Workin’ It 2011

2011’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs

Bernadette Coveney-Smith, the founder and president of the leading wedding production company 14 stories, first envisioned her business for same-sex couples when marriage equality was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004. Since then, this former Bostonian (and current New Yorker) has collaborated with couples on hundreds of personalized weddings and emerged as the nation’s leading expert on gay and lesbian nuptials. Coveney-Smith coordinates with hand-picked LGBT vendors to create breathtaking ceremonies in dramatic locations—one stunning event took place on a private island in Boston harbor— and makes a donation to charity on the couple’s first anniversary. Coveney-Smith’s expertise has been sought by The Today Show, New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Travel and Leisure and NPR. She authored the book Gay Wedding Confidential, developed the first gay wedding planning app for iPhone and Android, and frequently speaks about gay weddings across the country. “I have this weird balance of being a super Type A-wedding planner/fierce client advocate, and also really laid back,” Coveney-Smith says. “My clients like that because I’m always chill and calm around them, but they have the confidence that I’m kicking ass and have it all under control.”


What Do You Think?