Gay Friendly Central California Coast Wedding Vendors Back to California Note: Listings are ordered by vendor type, then by city. Wedding Music DJ's 6675 Oak Springs Dr, Oak Park, CA, 91377, USA Phone: 1 808 358-9656 Toll Free: 1 877 738-2543 Contact: Cliff Serving: LA, Ventura, Santa Barnara Purple Unions Disc: No Gay Wedding Entertainment in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Wedding Music DJ's offers professionally trained Dics Jockeys and Masters of Ceremonies. Well dressed, elegant, professional and able to get funky when necessary! Our job is the take your party in the direction you want it to go. We create a custom timeline for every celebration and bring our many years of experience to your party. USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly Holman Ranch 60 Holman Rd. , Carmel Valley, CA, 93924, USA Phone: 1 831 659-2640 Fax: 1 831 659-6055 Contact: Hunter Lowder Serving: Central Coast, CA Purple Unions Disc: 10%, Mention PURPLE UNIONS, Not applicable for Micro-Wedding packages Gay Wedding Event Location in Carmel Valley, CA, USA. Tucked away in the rolling hills of pastoral Carmel Valley, historic Holman Ranch provides a unique and memorable setting for weddings, special events, intimate gatherings, corporate retreats, and team-building exercises. With its charming gardens and serene ambiance, this private estate affords old-world charm while providing modern day conveniences. Property features include a fully restored facility, eight guest rooms, trail rides, vineyards, olive grove, and more. Holman Ranch: Where the past is always present. USA, CA, Carmel Valley - Gay Friendly Pema Osel Ling Eureka Canyon Rd, Watsonville, CA, 95067, USA Phone: 1 831 761-7270 Fax: 1 831 761-6284 Contact: Kristie Serving: Northern California Purple Unions Disc: No Gay Wedding Event Location in Watsonville, CA, USA. Commitment ceremony and reception location in Watsonville, CA, USA. Located on 102 acres of redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains we offer a beautiful Amphitheatre or Bay View Meadow for your ceremony, outdoor or indoor receptions at our Gallery Meadow or Celebration Hall, a fire pit area, pool, and accommodations for you and your guests. USA, CA, Watsonville - Gay Friendly Vegetarian Gourmet 265 Nogal Dr., Santa Barbara, CA, 93110, USA Phone: 1 805 967-9848 Toll Free: 1 877 967-9848 Contact: Margaret Riesen Serving: Santa Barbara County Purple Unions Disc: 5%, Mention PURPLE UNIONS, Min. 100 guests Gay Wedding Food & Beverage in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. The Vegetarian Gourmet is a full-service specialty catering company, offering customized event planning for all occasions. We ofer the finest vegetarian and vegan cuisines from around the world, prepared with local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Call us today for a complimentary consultations. Most major credits cards accepted. USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly Pure Joy Catering Inc 710 East Haley St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103, USA Phone: 1 805 963-5766 Contact: Sharon Serving: Central California Purple Unions Disc: $30, Mention PURPLE UNIONS Gay Wedding Food & Beverage in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Pure Joy provides full service event management and unforgettable handmade fare., USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly Pure Joy Catering Inc 710 East Haley St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103, USA Phone: 1 805 963-5766 Contact: Sharon Serving: Central California Purple Unions Disc: $30, Mention PURPLE UNIONS Gay Wedding Food & Beverage in Santa Ynez, CA, USA. Pure Joy provides full service event management and unforgettable handmade fare., USA, CA, Santa Ynez - Gay Friendly Weddings by the Sea - Santa Barbara 640 Calle Rinconada, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, USA Phone: 1 805 705-8069 Fax: 1 805 682-8007 Contact: Alma Rose Middleton Serving: Santa Barbara Purple Unions Disc: No Gay Wedding Officiants in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. I specialize in same sex and gay marriages and offer great and affordable wedding packages in the Santa Barbara and also in the Los Angeles county. I am here to serve your and guide you through the process so that you may be a "guest" at your own wedding celebration. I hope to hear from you and I am truly excited that California now acknowledges gay marriages as legal and