlights, yet again the ongoing need and demand for a better understanding of the services provided by the Register Office. 5 years down and no support when couples seek help and advice, it would be a sheer delight to have at least one register office show couples their support at the show”.
The team at the Gay Wedding Show want to thank all those that exhibited. It may have been grey and cloudy outside, but the exhibitors bought sunshine and sparkles to City hall, making the Cardiff Gay Wedding Show a success, yet again
Meriano continues “It's great to see exhibitors showing true support and adding value to the community, rather than simply tapping into the Pink Pound for a quick return”
Plans are well underway for a new look show in Wales in 2011
London kick-starts 2010's four official Gay Wedding Shows™ across the UK and 7 years on, the shows are getting stronger than ever before.
Sunday, 7th March saw the first show come alive in the opulent St James's Hotel & Club in the heart of London and yet again proved to be a huge success.
The London show saw an amazing 30% increase against last year and for the second year in a row around 72% of visitors were women.
The strong attendance from same-sex couples reinforced the continuing need for shows like these for the Civil Partnership market where gay and lesbian couples, their friends and families can come to plan their day in a welcoming and relaxed environment with wedding suppliers who are proactive about supporting the gay community.
The St James's Hotel & Club became one of the most lavish backdrops for the shows. The setting provided some of the very best exhibitors in the market a place to showcase their own unique styles, creations and innovations for couples to experience. TogetherTV™ was on hand to film the day and will be airing highlights of the day on its channel.
Gino Meriano, Founder of the UK's official and only Gay Wedding Show, commented “It was amazing to see such talent and creativity at the show and visitors from as far afield as Brighton, Devon and Birmingham to name but a few. Plans are well under way for the 2011 London show, so watch this space”.
Couples were transported into a 3D virtual world when they were given the chance to experience creating their wedding ring in 3D on screen to a laser etched template to feel.
Some got to see and potentially sample a full 3D body scan in preparation to tailor making their suit while others were inspired by the clothier who can create any dress, ladies suit or almost any theme to wear from a simple chat and years of experience behind a sewing machine.
The options and imagination simply flowed in front of visitor's eyes bringing a new, modern and inspiring twist to the wow factor.
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