Minnesota will celebrate marriage equality at midnight

63 same-sex couples marrying on the first day it is legal to do so in Minnesota and generous City comes through with flowers to music, photography to wedding cake, and everything in between, Minneapolis steps up to donate to city’s first legal same-sex weddings

By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2013.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and the Minneapolis City Council today announced a long list of goods and services that are being generously donated to the “Freedom to Marry” celebration at City Hall on the evening of July 31–August 1, which will feature the first legal same-sex weddings to be conducted in Minneapolis. GAY U.S.A. the Movie will have a front row seat to tonight’s celebration as we film the first wedding and a surrounding events,

Because of these donations, all the weddings and the entire celebration will be conducted at no public expense, according to Mayor Rybak’s office.

A comprehensive list of donations is below.

“Minneapolis welcomes everyone, and in the city that is perfect for love and weddings, we are excited and ready to marry everyone,” Mayor Rybak said. “I am so grateful to the many marvelous people and companies who have so generously donated their goods and services for this historic occasion. They go to show that no matter where you’re from or whom you love, Minneapolis is the perfect choice for your wedding.”

It is already easy for any couple to get married in Minneapolis, because Meet Minneapolis, the city’s convention and visitor association, offers free wedding planning to anyone who wishes to get married here and helps 400 couples a year do so. Moreover, Meet Minneapolis has recently tailored its free wedding-planning services to meet the needs of same-sex couples as well.

In addition, the beautiful and historic Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda, where the Freedom to Marry celebration and weddings will take place, is already one of Minneapolis’ most sought-after venues for weddings. Learn more about how to plan a City Hall wedding here.

The first wedding to be conducted and officiated by the Mayor will be after midnight tonight when the Marriage equality Law takes effect. The first to marry will be Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke, as well as Al Giraud and Jeff Isaacson.

Mayor Rybak said, “August 1 will be one of the most historic days for freedom and equal rights in the history of Minneapolis, and we are thrilled to celebrate it with the joy and dignity that these two couples, the others that we will marry and everyone in our city deserves. “August 2, and every day after it, will be just like every day should be: one where everyone has the freedom to marry and commit for life to the person that they love.”

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