binding. USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly Linda Jordan Photography 2110 Burnham Rd, Ojai, CA, 93023, USA Phone: 1 805 320-8465 Fax: 1 805 649-5027 Contact: Linda Jordan Serving: Southern California Purple Unions Disc: 5%, Mention PURPLE UNIONS Gay Wedding Photography / Videography in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Passion for life is what drives us. Photographing the marriage of two people in love, wanting to commit themselves to one another for a lifetime, is a privelage for us. We are photo-journalistic in our approach which means we will capture the interactions of your guests as well as the surprise and pleasure on your faces as the day unfolds. Please visit our website. We would be honored! USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly Michelle Egan Photography PO Bo 31173, Santa Barbara, CA, 93130, USA Phone: 1 805 895-4487 Contact: Michelle Egan Serving: California Purple Unions Disc: 5%, Mention PURPLE UNIONS Gay Wedding Photography / Videography in Santa Barbara, CA, USA. My goal is to capture the very real and very precious moments and emotions of your day. If I can make you cry, I've done my job! USA, CA, Santa Barbara - Gay Friendly See the Prop 8 Play Online Here Wedding Vendor Listings: Just $99 for 12 Months - Click Here Join our Gay Marriage Watch maillist and get our daily marriage equality news delivered to your inbox free: Email: Name: City: State: Country: Privacy Policy Like Us on Facebook: Name: City: State/Prov: Country: Email: Yes, Add to Maillist No, Don't Add Full Contest Details Here Visit the Black Walnut Point Inn Website Relationship Recognition: Legal Ban Out of State Recognition: No Adoption: Yes More Information on LBGT Rights Laws in California from HRC.org If we know about any local marriage equality events, we'll list them here. See All Events | Add Your Own Event Venezuela: On Track to Same Sex Marriage Posted On May 22nd, 2013 Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Auckland Celebrant, Auckland, Nee Zealand Posted On May 22nd, 2013 Tennessee, USA: 49% Support Marriage or Civil Uniions for Gays, Lesbians Posted On May 22nd, 2013 Seriously? Posted On May 22nd, 2013 Transgender Rights Update 5/22/13: Texas, Nevada Posted On May 22nd, 2013 More Marriage Equality News from Gayapolis.com California, USA: Another Challenge to DOMA, This Time from a Military Couple May 21st, 2013 The Defense of Marriage Act is under siege once again in California. A lesbian couple is challenging the law in District Court. Equality on Trial reports: In the Cooper-Harris case, which was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a written opinion is expected, since the judge did not issue one from the bench after the arguments. This hearing... read_more USA: How Will the Supreme Court Rule on DOMA and Prop 8 May 17th, 2013 As the end of the Supreme Court term and the release of its final opinions gets closer, more legal experts are weighing in with predictions and thoughts on which outcome in the marriage cases seems the most likely. As EqualityOnTrial has reported, there are lots of complicated options with different outcomes (ranging from good to relatively bad) and just looking... read_more The 5 Worst States on LGBT Rights May 17th, 2013 As marriage equality sweeps the nation there are still some hurdles that need to be crossed. There are five states that have laws that treat the lgbt community unfairly. 1) Virginia is for "Lovers": The Commonwealth has a number of laws regulating lovers, including lewd and lascivious cohabitation, fornication, and crimes against nature -- which is still maintained as a class... read_more California Bi-National Couple Fights to Stay Together May 14th, 2013 A binational gay couple who married in California in 2008 is fighting to stay together. Towleroad.com reports: In his video Op-Ed "Eric and Juan," Jens Erik Gould introduces us to a same-sex couple who got married in 2008, during the brief time when gay marriage was legal in California. Though Eric and Juan have built a life... read_more Soccer Player Robbie Rogers Joins N0H8 May 13th, 2013 An openly gay soccer player just joined the NoH8 campaign. On Top Magazine reports: Rogers is the former U.S. Men's National Soccer Team member who last played for the UK's Leeds United team. He came out gay and announced his retirement from professional soccer in an online post in February. "'Don't waste your life hating others for... read_more How it Might Go Down on Prop 8 May 8th, 2013 The US Supreme Court