St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman makes a push Wednesday to get more business for the city from the same-sex weddings that were authorized under state law Tuesday.
The mayor will host a wedding event at the Como Park Conservatory's Sunken Garden, with city officials and wedding vendors, to welcome same-sex couples to the city for their ceremonies.
Also at the event, which runs from 2 to 3 p.m., will be dozens of wedding vendors from across the state who will provide extra services and discounts for popular St. Paul wedding venues for Aug. 1, the first day that applications for same-sex marriage licenses can be made, under the new law.
Minnesota does have a five-day waiting period for marriage licenses, though, so following the normal procedure, couples can apply for the certificates on Aug. 1, but would have to wait until Aug. 6 to pick them up at the Courthouse.
Judges can waive the waiting period, though, and there's apparently an expectation that some judges will. In Minneapolis, City Hall will open at midnight Aug. 1 and Mayor R.T. Rybak says he'll be available there to officiate at weddings.
And Coleman spokesman Joe Campbell says:
"The ink is still drying on the bill and there are obvious questions that need to be answered. But whether it’s through a process of applying early for a marriage license or through judicial waiver, the mayor is 100% confident same-sex couples will be able to get married at 12:01am on August 1st."
Coleman has been a outspoken supporter of gay marriage and hosted a concert Tuesday night in downtown St. Paul, immediately following the signing of the legislation by Gov. Mark Dayton.
St. Paul officials will promote the city's many popular wedding venues, including Como's Sunken Garden, the Landmark Center, James J. Hill Library, Rice Park and the Saint Paul Hotel.