Huntington Businesses Could Get Gay-Marriage Boost

The new same-sex marriage law could prove a windfall to local businesses as gay couples from around the country tie the knot in New York.

Huntington businesses as diverse as and Wylde Stylde hair salon are considering the impact of the Marriage Equality Act passed last week, which by some estimates could generate as much as $400 million from thousands of couples turning New York into a wedding destination.

Nancy Melius, director of marketing at Oheka, said the site has hosted same-sex commitment ceremonies but the possibility of gay weddings raises the stakes. “How much are you going to spend on a commitment ceremony?” she said.

But the average wedding at Oheka, which has hosted such nuptials for such celebrities as singer Kevin Jonas and former congressman Anthony Weiner, costs $100,000.

“Now a whole new slew of vendors is ready to tap into that market,” Melius said. “It’s a very undeveloped market.

“It’s really exciting to have a whole new group of people excited about getting married. It’s going to be fun.”

Lorenzo Cozzolino, owner of the new Main Street salon Wylde Stylde, had similar thoughts. The salon, which already does hair and makeup stylings for brides, said, “It’s going to mean a huge boost in the wedding industry.” But, he said, instead of just hair and makeup, “What if we did a drag queen?,” he mused. “Or two lesbians—that’s double the money spent on style.”

Cozzolino, whose own hair features leopard-like spots, said it doesn’t matter who the customer is. “I’m a businessman — I see gold and green. We’re cutting edge," he said. “But we still maintain a traditional sense.”

David Kilmnick, CEO of Long Island GLBT Services Network, predicts positive results for Long Island because of gay weddings.

“When I think of weddings, I think beaches, water and all the beautiful scenery we have on Long Island," Kilmnick said. "I truly believe that Long Island will be a gay wedding destination. Hopefully more people will move here and make our community stronger."

“There are estimates that there is going to be $400 million pumped into the New York economy. So that will help all those in the wedding industry as they compete for gay and lesbian dollars,” he said.

To help that process and to ensure that same-sex couples know which businesses support them, the organization just created a web site, Long Island Gay Weddings, and is promoting a large wedding ceremony for July 26.

The event, at Carlyle on the Green at ,  is two days after the Marriage Equality Act takes effect.