Mayor: NYC Readying for Gay Wedding Surge

New York City is preparing for a surge in marriage license requests beginning in late July, when the newly-passed same-sex marriage law takes effect.

Mayor Bloomberg said the city is readying for the influx.

"We have 30 days to get ready... we will gear up for a larger number," he told reporters on Monday.

The mayor predicted the new law will bring extra tourism dollars to the city from couples who plan trips to specifically wed in the Big Apple. New York is the sixth state to legalize gay marriage.

The law passed late Friday in Albany does not require couples to be residents in order to legally marry in New York.

"We'd love to have you come here, stay in a hotel, buy flowers, clothes, meals, whatever -- it's good for the economy," Bloomberg said.

The economic effect from tourism may not be significant, according to the mayor.

Bloomberg predicts the number of tourists coming to New York City specifically to marry may be somewhere in the thousands, and pointed out that the city expects 50 million visitors in 2011.

The city's tourism arm, NYC & Co., said it is developing a marketing campaign to "promote the attractiveness of the five boroughs as the gay weddings destination."

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