Gay Weddings - Take Deux

[bmitchell]

Since they're in the news again, and since we lost the original poll in the crash, would you shoot a same sex wedding?

[Bonsai]

Well I thought this was a great poll the first time around. I'm happy to repost my posting to this post.

Let's see... where did I stand? Ok, yes, I would tape a same sex wedding. No problems with it, business is business. We haven't taped a same sex wedding as yet. Which is actually kind of amazing, as we live in Massachusetts (which got the nickname "Gaystate" for being the first and still only state to allow same sex marriages) Yup, a few other states allow same sex civil unions, but we are the only state who decided to interput the constitution as we saw fit.

The silly thing is, we, the people, are going to vote on same sex marriage in November 2006 (talk about putting the cart before the horse).

[AndrewMSV]

The last time I voted I said that all my weddings have been gay weddings. But upon surveying my old client files, I've found this to be erroneous.

But my real answer is a multiple choice answer:
Yes it'd be awkward, yes I have moral and religious reservations, and yes two chicks kissing seems less gross than two dudes kissing. Sorry, I know I'm a hypocrite. :-|

But would I do it? I think I might. After all, A) I'm not a discriminating type of guy and B) it'd be a federal offense for me to NOT do it on the basis of the couple's sexual orientation.

My other thought was that since same-gender marriages are not legal here in California, wouldn't shooting one of these weddings be akin to partying at a speakeasy?

:asmiley:

Cheers!

[D4rK F0CuS]

Subject of gay weddings again? *shrugs* I have so many friends who are gay it's not even an issue.

Well, at least we can talk about gay weddings here. Goodness me I know this subject would be deleted over at **.

[Mossy]

No problem with it on any front! In fact, I'd be delighted to cover a gay event and I'd give them the same 100% that every couple deserves...

[bmitchell]

No problem with it on any front! In fact, I'd be delighted to cover a gay event and I'd give them the same 100% that every couple deserves...

You know, I would certainly try to do that. But if I'm being completely honest here, I might feel an emotional disconnect as I'm putting together a romantic montage full of passionate kissing by a couple of big hairy guys (or small hairless guys, for that matter). Maybe I need to go see Brokeback Mountain. :snork_kiss::uhoh:

[AndrewMSV]

:snork_kiss::uhoh:

Nice use of smileys Bill.
You get rep points.
:icon_rr:

[Chuck_e7]

Since they're in the news again, and since we lost the original poll in the crash, would you shoot a same sex wedding?

Money is Money, we are only recorders of life, whatever it is!

[videochicke]

It is always nice when people in love decide to commit to each other.

[IdoVideos]

I really stuggle with this topic because I don't believe in Gay marriage. HOWEVER I also don't believe in premarital sex and yet 95% of the weddings I do, the couples live together before they're married. So although I don't condone it, I've never condemed it. That's not my place. So if I didn't do it, I would feel like i was being hypocritical as well as holding a double standard.

However, my faith statement is right out there on my website, so I'm guessing most gay couples would go elsewhere after reading it. But who knows!

[Lydian]

I don't know you about you guys but I generally film the bridal prep all soft and romantic, and the groom prep kind of MTV/Reservoir dogs.

How do you ask which one wants the bridal prep and which the groom prep?:kiss: :icon_biggrin:

Is that like asking who's the satellite and who's the receiver?

I have no problem with it but like Bill said, emotional detachment would probably play apart in editing guys tongue-ing each other

:tongue3:

[Kathy Ritondo]

People are people. I don't think you can control who you fall in love with. That said, our company has never even been asked to video a same sex marriage or committment ceremony. If asked I'd like to think I'd respond the same way I do with all couples, which is to find out if they like our style and the way we work and if their personalities are a good fit for us. We interview the clients as much as they interview us so we don't end up with problems in the future with them asking for a style we don't provide.

Kat

[Kathy Ritondo]

I'm curious, what is a "faith statement" and why is it on your business website?
Kat

[AndrewMSV]

I don't think you can control who you fall in love with.
Romantic, but untrue. Of course you have control. Love is just as much a conscious decision and commitment as it is a 'pitter patter' of you heart.

I'm curious, what is a "faith statement" and why is it on your business website?
I think you know what a faith statement is but your question about why it's on a business website is valid.

Some people live their lives with a dichotomy - their business lives and ethics versus their personal beliefs and ethics.
Rachel chooses, quite nobely, I might add, to live her life as one consitent statement of what she believes in and who she is as a person. That's why her statement of faith is on her website. So she can quickly and simply broadcast her beliefs to those who are curious about it.

[LighthouseMedia]

Well put Andrew,
I commend Rachel on standing by her beliefs and as someone who shares similar values, and who has had a statement of faith on my site since day one. Although I'm no longer doing weddings, I find it interesting that the very people who argue that Christians are hypocritical also criticize them when they stand by their values and say what they stand for in the business world.
Rachel just an idea but one thing I did for years with couples about the whole pre-marital sex deal was rather than, like you said condemning those involved in, rather I found a way to honor those who decided to abstain. What I did was offer a 10% off any package to couples who had signed a true love waits pledge. I openly advertised it on our website and it was the only discount I offered brides. And do you know I had several couples gladly take advantage of it. I know I'm threadjacking this into a religious discussion and liable to start a landslide. Its interesting though because on VU discussions like this would get killed quick maybe we have found a format that is "more tolerant". Looking forward to hanging out here more eventhough I'm just VidPro without the weddings hopefully I can still be here LOL.

