Summer Wedding Issue by The Philadelphia Gay News

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

Weddings Sue Gildea and Alison Coia By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com For 30 years, Sue Gildea’s family has spent a week each summer vacationing in Sea Isle City — and this year’s trip offered much more than leisure time on the beach. Gildea and partner Allison Coia married on the beach July 27, surrounded by about 70 family members and friends. The Delaware County natives and Aston residents met about 25 years ago through the Overbrook Women’s Softball League. Gildea, 47, a graduate of St. Joseph’s University, is a manager of customer operations and training, while Coia, 50, a former travel agent, is a personal chef and owner of Cook-ADoodle-Doo. Gildea said the couple’s relationship is grounded in the trust they have for one another and in their strong support system of family and friends, which has helped them face obstacles such as Coia’s diagnosis with MS. “It’s about having fun and about enjoying life; that’s so important,” she said about the foundation of their relationship. “Sometimes people don’t realize that, hey, life has bumps, and some big potholes seem insurmountable and that they can’t be fixed, but working together and relying on a support group of friends and family can you get through anything and show you that it’s really not that bad.” And, when conflicts arise, Coia said, they learn to pick their battles by focusing on what really matters. “I think it’s understanding each other, and knowing each other so well that you know sometimes what arguments to get into and what battles you don’t want to,” she said. The couple had long joked that they would wait to get married until all same-sex couples could. “Sort of like Brad and Angelina,” laughed Gildea. So when the federal Defense of Marriage Act fell last summer, Gildea began covertly ring shopping, with the help of one of Coia’s best friends. Both women are members of City of Brotherly Love Softball League’s Stogie Joe’s team

“We came over the dunes and saw the people on the beach and it was literally breathtaking; it took my breath away,” Gildea said. “It was such a large group and that just was that first moment of really feeling overwhelmed that goes with becoming married.” Hearing cheering and clapping from vacationers at nearby houses, Coia added, was also heartening. “To have the support of all ALLISON COIA (LEFT) AND those people, who didn’t know SUE GILDEA Photo: Daniel us, and to hear them cheering Campione for us, that just emotionally got and Gildea, CBLSL secretary, me.” planned the proposal for the Once friend and fellow Stogie league’s 30th-anniversary ban- Joe’s player Sean Joyce proquet at Citizens Bank Park last nounced the couple married, the summer. guests tossed miniature beach “I contacted the Phillies and balls, instead of rice, a surprise said I wanted to do this pro- set up by their good friends, posal at the banquet because Dan and Dan, who coordinated Citizens Bank Park is kind of a the wedding planning. home away from home for the The couple and their guests league,” she said. “I worked returned to their house for a celewith the team and we got a tour bration, complete with music by of the clubhouse, the locker Seamus Kelleher, a former guirooms and the dugout, and we tarist for Irish band Blackthorn were with our team and our who, in the process of booking, friends, which was great. My Gildea learned has a lesbian daughter, Caitlyn, was there and sister. She set up the musician knew about it. I proposed when as a surprise for Coia and their we got to the batting circle.” many Irish relatives, including Gildea pulled off the surprise. Gildea’s dad, a big Blackthorn “I was shocked,” Coia said. fan for whom this year’s wed“We got to the batting circle ding trip was especially meanand somebody said, ‘OK, let’s ingful, as he missed last year’s take a picture,’ so I was looking vacation after a fall. around trying to make sure the Coincidentally, Coia had also logo was in the background and reached out to Blackthorn to play I turned around and she was on but hadn’t gotten a response. one knee. My mouth dropped. After the wedding celebraBut it was so cool to be able to tion, the couple spent the week share that with our friends who at the shore for a “family honeywere there, and not everyone moon.” knew about it. On the video, you The reality of being legally can hear people saying, ‘Is this married hadn’t yet sunk in. for real?’” “We were on vacation and Wedding planning became still with everybody and haven’t real quickly, the couple said, as gotten back into the swing of New Jersey legalized same-sex things,” Coia said. “Right after marriage just a few weeks after the shore, we went to a family the proposal. party and then to Eagles practice Because of their annual vaca- and have been running around. tion tradition, they decided to So reality might set in today.” pick Sea Isle City as the wedThey’re planning a large ding destination. reception for Nov. 1, where Their guests filled three vaca- they’re looking to follow the tion homes and they said a num- laidback, celebratory nature of ber of their “crafty and creative” their beach wedding by encourfriends pitched in to help them aging guests to dress up in create the perfect beach wed- Halloween costumes. ding. “It’s all about having fun, celThe couple stayed in a house ebrating life and love and I think on the beach and walked together we truly did that,” Gildea said. over the dunes to the ceremony. ■

Bill Wood and Lee Mallon By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Knock Restaurant and Bar coowner and Woody’s founder Bill Wood married partner Lee Mallon last month after almost four decades together. Wood, 67, and Mallon, 58, married July 11 at their Philadelphia home. Wood has co-owned Knock since 2007 and Mallon is a registered nurse at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Wood and Mallon met 39 years ago at The Allegro, a now-defunct LGBT bar that was located on Spruce Street. “A friend had introduced us and we seemed to hit it off when we first met,” Wood said. “Things were simpler in those days; when you met someone back then, you actually had to speak with them.” Throughout the years, Wood said, he and Mallon, both Philly natives, have often found themselves on opposite schedules because of their work commitments. But they have found harmony within their relationship. Compromise has been integral, he noted. “It isn’t always easy but we both have been pretty good as far as compromising goes,” he said. “My work habits are different than most people. We had to adjust work hours and usually I am coming home when he is waking up but we still get quality time together.” They had discussed marriage, and would have tied the knot on a river cruise in France last year, but were stopped by a technicality.

“We pretty much decided together to get married,” Wood said. “We almost did it last year in France but we couldn’t because captains aren’t allowed to marry you on the river, just at sea.” But, when a federal judge overturned Pennsylvania’s ban on samesex marriage this past spring, they abandoned plans to get married elsewhere. “We were looking into doing it in New Jersey or Delaware and when things happened in Pennsylvania, we agreed to get married in our home state,” he said. Wood and Mallon received a marriage license in June from Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes, who made headlines last year when he issued licenses to same-sex couples. “We waited and I am glad we did because we could get married at home,” Wood said. The couple was married in their garden by a longtime friend, surrounded by friends and family. “We had waited 39 years; people thought it was pretty much time for us to get married,” Wood said. “Everyone was very happy for us.” Wood said the marriage still feels new to the couple. “This week we are buying a home in Florida and now on the papers, we can check married instead of any other labels.” Wood said he and his now-husband still enjoy one another’s company as much as they did 39 years ago. “We both make each other laugh after all these years and, as long as we can do that, we are in great shape.” ■

LEGAL AT LAST: James Macleod, 72, and Henry “Chuck” Weitz, 82, were finally married May 25 in Rose Tree Park in Media. Officiating was the Rev. Janice Bowker of Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church. The couple was joined by joyous friends and there were many happy tears at the ceremony, which celebrated their 35 years of love together in Delaware County. Cards may be sent to Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342. They will read them ALL.

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

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Out wedding planner pens guide for gay grooms By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com Marriage equality is the new reality in states across the country, including here in Pennsylvania — but how does reality coalesce with tradition? That’s the answer that wedding planner Jason Mitchell sought to explore in his new book, “Getting Groomed.” Mitchell, a New York City-based wedding planner at Shiraz Events, which also has offices in Los Angeles, Miami and London, said the concept for the book grew out of his experience planning his own wedding. “I was looking through all these handy books that have calendars and checklists to make sure you don’t miss anything and I was getting frustrated that there wasn’t anything on the market for same-sex couples,” Mitchell said. “Everything was focused on brides, so that’s where this idea was born.” “Getting Groomed” is focused on a double-groom wedding, but offers tips that could be applicable to lesbian and heterosexual weddings. Chapters are organized according to different aspects of the weddingplanning process — entertainment, fashion, budget, photography, with handy checklists and worksheets — with advice geared toward overcoming the obstacles that come with being a nontraditional couple traversing an industry so steeped in tradition. “When you start planning as a same-sex couple, up until now, there wasn’t much of a guidebook; you had to rely on instinct. The hardest thing for my fiancé at the time and me was trying to picture how all of this would come together,” Mitchell said. “Then families come in with questions and they don’t know how they fit into a gay wedding. And it’s all figuring it out as you go.” In the book, and his work with Shiraz, Mitchell advises couples, both sameand opposite-sex, to make their wedding uniquely their own. That’s a mantra to keep in mind when couples are trying to walk the balance between traditional and nontraditional, he said. “The joy of creating a wedding is it’s a custom event that fits the couple,” he said. “There may be some traditions that come with a wedding, religious or cultural, that a couple feels a connection to and wants to observe but, if not, they have to think about what they would modify, what they would create instead. That’s what makes the wedding really special and personal, but you have to make incredibly conscious decisions throughout the process.” Adding individualized touches like a specialty signature cocktail is another way to customize the event. “Everyone loves cocktail hour and serv-

ing specialty cocktails is one thing that’s really popular right now,” Mitchell said. “St-Germain is a really great option to be used in serving at weddings; you can have a great cocktail with the sparkling wine, club soda and the French liqueur that’s refreshing, not too much alcohol and looks beautiful in the glass. It’s a real crowed-pleaser. Those great little details are really important.” The topics covered in “Getting Groomed” aren’t solely for couples tying the knot in states where it’s legal. Mitchell said he’s been planning events for same-sex couples long before the recent spate of marriage-equality victories. “The whole idea of having a wedding is different than a legal marriage. If you’re at the time in your life where you want to celebrate your love with your chosen partner and declare that love in front of your friends and family, I don’t think you have to wait for your state to legalize it. It can be a wedding even if it’s not legally recognized by the state,” he said. “I’m hoping everyone can be married soon but if you live in one of those states where you can’t, you can still have a wedding now and get a marriage certificate later on. Some people feel differently but for me, I’ve been working on weddings before they were legal, when people felt they were at the time in their life where they needed to celebrate.” Mitchell and his now-husband got engaged shortly before New York legalized same-sex marriage, and booked their venue just hours after the law was passed. As state after state now joins the marriage-equality list, Mitchell noted that it’s important for couples to research wedding vendors to ensure they’re working with professionals who are truly LGBT-friendly. “It’s best to get resources from people who’ve worked with them before. Word of mouth is the most powerful tool.” Regardless of the size or scope, legality or non-legality of your event, Mitchell said his number-one wedding-planning tip is that couples should always keep in mind the reason behind their big day. “The whole idea of putting on a wedding should be on your terms. There are often too many other opinions in the way and it’s very easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. So it should be a constant conversation between the two people who are getting married about creating a day that is about the two of you, and staying present through that process. You want to lay the groundwork, set the budget, make smart decisions but at the same time, you should enjoy the process. It’s wonderful to be engaged and to plan your wedding but you can’t ever lose sight of what the point was of getting engaged to begin with.” For more information, visit www.gettinggroomed.com. ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

On the brink of marriage equality By Matty Bennett PGN Contributor With more than 75 active lawsuits involving the freedom to marry currently at the state and federal levels, exploring the state of marriage equality in the United States can quickly become a confusing, headacheinducing endeavor. Here are the answers to some questions you might have about what we can expect next in the marriage-equality movement.

married, so state legislatures cannot simply change marriage law. In the remaining three states — Wyoming, Indiana and West Virginia — it is highly unlikely that their state legislatures would pass a bill allowing marriage equality. Thus, there has been an enormous boom of marriage-equality lawsuits all throughout the country, mainly because it’s the only way to legalize samesex marriage in their respective states, or legislation and ballot initiatives are not viable options due to the political climate.

Why all the court cases?

What court cases are up next?

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage. In the past year, there has been an explosion of court cases dealing with marriage equality in states all throughout the country, yet the majority of the jurisdictions where it’s legal garnered the freedom to marry through state legislation or popular vote, not litigation. In 28 out of the remaining 31 states that do not have marriage equality, there are constitutional amendments in place that exclude same-sex couples from getting

Aug. 6: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held oral arguments for six different marriage-equality cases. The court has jurisdiction over Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. In each of these states, federal judges have ruled in favor of marriage for same-sex couples. One or more of these cases could ultimately go before the United States Supreme Court. Aug. 26: Oral arguments for two separate cases from Indiana and Wisconsin will be heard by the Seventh Circuit Court of

