24 Gay Couples To Marry In New York City Pop Up Chapels

Twenty-four gay and lesbian couples will marry today in Central Park at Merchant's Gate.

The Pop Up Chapel will celebrate the marriages of 24 gay couples on the first Saturday after a gay marriage law went into effect in New York.

Beginning at 10:30AM and running through the rest of the day, gay couples will marry inside festive temporary chapels which have “popped up” at the corner of 59^th Street and Central Park West. One chapel is made up of rainbow-colored ribbons. Grooms, brides and guests will also enjoy performances from Tony Award-nominee Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), singer Mike Doughty and comedian Dave Holmes.

The idea is the brainchild of New York City software developer Josh French, Gothamist editor Jen Carlson, writers Lindsay Robertson and Tyler Coates, and legal minister and writer Bex Schwartz.

“We're this scrappy gang of people with day jobs; we didn't know what would go into this,” Schwartz told The Village Voice. “Everyone's been so supportive. The Knot came to us. David Stark came to us to help with flowers. We had competitions to design the chapels. We haven't really had to ask.”

“People will arrive, check in, and be assigned to their chapel,” she added. “They can meet with our stylists. Then the couples will gather and walk down the aisle. Each ceremony will be around 15 minutes long.”