By Leslie Marin

Craig Sutton of Framingham’s Craig Sutton Entertainment Services LLC has a unique perspective on gay and lesbian weddings. As Central MA’s very own “Straight Eye for the Queer Guy,” he specializes in and has designed some of the most beautiful same-sex weddings in New England ~ and has the list of more-than-satisfied customers to prove it. We got a chance to sit down with Craig and talk about the alternative niche he’s carved out for himself.

L-R: Sally Malconian, Craig Sutton, and Kathy Truscott

How long have you been an event planner?
I’ve been a DJ since I was 17 and an event planner for at least 15 years. LOVE IT!!!!!!

Approximately how many same sex weddings have you planned?
Between weddings and unions, over 15. And that’s definitely not enough!

Now that gay unions and gay marriages are less taboo, at least here in MA, have you seen a major increase in business?
Increase? Yes. Major increase, no. [Gay couples] are having parties, but not necessarily wedding parties.

What is the process of a couple deciding to hire you as their planner? Are you able to take care of all elements of an event, from catering to design to entertainment?
In most cases, we meet face to face and go over every little detail. But sometimes, they are out-of-state so we rely on lots of phone conversations. Once I get to know them as a couple and get a feel for their personal lifestyle, I can then make recommendations, create concepts and start designing. And yes, I’m “Get-It-All-In-One-Call,” so even though I do have a few clients who want a la carte service, I can do it all from A-Z. One of the most enjoyable parts is helping them decide on entertainment, since I offer a range of options from performing ballroom dancers, musical entertainment and cirque-style performers to living/breathing statues and tarot and palm readers.

What’s the most outrageous request you’ve been asked to incorporate into a ceremony/wedding?
Ah, I’ll never forget my favorite so far. May 17, 2004 was the day it [gay marriage] became legal. With three weeks notice I was planning the wedding of 2 men at their private home in Manchester-By-The-Sea. Black-tie crowd. My clients wanted female go-go dancers. No problem. I dressed the ladies up in white hot pants, white wigs, and pink feather boas and put them on platforms to dance at the reception. And the guys also wanted gospel singers at the ceremony ~ try getting religious church-going singers for a gay wedding 2 days before the ceremony! But I did, and they sang “Oh, Happy Day.” To this day, that couple are clients of mine and one of my fondest memories.

How about the most touching?
Seeing the families of 2 gay women come together at the reception and cry and embrace after years of their daughters’ dating, denial of their sexuality and finally over their resolution to become one family. It’s about time.

Have you had any couples who wanted to incorporate their children into a wedding?
Absolutely! One lesbian couple from Weston who both had kids from previous straight marriages made them a part of it. That’s the way it should be.