will rule on the Prop 8 case sometime between now and the start of July. AFER has a flow chart of how the decision might go: The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of its term in June on whether Proposition 8, California's ban on marriage for gay and lesbian... read_more California, USA: Catholic Bishops Want Flock to Pray for Prop 8 May 3rd, 2013 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wants Catholics across the country to pray to God to let them continue discriminating. SDGLN reports: Proposition 8, the 2008 California referendum defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman, “was challenged as being unconstitutional and is now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court, with a... read_more California, USA: Federal Judge Clears Way For Binational Couple To Sue Over DOMA Apr 22nd, 2013 A federal judge in Los Angeles clear the way for a lawsuit brought by a binational lesbian couple against the Defense of Marriage Act. LGBTQ Nation reports: A lesbian couple facing immigration troubles has the standing to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act because it violates the constitutional rights of immigrants in same-sex marriages, a federal judge in... read_more California Winemaker Creates Wine for Marriage Equality Apr 16th, 2013 A California vintner has created a wine to support marriage equality - a portion of each sale will be donated to Freedom to Marry. Towleroad.com reports: In September 2012, I was introduced to a very talented winemaker with a big heart, Josh Stein of Stein Family Wines, about a matter unrelated to Same Sex Meritage. The conversation arrived... read_more Prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act Updates 4/3/13 Apr 3rd, 2013 More Prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act news and analysis. First off, at the Washington Blade, Jon Davidson, Legal Director at Lambda Legal, draws three lessons from the Supreme Court hearings: First: We've come a very long way in a very short period of time. The Prop 8 argument took place exactly 10 years after arguments were heard in... read_more USA: Behind the Prop 8 Marriage Equality Case Apr 1st, 2013 In a new video, AFER goes behind the scenes on the Prop 8 lawsuit to bring marriage equality back to California. Towleroad.com reports: The American Foundation for Equal Rights has released a poignant behind-the-scenes video about the days before and after the Supreme Court's hearing on the Prop 8 case. Among those interviewed in this clip are of... read_more USA: Prop 8 / DOMA Updates 3/29/13 #2 Mar 29th, 2013 Yes, more prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act news. One of these days things will quiet down a bit. But for now, did you know that today was the day when the Supreme Court justices were to vote on the outcomes in the two cases? SDGLN reports: Today, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme... read_more Prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act Updates 3/29/13 Mar 29th, 2013 The onslaught of Prop 8 and DOMA news is gradually slowing now that the Supreme Court Hearings are over, but we still have a fair amount for you. First off, Buzzfeed reports the Prop 8 play will be coming to the big screen: Well, earlier this month at the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards in Austin, Texas, I had... read_more Prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act Updates 3/28/13 #2 Mar 28th, 2013 More post-hearing analyses coming in and other assorted articles. MaddowBlog offers a DOMA hearing wordcloud, hi-lightng the most repeated words during the hearing. The Advocate hilights some of the more absurd moments outside of the two hearings: The last 72 hours, or so, have been a roller coaster of emotions and media madness. Here are a few of the... read_more USA: Prop 8 / Defense of Marriage Act Update 3/28/13 Mar 28th, 2013 Some follow-up stories this morning on the Supreme Court hearings in Prop 8 and Defense of Marriage Act. Time Magazine ran a great set of covers this morning on marriage equality. Towleroad.com has the story: To illustrate Von Drehle's story, TIME invited same-sex couples in California and New York to share some intimate moments for photographer Peter Hapak. Two... read_more Newsom Promises California Repeal Initiative if Supreme Court Doesn't Strike Down Prop 8 Mar 27th, 2013 Looking ahead past the anticipated June or July Supreme Court ruling on California's Prop 8, California's Lt. Governor