Minneapolis Donates Generously to Freedom to Marry Celebration

From flowers to music, photography to wedding cake, and everything in between, Minneapolis steps up to donate to citys first legal same-sex weddings

July 29, 2013 (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and the Minneapolis City Council today announced a long list of goods and services that are being generously donated to the Freedom to Marry celebration at City Hall on the evening of July 31August 1, which will feature the first legal same-sex weddings to be conducted in Minneapolis.

Because of these donations, all the weddings and the entire celebration can be conducted at no public expense. A comprehensive list of donations is below.

Minneapolis welcomes everyone, and in the city that is perfect for love and weddings, we are excited and ready to marry everyone, Mayor Rybak said. I am so grateful to the many marvelous people and companies who have so generously donated their goods and services for this historic occasion. They go to show that no matter where youre from or whom you love, Minneapolis is the perfect choice for your wedding.

It is already easy for any couple to get married in Minneapolis, because Meet Minneapolis, the citys convention and visitor association, offers free wedding planning to anyone who wishes to get married here and helps 400 couples a year do so. Moreover, Meet Minneapolis has recently tailored its free wedding-planning services to meet the needs of same-sex couples as well.

In addition, the beautiful and historic Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda, where the Freedom to Marry celebration and weddings will take place, is already one of Minneapolis most sought-after venues for weddings. Learn more about how to plan a City Hall wedding here.

Below is the list of goods and services that are being generously donated to the Freedom to Marry weddings and celebration at City Hall on July 31August 1.

• Flower design in Rotunda Roger Beck Florist
• Portrait photography Brent Dundore of BD Portraits, and Brent Nelson
• Candid photography The Art Institutes International Minnesota
• Wedding cake Betty Crocker
• Reception (for couples and invited guests only) The Hotel Minneapolis
• Goods and services at Hotel Minneapolis reception Eclipse Transportation, Event Lab, Glam Doll Donuts, La Vita Espresso, P.M. Enterprises
• Music Phillip Brunelle, Copper Street Brass Quintet, Rachel Kilgour, Chris Koza, Jayanthi Kyle, the Laurels String Quartet, Adam Levy with Bethany Larson and members of And The Professors, Jeremy Messersmith, Lucy Michelle, John Munson and Matt Wilson, Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs, the Twin Cities Gay Mens Chorus
• Commemorative seriagraphs Minneapolis College of Art and Design
• Bouquets for Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke Liesl B Floral Design
• Planning Meet Minneapolis
• Public relations Tunheim Partners
• Logo Zeus Jones
• Tickets Tom Hoch, Ticketmaster and Hennepin Theater Trust
• Officiating Mayor R.T. Rybak, Judge Peter Albrecht, Judge Peter Cahill, Judge Elizabeth Cutter, Judge Margaret Daly, Judge Daniel Mabley, Judge David Piper, Judge Edward Wahl
• Volunteers City of Minneapolis staff, Minneapolis Police Department officers and community members

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