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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Valentine’s Day was last week but today should be pretty romantic in New Jersey. Gay couples in that city will be able to join together in civil union. And while the law stops short of allowing gay marriage, the wedding business is expecting a great big party. Alisa Roth has more from New York.

ALISA ROTH: It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, getting married is expensive.

The average Garden State wedding costs between $35,000 and $50,000 — that’s without the gown, the rehearsal dinner, hotels or the honeymoon.

Which is why those in the wedding business there are seeing dollar signs.

Carol Beaugard is a New Jersey wedding planner. She says gay couples are already getting in touch.

CAROL BEAUGARD: Compared to maybe getting one to three queries over a five-month period, I’ve gotten on average maybe 5 to 10 queries every week and a half.

Beaugard says her colleagues in Massachusetts experienced a similar leap when gay marriage was first legalized there.

In New York, I’m Alisa Roth for Marketplace.