Appeals, which covers those two states and Illinois. Sept. 8: Oral arguments will be heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The two specific cases — Sevcik v. Sandoval and Latta v. Otter — come from Nevada and Idaho, respectively. A ruling in favor of marriage equality out of one of the states would be binding to each of the states within the circuit. When might a U.S. Supreme Court case happen? James Esseks, director of the LGBT Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, told PGN he’s optimistic about the U.S. Supreme Court hearing a marriageequality case by June. He said the nation’s top court could hear one of the cases from Utah, Oklahoma or Virginia. “These particular cases all say that there is a fundamental right to marry, which includes same-sex couples,” Esseks said. “The next step for those three cases is that

the losers are going to ask the Supreme Court to review the ruling — I would guess very soon. I think the chances that the U.S. Supreme Court takes that decision potentially by next June is very high because this is an issue of serious importance for the country.” Asked why a case hasn’t been taken to the Supreme Court yet, Esseks said SCOTUS waits for more cases from the lower courts, which is why marriage-equality wins at the various circuit courts of appeals are so important. “The Supreme Court is typically cautious and wants there to be a rough consensus among the lower courts before hearing any cases,” Esseks said. “The Supreme Court may wait a little bit to see what other decisions come out; they’re going to have a menu of at least three cases, maybe even up to six, to choose from, and then it will at least choose [whether or not] to grant review. We may know that early in the fall, or we may know that in December or January.” How was the PA decision different? In Pennsylvania, Republican Gov. Tom

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Corbett decided not to appeal the U.S. District Court decision in favor of marriage equality, saving the state from an appeal and potential delay of the ruling’s implementation. Esseks hopes to see the same from other Republican governors in the future. “It was an incredible act of leadership on Corbett’s part to say, ‘I’m not going to waste any time on this any more,’” Esseks said. “I hope that other Republican governors will follow his lead by looking around and saying, ‘Look, we can see where this issue is going with the courts, with the people at large and this is an issue we shouldn’t be fighting over.’” ■

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

TOAST OF THE TOWN: Local couples showed off their best wedding smiles for photographer Jose A. Guzman Colon at a fundraiser for Freedom to Marry Aug. 2 at Woody’s. The event was staged by Skyy Vodka’s Toast to Marriage initiative, which has held similar events at cities throughout the country this summer. In addition to raising money for the national marriage-equality organization, the effort seeks to raise awareness about marriage equality by capturing photos of supporters. For more information, visit www.toasttomarriage.com or search social media for #toasttomarriage. Photo: Scott A. Drake

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

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A small wedding with a big meaning By Gary M. Kramer PGN Contributor The moment the federal court decision allowed same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania, Michael, my partner of 17 years, proposed. We had talked about eloping in Elkton, Md., in the past, but decided to be wed only when the state where we lived would recognize our marriage. As such, on May 20, 2014, we were engaged. Mike and I then looked at the calendar and decided to get married on June 14. We wanted to make it legal at first opportunity, and that date was best for our family members, the rabbi who would officiate and our guests — 30 people in all. Planning a wedding in three weeks requires some quick decisions, which also means some sacrifices and flexibility. Because we kept our plans modest, we had few critical decisions to make. Our wedding was not going to be a big, lavish black-tie affair at a fancy hotel. We were not planning a reception with an open bar, seven-piece band and seating for 200. We love to attend weddings like those, but we’re much more low-key when it comes to celebrating our love. For the dress code, Mike and I decided to get married in suits, not tuxedos. This was not a $10,000 wedding that required black tie, but a casually elegant affair that required

a suit for the grooms and appropriate attire for the guests. We bought new matching French cuff shirts, and our close friend Dan, in the United Kingdom, sent us penguin and goat cufflinks for the shirts as wedding gifts. (He was with us in spirit, if not in person,) On my mother’s sage advice, I bought a snazzy bowtie “to have a special look on a special day.” We did not need music and dancing; the only music we played was k.d. lang’s “Simple” to signal the start of the ceremony. We opted not to walk down an aisle, as we had no need to have a traditional procession. And this is what is so great about samesex weddings: You can tailor them to suit your needs. “Queering” the traditional ceremony and rituals is not disrespectful. Rather, we planned to do what felt right for us and what would make our guests comfortable. For most of them, this would be their first same-sex wedding. We didn’t have time for engagement cards or engraved invitations. But thanks to www.postmark.com, it cost us $12 for 50 evites. Because we wanted an intimate ceremony, we chose not to book a rental hall, hotel or synagogue, but held the wedding in our apartment. The small space also allowed us to incorporate our guests easily, and having them take part in the ceremony was

important to us. We asked two friends who were photographers to take photos of the ceremony and the guests. We did not need to hire a photographer or videographer; we preferred candid photos that captured the moment. While I do subscribe to the advice that it is unwise to ask friends or family members for favors to save money, the exception to the rule is that if your friends or relatives actually are photographers, caterers or calligraphers who would be happy to help, you do not necessarily have to hire professionals. Yes, there is the risk of damaging a relationship, but given the small scale of our ceremony, asking and incorporating these talented individuals to provide their services made our day special. Although we considered serving a catered buffet, we opted to have a price-fix, threecourse dinner with wine after the ceremony in a private room at a favorite nearby restaurant. My sister-in-law, who does calligraphy, agreed to make name cards for the tables. We decided against having a wedding cake, because it was unnecessary for us. Dare I suggest, in a moment of romantic sappiness, that getting married made our life sweet enough? Because our dinner was in a private, candlelit room at a restaurant, we did not need to get centerpieces or have flowers on every

GARY KRAMER (LEFT) AND MIKE MILLER Photo: Bob Pisani

table. We did not need to hire a florist, but we did splurge on getting boutonnières with irises, our favorite flower, for us grooms, as well as my twin, who was my best man, and our friend Jennifer, who was Mike’s best person. We ordered an additional bouquet of irises for a vase at our ceremony to provide a splash of color, and a guest of ours unexpectedly sent a celebratory arrangement of flowers, which brightened up the room. These personal touches made our wedding all the more meaningful to us. It was a fabulous celebration, with a champagne toast in lieu of a cocktail hour. With a little thought and some careful planning, you can pull together a quick and reasonably priced wedding. Our efforts allowed us to truly enjoy the day with our friends and family. We are still smiling. ■

Locations in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia Allentown • Allentown Brew Works, 812 Hamilton St. • Candida, 247 N. 12th St. • Stonewall, 28-30 N. 10th St. • Annville • Lebanon Valley College, Sheridan Ave. • Ardmore • Ardmore Station, Anderson Ave. near Coulter Ave. • Bethlehem • LGBTQ Services Lehigh U, 25 Trembley Dr. • Bloomsberg • Bloomsberg University LGBTA Center, 400 E. Second St. • Bristol • Bristol News World, 576B Bristol Pike • Freddie’s Bar, Pond St. • Bryn Mawr • Bryn Mawr College, Canaday Library • Bryn Mawr Station, Morris Ave. near Bryn Mawr Ave. • Fox & Roach Realty, 763 Lancaster Ave. • Chester • Harrah’s Chester Casino, 777 Harrah’s Blvd. • Widener University, 1 University Place • Collegeville • Adult World, 3975 Ridge Pike • Devon • Devon Station, Devon State Road & Lancaster Pike • Doylestown • Darkanyu, 504 Eagle Lane • Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main St. • Siren Records, 25 E. State St. • East Stroudsburg • Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road • Easton • Lafayette College, 101 Hogg Hall • La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. • Gibson • Hillside Campground, 1 Creek Road • Glen Mills • Imago Dei MCC, 1223 Middletown Road • Glenside • Keswick Cycle, 408 N. Easton Road • Hanover Township • Venture Lounge, 1266 San Souci Parkway • Harrisburg • AIDS Community Alliance, 100 N. Cameron St. • Brownstone Lounge, 412 Forster St. • MCC of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson St. • Stallions, 706 N. Third St. • Haverford • Haverford Station, Haverford Station Road near Lancaster Ave. • Hulmeville • Hulmeville Inn, Trenton and Hulmeville Road. • Huntington • Huntingdon Valley Library, 625 Red Lion Rd. • Kutztown • Kutztown University, 15200 Main St. • Lancaster • Downtown Books, 227 N. Prince St. • Sundown Lounge, 429 N. Mulberry St. • Tally Ho Tavern, 201 W. Orange St. • Lansdale • Gwynedd Vet Hospital, 1615 W. Pointe Pike • Lehighton • Woods Campground, 845 Vaughn Acres Road • Levittown • Diamond Check Cashing, 5 Points• Hurricane Jack’s, 7759 New Falls Rd. • Levitt Books, 7406 Bristol Pike • Levittown Gas, Green Lane and Mill Creek Road • Mailbox Unlimited, 922 S. Woodbourne Rd. • Malvern • Malvern Station, King St. & Warren Ave. • Media • Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road • The Media Theater, 104 E. State St. • LGBT Alliance Group, Delaware Co. Campus, Penn State Univ., 901 Media Line Road • Moosic • 12 Penny Saloon, 3501 Birney Ave. • Narberth • Narberth Station, Haverford & Narberth avenues • New Hope • Bowman’s Tavern, 1600 River Rd. • Cornerstone Gym, 419 York Road • Eagle Diner, 6522 York Road • John & Peters, 96 S. Main St. • Karla’s Restaurant, 5 W. Mechanic St. • La Chateau Exotique, 31A W. Mechanic St.• The Raven, 385 W. Bridge St. • Sandbar, 90 S. Main St. • Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive • Wishing Well Giuest House, 114 Old York Rd. • New Milford • Oneida Campground, 2580 E. Lake Road • Newportville • Road House Inn, 220 New Falls Rd. • Newtown • Bucks Co. Community College, 275 Swamp Road • Norristown • Beagle Tavern, 1003 E. Main St. • North Wales • Adult World, 608 Upper State Road • Paoli • Paoli Station, North Valley Road & Lincoln Highway • Penndel • Selecto Food Market, Route 413 • Penns Park • United Methodist Church, 2394 Second St. Pike • Plains Township • Twist Bar, Fox Ridge Plaza, Rte. 315 • Quakertown • Adult World, 880 S. West End Blvd. • Reading • Berks Aid Network, 429 Walnut St. • Reading Adult Center, 316 Penn St. • Rosemont • Rosemont Station, Airdale Road & Montrose Ave. • Spring Grove • Atland’s Ranch, RR6, Box 6543 • Swarthmore • Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Parrish Hall • Temple • Naughty But Nice, 4502 N. Fifth St. • Upper Darby • Honor Box, 69th Street Station • Villanova • Villanova Station, Spring Mill Road near County Line Road • Warminster • Darkanyu, Bux Mont Unitarian Church, Street Road at Rt. 611 • Planned Parenthood of Bucks Co., 610 Louis Dr. • Wayne • Central Baptist Church, 106 W. Lancaster Ave. • Stafford Station, Old Eagle School & Crestline roads • Wayne Station, N. Wayne & West Ave. • West Chester • Chester County Books, 975 Paoli Pike • Williamsport • Peachies, 144 E. Fourth St. • Willow Grove • Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave. • Wynnwood • Wynnwood Station, Wynnewood & Penn roads •

