Marriage: The Cost Of Loving

Surge in gay marriage could boost UK economy by £18m a year

A surge in gay marriages could boost Britain’s ailing economy by up to £18million in a year, ministers stressed today.
They predicted that the introduction of same-sex weddings could lead to 3,000 more unions on top of the 6,000 civil partnerships a year.
The Government estimates that these extra ceremonies could each lead to an additional £4,750 spending in the economy, on average, or £14.4million in total.
Hoteliers, florists, caterers and gift shops are expected to benefit.
Thousands of same sex couples are also expected to convert their civil partnerships into marriages, which a “conservative” analysis says may deliver a £3million injection to the economy.
Officials also believe that same sex couples from countries without gay marriage, particularly European nations, may head across the Channel to tie the knot once it is brought in here.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Marriage should be open to all, regardless of sexuality.
“I have no doubt marriage equality is of benefit to our economy, and that in itself is a good thing."

Evening Standard.

Oh, there is an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bit of small print a little later on, though...

"Given the difficulties in correctly identifying the potential financial benefits from gay marriage, a government impact assessment put them at between £100,000 and £18.6million."

Genius!
And so good of you to narrow it down.
So it could just be worth £100,000?
What's £18.5million between friends?
I do like the moral obscenity of thinking about marriage equality in financial terms, and arguing for it as it "could boost Britain's ailing economy", which is measured in trillions and trillions and trillions, by the billy way.
Still, great news for the florist community!
What was it Oscar said; "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing."

PS Today's cake topper illustration is from the Standard, and shows an enchanting groom and groom combo who appear to be made of marzipan - and presumably solid gold, to help bring the wedding costs up to that magic and in-no-way-plucked-from-the-ether £4,750 figure. 
Anything left over can go on coke and whores.