( Travel + Leisure ) -- Boston-based wedding planner Bernadette Smith has helped arrange the same-sex nuptials of nearly 75 Massachusetts couples during her five-year career . But she 's never seen quite the surge in business as she has during the past few months . Wedding planners have seen a surge in same-sex couples traveling to New England to tie the knot . Smith 's calendar first started filling up when the 1913 law that banned gay marriage for out-of-state couples was lifted in July 2008 . But , she says , things became even more hectic when Proposition 8 , the California ballot proposal restricting marriage to heterosexual couples , passed in the November elections . Now Smith and other wedding planners have seen a surge in gays and lesbians traveling to New England to tie the knot . And the trend is growing quickly : On April 3 , Iowa 's Supreme Court found its gay-marriage ban unconstitutional ; four days later , the Vermont legislature gave same-sex couples the right to marry ; and on April 16 , New York Governor David Paterson announced he would introduce a bill to legalize gay marriage . Not surprisingly , hotels and resorts that cater to same-sex weddings are cashing in . One is the Hob Knob in Martha 's Vineyard ; its Escape & Elope package includes an intimate ceremony , along with Champagne and massages . And all their wedding packages come with access to Tulle , a destination wedding-and-gown specialist that can accommodate not just one picky bride , but two . Another property capitalizing on the ruling is the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington , Connecticut . The inn 's `` At Last '' package includes all the traditional trimmings of a wedding : rehearsal dinner , couples ' massage , garden ceremony , and officiant , along with either `` his and his '' or `` hers and hers '' stylists . The hotel also offers 25 percent off room rates on the couples ' wedding anniversary for life -- much better than a Tupperware set . Travel + Leisure : 50 best romantic getaways . For those who want to plan their own ceremony , Bernadette Smith suggests the Exchange Conference Center overlooking Boston Harbor -- it 's where she 'll be saying `` I do '' this summer . Anne P. Worcester , chief marketing officer of Market New Haven , a tourism and commerce organization for the New Haven area , suggests a few other same-sex-friendly Connecticut venues . There 's the New Haven Lawn Club , known for its large ballroom and experience in gay weddings ; the Union League Café ( `` arguably the best restaurant in all of New Haven , '' she says ) ; and the quintessentially romantic carousel at Lighthouse Point . For those traveling long distances , the Omni New Haven Hotel can accommodate out-of-town couples and their guests with in-house ballrooms , restaurants and a spa . Travel + Leisure : Great romantic weekend getaways . Anne Stanback , executive director of Love Makes a Family ( a pro-gay marriage organization in New Haven , Connecticut ) has become an expert on same-sex wedding planning since she arranged her own nuptials without the help of bridal magazines . `` We may not see the lesbian version of Modern Bride until a few more states legalize marriage for same-sex couples , but I have no doubt we eventually will , '' she says . Now gay advocates in Iowa would like to create the same kind of wedding infrastructure available in Connecticut , Massachusetts and Vermont . Greg Nooney , who started one of the state 's few gay-wedding Web sites , began receiving inquiries just days after the decision was finalized on April 3 . Nooney admits that building a roster of gay-friendly vendors wo n't happen overnight . `` It is taking some people a little time to get their bearings , '' he says . One place that wasted no time in promoting itself as gay-friendly is the Sioux City Holiday Inn . Manager Larry Jenson says the property has held commitment ceremonies in the past and looks forward to hosting same-sex couples in the future . Despite the fast pace of change across America , however , wedding experts say all the feedback has been positive . `` People may be surprised at just how few ripples the change in the marriage law has caused here , '' says Anne Stanback , of Connecticut . `` There has been no backlash , there have been no protests . Just lots and lots of people who are pleased . '' Planning a beach getaway ? Do n't miss Travel + Leisure 's guide to Affordable Beach Resorts . Copyright 2009 American Express Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved .
Surge in business for wedding planners where same - sex marriage is legal . When Massachusetts 's Amendment 8 passed , more gay couples came to Massachusetts . Gay couples in Massachusetts would like to create the same kind of wedding planning .