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gible and can apply for this award,” he said. “Some chambers have been around for more than 30 years and have a membership of more than 1,100 people, so to go up against those chambers that have been around for a while is an honor.” IBA was founded in 2006 and has more than 200 members. Cavanaugh said it is the members who have made the IBA award-winning. “We are overjoyed because ultimately it is because of our members and because of their engagement and what they bring to the chamber that makes us a great team,” he said. “A lot of people have worked hard to bring us to this point.” The NGLCC acknowledged the IBA’s successful monthly networking events, its ConnX and Women in Business programs, as well as corporate partnerships, noting IBA can be a model for other LGBT chambers of commerce across the country. Cavanaugh said he is proud of IBA’s ability to be inclusive while providing real networking opportunities for its members. The Philadelphia Business Journal this year named IBA one of the top-25 chambers in the region and last year one of the top-25 networking organizations. “A lot of people who join IBA and are a part of other organizations or chambers very often say that we are very engaged with our board and members,” he said. “Our members often say how other chambers can be cliquey. Our board is very engaged with the membership and they go up to people and ask them who they need to meet or talk to help them with their business. We’ll make those connections for them on a personal level. If you come to our events, we’ll open doors for you.” Cavanaugh said that, during the conference, IBA members attended several sessions about best practices and shared what has worked well for the IBA. He noted IBA is particularly proud of the four new corporate partners they have brought on: Flaster/Greenburg, Comcast NBC Universal, Elsevier and AstraZeneca. “To be able to put our corporate partners’ logos on our website and have them recognized as our corporate partners gives us leverage,” he said. “However, our members really make IBA what it is today. Our membership has grown so much since last year. They are the reason why we are here.” IBA will combine the ConnX and Women In Business events for a celebration 5:307:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. For more information, visit www.independencebusinessalliance.com. ■

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For the first time, the Rainbow Wedding Network will host two LGBT wedding expos in Pennsylvania in one year. The organization, spearheaded by partners Cindy Sproul and Marianne Puechl, will present the Gay & Lesbian Wedding Expo 12:30-3:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Sheraton Bucks County, 400 N. Oxford Valley Road in Langhorne. Sproul and Puechl, who staged an expo at the location in March, decided to bring it back for a second time this year largely because of the May ruling that allowed same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. “The show in March was well-received with over 300-350 in attendance, so once marriage equality was passed, so many couples contacted us to see if we were coming back,” Sproul said. Sproul said the Sheraton Bucks County was gracious and excited to host the return event. So far, 25 vendors have signed up, and the pair is expecting about 35; exhibitor space is still available for interested vendors. Out attorney Angela Giampolo will present at the exhibition and Sproul said she is also looking to get Equality Pennsylvania and William Way LGBT Community Center on board for presentations. “We are expecting a really nice crowd and a lot of couples are really excited that they can now seriously plan to get married in Pennsylvania,” Sproul said. “And some already have their dates set so it is the perfect opportunity for businesses to reach out.” Sproul said Rainbow Wedding Network is also planning a second expo in Oregon, which legalized marriage equality the day before Pennsylvania and right after the pair hosted an exhibit there. While Sproul noted all of their events are highenergy, regardless of the laws of the respective states, this expo will be especially celebratory. “Marriage equality is now a reality for LGBT couples in Pennsylvania. It is really important if couples are planning a wedding [to attend] because we won’t be back in the state for a while and we will have all these wonderful LGBT-friendly wedding and travel professionals that can assist them in planning their special day.” Despite the marriage-equality win, not all vendors, or other wedding expos, are LGBT-friendly, Sproul said. “The thing we do so well is that couples even in wonderful areas like Philadelphia are still nervous going to straight bridal fairs,” she said. “They walk in and if it is two women, sometimes vendors assume or ask which one is the bride,” she said. “Ten years from now we will still be a necessity, even in progressive areas. We want to give that sense of walking into a room filled with businesses that are excited for them.” RSVPs are requested. For more information, visit www.SameLoveSameRights.com or www. RainbowWeddingNetwork.com. ■

WEDDING PGN ISSUE

Before the Bells

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Aug. 8-14, 2014

Spotlight on: BG Productions

Choosing who and how to capture your wedding After the vows have been said, the rings exchanged, the toasts made and the unruly relative escorted off the dance floor, what will always last from a wedding are the photos. Figuring out how to best preserve the memories from your big day is one of the most important decisions in the wedding-planning process; with all the time, energy and often money that couples put into their wedding, they should be able to revisit those special moments for years to come. Before embarking on your photo-planning journey, you should know about how much you want to spend on photos; going into meetings with photographers and being overwhelmed by the price tag is another added stress you don’t need. Photography and videography are typically in the top-tier of most expensive wedding aspects, but where they fall in the list of expenses is up to the couple’s priorities. Like with most steps in the planning process, independent research should come first: Rely on personal referrals and lists of LGBT-friendly photographers to pull together names of vendors you might want to meet with. Make sure to check out their work online before setting up an inperson; wedding photography style really can run the gamut — some focus on the formal and traditional, while others tend towards the candid and alternative — so it’s important to know a bit about your photographer before you meet. Almost as important as the quality of the work is your connection with the photographer. Having someone behind the lens who is impersonal or with whom you don’t “click” could pose a problem; they’ll likely be there throughout the duration of your wedding day, so having someone with whom you have a good rapport is essential. Along that vein, some couples may want to ask a friend or family member who has some photographic experience to document the day; while that might appeal to your wallet, enlisting loved ones as vendors can bring its own boatload of headaches. Google if you want to hear some horror stories ... When you do decide on your photographer, like most other aspects, don’t be afraid to ask if they’re willing to customize a package if you’re trying to cut some costs; because of the wealth of options that usually go into wedding photography packages (really, there are a lot), many wedding photogs seem willing to be flexible with taking away certain aspects or adding others, depending on the taste and preference of the couple.

