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 59th
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.”