[AndrewMSV]

What I did was offer a 10% off any package to couples who had signed a true love waits pledge. I openly advertised it on our website and it was the only discount I offered brides.

That's a really intriguing idea.
I'm interested to know what kind of response you got from your clients.

Did they...
- ever think you were snooty and judgmental and just walk away?
- ever sign it while you knew full well they were just signing it to get the discount but had no intention of keeping the pledge?
- ever get insulted somehow?
- ever say they really wanted the discount but liked doing the hippety dippety better?

What were some of the more interesting responses you got from this "campaign"?

Thanks for sharing your idea.
ps, I might move this thread to start a new one if it looks like it will take off in a whole other direction soon. Just a head's up.

[LighthouseMedia]

Hey Andrew I'll try and answer this the best I can. I never got any negative feedback at all, but I did not push this I always presented this humbly and tried to go about it tactfully and with a good spirit. I think it is possible to the right thing in the wrong way and I think that alot of Christians in their attempt to "take a stand" on something go about it the completely wrong way and wind up doing more harm than good.

Did they...
- ever think you were snooty and judgmental and just walk away?
No I never had that happen.

- ever sign it while you knew full well they were just signing it to get the discount but had no intention of keeping the pledge?

Okay actually heres how it works True Love Waits is a national abstinence program (google true love waits) teenagers sign true love waits commitments to basically save themselves for marriage. So the actual pledge isn't something I designed its been around for a few years. So basically if they have their pledge card the signed then I honored the discount. If they wanted to cheat me and bother going through all the trouble just to get 10% off then thats between them and God I'm not try to dictate what they do. To my knowledge though I don't "know that happened" but how do you really now, I didn't try and regulate my brides LOL.

- ever get insulted somehow?
Hmm...searching my memory but no brides that I ever talked to where offended at the discount or my belief statement in anyways, I actually I booked a few brides BECAUSE of my statement of faith, either because they shared my values or if they didn't they respected my stand. Actually the only flak I ever got was from other video professionals LOL.

- ever say they really wanted the discount but liked doing the hippety dippety better?

I'm sure and probably that would have been the majority of my brides LOL. Keep in mind my main goal here was not to try and get brides to abstain but simply find a way to reward the ones who had already made a commitment to do so.

What were some of the more interesting responses you got from this "campaign"?
Well I got to do some very sweet weddings with brides who incorporated their true love wait pledges into their ceremony and vows which was cool, other than that I guess my main goal was to simply say, "way to go guys you made hard choice to wait in culture that says its almost impossible to do and so I support you and as a token of that heres a discount." Really quite simple.

[Earl]

I don't think there's anything queer about doing gay weddings.

[Chuck_e7]

I don't there's anything queer about doing gay weddings.


And a GAY old time was had by all!:grinning-smiley-021

[Earl]

I very much appreciated reading Kendal and Rachel's comments. I applaud those who stand by their beliefs/convictions. I rarely read or hear something so refreshing.

As for me I am afraid I've become rather soured about the whole religious morality thing and I'm not two-faced (I am NOT referring to Kendal or Rachel)enough to be any other way than as accepting and non-judgemental as I can be about any of this. Quite seriously, I cannot find much I feel strongly enough about in this world (spiritual, religious or political) to go out of my way to want to make others bend to my will.

As the oldest, growing up with parents who have done their very best to teach solid Christian, moral, and personal values to the five they raised I still, however, appreciate and sometimes recognize sincerity when I hear it.

[Shadow]

Two of my favourite people are gay, a couple. They've been true friends throughout the years and I can't imagine saying no to them (or anyone else) based on something that is none of my business, and I am not in position to pass judgement.

We all have our own set of beliefs and values. Who am I to say what is right and what is wrong?

[Psynema]

No problem $hooting it.

Also

Does anyone have any clips of gay weddings?

[AndrewMSV]

Lesbian bride's fight wedding

A LESBIAN bride was left with a black eye when her gay wedding ended in a mass punch-up.

Up to 20 guests were said to have brawled at the reception after a comment made by a male relative.
He then fled in the bridal car, complete with white ribbons, as police and ambulance crews arrived.

Read More>>> (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006410503,00.html)

[Chuck_e7]

Lesbian bride's fight wedding

A LESBIAN bride was left with a black eye when her gay wedding ended in a mass punch-up.

Up to 20 guests were said to have brawled at the reception after a comment made by a male relative.
He then fled in the bridal car, complete with white ribbons, as police and ambulance crews arrived.

Read More>>> (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006410503,00.html)


That's why a camera should be there!,"Film at eleven":grinning-smiley-021

[Chuck_e7]

No problem $hooting it.

Also

Does anyone have any clips of gay weddings?

THAT would be intersting!:smile: