Marriage Equality Generated $259 Million to NYC

More Than 8,200 Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Issued in First Year of Same Sex Marriage

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta and New York City Clerk Michael McSweeney announced that one year after the enactment of the Marriage Equality Act, same sex-marriages in New York City have generated an estimated $259 million in economic impact and $16 million in City revenues. The announcement was made at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.

In the past year, more than 10,000 same-sex couples have been issued marriage licenses in New York State. At least 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses were issued in NYC the first year, accounting for more than 10 percent of the 75,000 marriage licenses issued in New York City since July 24 last year.

The economic impact survey was conducted by NYC & Company and the City Clerk’s Office and found same-sex marriages generated significant additional revenue for New York City’s tourism industry with more than half of same-sex couples holding wedding celebrations in venues across the five boroughs.

More than 200,000 guests traveled from outside of the City to same-sex marriage events and more than 235,000 hotel room nights were booked at an average daily room rate of $275.

Since the Marriage Equality Act went into effect on July 24, 2011, 67 percent of same-sex couples held wedding receptions at restaurants, homes, hotels or catering halls in the five boroughs, with 296,500 guests and 201,600 of them traveling from outside of the City.

Only half of same-sex couples had a budget in mind when planning their wedding, but they averaged costs of $9,039 for their wedding celebration and 31 percent spent $10,000 or more. Approximately 235,900 hotel room nights were booked, more than 40,000 wedding announcements were printed, and 47,445 wedding favors were purchased all adding up to additional revenue for New York City.

One Year Marriage Numbers

According to the Clerk’s Office, from July 24, 2011 to July 16, 2012, approximately 75,000 total marriage licenses have been issued in New York City. The City no longer requires couples identify sex on the license application, but many couples choose to self indentify.

Of couples who choose to indentify, 58,136 were heterosexual couples and 7,184 were same-sex couples. A total of 9,809 couples did not specify genders

Of the 7,184 same-sex couples, 3,898 were male couples and 3,286 were female.

Getting Married in the City The New York City Clerk can tell you what you need to know about getting married in NYC.