Making the Trek from Missouri to Iowa for Marriage

By Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Oct 2, 2009 at 7:51 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 3, 2009 at 9:08 AM CST

IOWA CITY - A landmark Iowa Supreme Court ruling has allowed gay couples to get married in Iowa since late April. As a result, churches, hotels, and restaurants across the state are seeing a boost in business. While state and local leaders can't say how much of a boost, they point to ceremonies like the ones Friday in an Iowa City church as proof Iowa is making money on same-sex marriages.

Friday afternoon, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City echoed "I Do". Fourteen separate wedding ceremonies took place in the church, one right after the other.

"I never imagined in a million years I would be able to do this," says Kenton Brandon-Fritzius.

Brandon-Fritzius is talking about being able to legally tie the knot with someone of the same-sex.

"Missouri is the show-me-state, but it hasn't shown us what we needed as a couple," says MaryLou Suter.

A charter bus brought the group from St. Louis to Iowa City for a one-day wedding whirlwind.

"On our way up here, our friends phoned us on our cell phones saying did MaryLou get cold feet?" says Marilyn Arcoli-Arcaroli.

No worries, no one got cold feet. The ceremonies went smoothly.

"It's got meaning to it. I can say I am married," says Keith Brandon-Fritzius.

At least 14 same-sex couples were married in Iowa Friday, but because on the state's marriage application, the question of gender is optional, county recorder's offices can't pinpoint an exact number of same-sex marriages.

""There's also the fact the ruling itself is intended to provide for maximum equality, so we don't keep applications in one bin for same-sex couples and another for opposite sex couples," says Kim Painter, the Johnson County Recorder.

Iowa also doesn't officially track the economic impact of gay marriage, but this many wedding ceremonies in one afternoon prove the new law is profitable .

"You bet, you bet, and we'll send others as well," says Suter.

Because Iowa legally gives gay and lesbian couples wedded bliss.

The Missouri group's organizers planned a similar wedding trip to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City in May, and already have another one-day trip scheduled for this coming March.

There is a normal three day waiting period to get married after applying for a license, so this group gets all of the notarized applications to the recorder's office days before they arrive.

Next Article Vote 2012: Rick Santorum Wins Minnesota, Colorado, Non-Binding Missouri

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