Gay couples planning their wedding could end up paying more for their special day because some venders and suppliers believe they have a larger, more disposable income, a popular Sydney wedding planner has revealed.
Jennifer Kennedy, who has run her own high-end wedding planning business for 12 years, told Daily Mail Australia she doesn’t expect a massive spike in the average cost of weddings because of the increased demand, but she is concerned same-sex couples could be targeted by eager business owners.
The House of Representatives voted to pass same-sex marriage into law on Thursday afternoon after a lengthy debate divided the country.
Gay couples planning their wedding could end up paying more for their special day because some venders and suppliers believe they have a larger, more disposable income
Wedding planner Jennifer Kennedy told Daily Mail Australia she doesn’t expect a massive spike in the average cost of weddings, but is concerned same-sex couples could be targeted by eager business owners
In 2015, ANZ economists estimated gay weddings would pour an additional $650 million into the economy within the first year of legalisation.
Ms Kennedy, who works with heterosexual and gay clients with a budget of at least $100,000, said although she’s overheard wedding suppliers talk about ‘gearing up’ for the anticipated business boom, she believes the increase will be small and brief.
The mother-of-three said she doesn’t believe wedding costs will increase across the board, but fears the gay community could be targeted by ‘idiots’.
‘It already happens in the industry, which is horrible, but I worry that certain suppliers might put their prices up for the gay community,’ she said.
In 2015, ANZ economists estimated gay weddings would pour an additional $650 million into the economy within the first year of legalisation
Amy Parfett, co-founder of WedShed, which has been described as ‘Airbnb for wedding venues’, told Daily Mail Australia she hasn’t witnessed any suppliers hiking their prices for gay couples
Ms Kennedy said her concern stems from the belief held by some people that same-sex couples as having ‘no children, a double income, a lot of money to spend and have been saving up for their wedding day for a long time.’
‘Same-sex couples are the same as everyone else, they don’t want to spend too much money – it is just about the commitment and the marriage,’ she said.
‘They buy homes, they have mortgages and not all have high-paying jobs.’
Amy Parfett, co-founder of WedShed, which has been described as ‘Airbnb for wedding venues’, told Daily Mail Australia she hasn’t witnessed any suppliers hiking their prices for gay couples.
‘It’s not something we’ve even considered or is on our radar,’ she said (pictured is a gay-friendly venue – Figtree Weddings)
Pictured is the Fig Tree restaurant, which is open for same-sex marriages
‘It’s not something we’ve even considered or is on our radar,’ she said.
‘Most of the people – 99 per cent – are in the wedding industry is because they really do love love and they’re passionate about helping people create a new family.’
‘I can’t see many people discriminating price wise just because of the makeup of that family.’
More than 150 different wedding venues are listed on WedShed, including several gay-friendly options.
Clare, a Melbourne wedding planner who co-founded Will and Jac, said the industry as a whole if over the moon about the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
‘Most suppliers are so excited about it – most of the people we know won’t put up their prices,’ she said.
More than 150 different wedding venues are listed on WedShed, including several gay-friendly options (pictured is Three Blue Ducks in Byron Bay)