Speaking of the options ... One of the first questions will be whether you want video along with your photos. Some companies offer the two together, while other photographers work alone and can recommend good videographers. The choice always comes down to personal preference, but the wealth of online testimonials from brides and grooms lamenting their decision to not have a videographer was enough to convince this couple! If you do choose to have video, there’s then the question of which style — documentary versus cinematic versus a fusion — as well as the extent of editing and the final video products offered. On the photo side, couples may have to consider questions such as the number of photogs they want present (having an assistant to the main photographer means they can catch a number of perspectives) and the number of hours they’ll work, as most offer a set number of hours in varying packages with an additional fee per hour. There’s also the question of the number of edited and raw photos couples want, as well as preferences of print versus digital. Many companies offer samplings of both; while nearly everything is trending towards online, having professionally printed wedding photographs is a time-honored tradition that many are not yet willing to set aside. Photo products — prints, frames, canvases, “parent” albums — are commonly included in wedding packages. While some couples may forego ordering these products from their photographer and opt instead to make their own utilizing online photo sites, the quality of the finished product should be a consideration. Some companies offer engagement sessions as part of a package or as an add-on. While such an option may seem superfluous for longtime couples now legally tying the knot, it could be helpful to have a practice session with your photographers, to get used to their style behind the camera and to become more comfortable in front of the camera. Plus, professional prewedding shots are great to incorporate into save-the-dates and invites (not to mention birthday and Christmas gifts). While anyone with an iPhone nowadays seems to style him or herself an amateur photographer, top-quality wedding photography can’t be delivered by just anyone who can point and click. To find the right team, educate yourself about the industry and come up with what you think may be a longer-than-necessary list of questions. The more you learn about your photographer’s vision and offerings, the better equipped you’ll be to pick the right person. ■

Photo: BG Productions

By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com

genuine LGBT-friendliness, their work, which they describe as having a photojournalistic style, really caught our attenOur search for the right wedding photog- tion. Their body of wedding work isn’t just raphers came to a quick end as soon as we posed photo after posed photo; while the duo takes the requisite formal family shots, met with BG Productions. The BG team — consisting of husband/ they try to catch the couple and their guests wife duo Al Green and Cathie Berrey-Green as candidly and creatively as possible, and (the latter of whom is a former employee of that sometimes means one of them is standThe Attic Youth Center) — pride themselves ing on a chair or laying on the floor to get on producing work that truly embodies the the perfect moment from the perfect angle. individual spirit of each of their subjects, (At our engagement shoot, they traversed while producing meaningful relationships the rocky riverside and sprawled across a gravel bridge to catch the best shots.) with those clients to further that aim. When it came to picking products, BG The couple married in 2007 and three months later joined their talents to form offers custom-built packages. We were initially a bit overwhelmed BG, incorporating in 2009. by the number of choices Cathie is usually behind that can go into creating a the camera lens while Al wedding photo package, takes the video, and their but Cathie and Al worked business runs the gamut with us to explain all the from weddings to lifepros and cons of each style events, such as famdecision and to help us ily shoots or pet portraits, make choices based solely as well as corporate photo on our own tastes. and video. What really solidified My partner and I hapour choice, however, was pened upon them through a the fact that the BG ownlist of local LGBT-friendly wedding photographers AL GREEN, CATHIE BERREY- ers develop more than just and were immediately GREEN AND DOG, BELLA a professional relationship with their clients. For taken by their values, stated our initial meeting, they plainly in their online company bio: “We strongly believe in being as hosted us in their home and got to know green and socially responsible as possible us as a couple, not just as potential clients. and take steps daily to continue that pro- When we signed on as clients, they sent us cess. We also do not discriminate against a beautifully crafted (and very green) welany couple wishing to be married; this is a come package. They host an annual openright all folks should have. Love is a basic house client-appreciation party for all their clients, and keep up with former clients human right!” Their support isn’t just in word only: The throughout their life events. Taking the added step to get to truly know couple declines to work with any business or individual that discriminates against LGBT their clients helps their couples feel at ease people, regularly blogs about marriage- when the camera’s on and allows BG to get equality developments, have photographed the most natural shots. With a wedding day a wealth of same-sex unions, were on hand being so hectic, we’re looking forward to to celebrate Pennsylvania’s marriage-equal- working with a duo whose talents we know ity ruling at Philadelphia City Hall and sup- we can trust. For more information, visit www. port local LGBT groups like The Attic. While we were initially hooked by BG’s bgproonline.com. ■