The Grandview, Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, West Hills Country Club, and Anthony’s Pier 9, part of the Bonura Hospitality Group have been Certified as Local LGBT Weddings Experts

Gay Wedding Institute CertifiedPoughkeepsie, NY, February 18, 2016 — The Grandview, Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, Anthony’s Pier 9, and West Hills Country Club, all part of the Bonura Hospitality Group have completed the LGBT wedding certification course taught by the 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute.  The Bonura Hospitality Group is the Hudson Valley’s new local LGBT wedding expert.

The Gay Wedding Institute certification course focuses on the nuances and details relevant to the LGBT wedding ceremonies and weddings.  The course covers language, terminology, laws and policies, same-sex wedding trends and traditions, wardrobe, invitations, marketing and much more.

“The course was both highly educational and fun.  I’m excited to now be able to call many of our team members experts at helping same-sex couples plan the day they have always dreamed of having.” said Michael Bonura.

“The Bonura Hospitality Group showed true commitment to understanding the ways wedding professionals need to be sensitive to the unique needs of same-sex couples.  They took the time to complete homework to ready their business to truly be equipped to meet this emerging market,” said Bernadette Smith, founder and President of the Gay Wedding Institute.


About The Bonura Hospitality Group

For over three decades, the Bonura name has been synonymous with extraordinary events. In fact they have created lifelong memories for tens of thousands of happy customers. Beginning with Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor in 1980, the Bonuras have been catering social and business events for groups ranging in size from 50 to 1,500. Now, with six of the Hudson Valley’s premier venues on either side of the river (Anthony’s Pier 9, The Grandview, The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, West Hills Country Club, Blu Pointe, and Shadows on the Hudson), Bonura Hospitality Group offers the perfect setting for all types of events from weddings and bar & bat mitzvahs to banquets, parties, meetings and conferences. Each location features meticulously manicured landscaping, indoor and outdoor settings for ceremonies and receptions, extraordinary food, unrivaled service and attractive packages to fit every budget.

About the Gay Wedding Institute

The Gay Wedding Institute is the nation’s first same-sex wedding research institute and think tank.  The GWI was founded in 2009 by 14 Stories founder Bernadette Smith, who leads workshops for wedding professionals around the world on the nuances of same-sex weddings. More than 800 students from 18 different countries have come through the program. Bernadette is the author of several books and developed the world’s first app for gay wedding planning.  Her expertise has been sought after by the Today Show, the BBC, New York Times, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, NPR  and much more.