promises to take Prop 8 back to the supporters if the Court doesn't invalidate it. The Washington Blade reports: But Newsom predicted that a "worst case scenario" ruling upholding Prop 8 would trigger an immediate backlash in the LGBT community... read_more Prop 8 Marriage Equality Hearing Wrap-Up Mar 27th, 2013 We posted a bunch of stories and info yesterday on Prop 8 and the US Supreme Court hearing. Here are some of the stragglers: Joe.My.God has the press conference the anti-Prop 8 lawyers held outside the Court after the hearing: Over at Queerty, they're looking at Kennedy as the swing vote and likely author of a narrow ruling... read_more Five Takeaways from the Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing - Scalia Rants Mar 26th, 2013 Over at the Advocate, Kerry Eleveld has five take-aways rom this morning's Prop 8 hearing at the US Supreme Court. My favorite: As expected: Justice Antonin Scalia did go on a rant of sorts, insisting that Olson explain, "When did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage?" Olson offered, respectfully, "When did it become unconstitutional to... read_more USA: Supreme Court Releases Audio for Prop 8 Hearing Mar 26th, 2013 This just in from AFER: Audio recording is here. Today, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal constitutional challenge to California's Proposition 8. The Court is considering whether Proposition 8 violates the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The American... read_more California, USA: ScotusBlog on the Prop 8 Hearing - Court Will Likely Ditch Case, Invalidating Prop 8 Mar 26th, 2013 Over at ScotusBlog, Tom Goldstein thinks the Court will either find that the Prop 8 defendants have no standing, or will just decline to rule on the case. Either would invalidate Prop 8: The Justices seem divided on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 on ideological lines, four to four – i.e., all the members other than Justice Kennedy.... read_more

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At Purple Unions, we take marriage equality seriously. As a gay couple who have been together since 1992, we know that gay and lesbian couples can and do form long-term, stable, supportive relationships, and we believe the institution of marriage and all the responsabilities and benefits that come with it should be opened up to committed gay and lesbian couples everywhere. To this end, we created Purple Unions as a place where gay and lesbian couples can find gay friendly wedding vendors to help them plan their perfect wedding day. California has a long and storied history on the recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. In 1999, the initial domestic partnership bill was passed. In 2000, Proposition 22, a legal ban on gay marriage, passed with 61% of the vote. In 2001, domestic partnerships were expanded to add additional rights. In 2003, the legislature expanded domestic partnerships to include all the rights of marriage that the state granted to straight couples. In 2004, in response to President Bush's announcement that he would seek a national constitutional ban on marriage equality, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom threw open the doors of city hall to gay and lesbian couples. Between February 14th and March 11th, approximately 4,000 couples made thetrek to The City to marry. The Supreme Court ultimately shut down the weddings, declaring them invalid in August. In June 2008, the Supreme Court stepped in again, declaring that gay and lesbian couples had the right to full, legal marriage in California. Once again, thousands of couples married, but the ruling also gave fuel to the fire of Proposition 8, which had been gathering signatures to place a constitutional ban on gay marriage since the fall of 2007. In November, voters approved 52.5% by 48.5%, a much closer margin than Prop 22, but heartbreaking nonetheless. The California Supreme Court later ruled that the amendment was valid, but also upheld the marriages performed before it went into effect. A lawsuit was subsequently filed against the new amendment, and it was declared unconstitutional in Federal Court in August, 2010. The appeal continues to wind its way through the courts. At this time, Domestic Partnerships are still available to gay and lesbian couples. Gay and lesbian couples can also adopt in California. We hope that you find these resources useful, and that you'll join us in the fight for marriage equality! --Scott & Mark, Purple Unions