The California Supreme Court was smart to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage. Besides finally recognizing that voting, tax-paying gay and lesbian citizens are equal under the law, the court’s decision will also give California’s ailing economy a much-needed booster shot. Same-sex couples from all over the nation will come here to get married and they’ll bring friends and families (and checkbooks) in tow.

The economy will benefit in subtler ways too. Singles bars will see a boom in business from people rushing to find their future mates before the November ballot initiative would potentially ban same-sex marriage. Hookup sites like Manhunt and Adam4Adam will attract more members and will need to add “husband” to the list of choices in the “I’m seeking” category.

If this all sounds like too much to mull, think how stressful it will be when all of us are running around planning our weddings. I don’t need any more gray hair, so I’ll leave the planning to my mother: she already has gray hair, albeit tastefully colored over by her gay stylist.

On the bright side, planning a gay wedding shouldn’t be as hard as planning a straight wedding. After all, each of us already knows a caterer, two florists, three musicians, two photographers, nine hairstylists and a makeup artist. And gay Catholics might even know a nice priest (from their days as altar boys).

Until I find my own Mr. Right, I look forward to attending my friends’ weddings to get drunk on champagne and check out all of the cute guys in tight slacks. For sheer entertainment value, gay weddings are bound to be more fun than a night at the bars. Here are some reasons why we’ll learn to either love or loathe them:

1. It’s more fun shopping for gay gift registries. Our saying is “something old, something new, something borrowed, something Randy Blue – or anything in leather will do!”

2. The wedding invitation bans all guests from wearing polyester.

3. Throwing two bachelor (or bachelorette) parties

4. Instead of being divided into sides for family and friends of the bride and groom, the wedding seating is divided into sides for the tops and bottoms. (As a rule, the bottoms section needs to be larger).

5. Lesbian “grooms” look more handsome in tuxes than you do.

6. Ring bearers in leather chaps … mmm

7. You’ve been dying to throw something at that drama queen all year … now you can at least throw rice!

8. The fabulous table settings at the reception will put Martha Stewart to shame.

9. After a few glasses of bubbly, the cutest reception guests are encouraged to get shirtless and creative with the extra cake!

10. You’ll no longer have to sleep in separate rooms when visiting your spouse’s ultra-conservative parents.

1. Fights over who gets to wear the wedding dress

2. Flower girls in flannel

3. Rainbow unity candles … those were so the 90s!

4. A priest that keeps winking at my fiancé

5. When the preacher asks if anyone objects to your union, several of your exes hands going up

6. Exchanging 14-carat gold cock rings

7. Your single lesbian friends slugging it out for the wedding bouquet

8. Tossing out a pack of condoms instead of the traditional garter or bridal bouquet

9. Yet another Debbie Gibson dance remix played at the reception

10. The look of horror on your dad’s face when one of your friends has too much champagne at the reception and brags about his ability to suck a basketball through a garden hose

Whatever our reasons for loving or loathing gay weddings, I think we can all agree on one thing: a gay wedding is another great excuse to throw a big gay party. Here’s to many celebrations to come!