When Marc and Daniel got engaged and realized they wanted a wedding planner I was thrilled to get the call. While the legality of same-sex marriage doesn’t seem to be threatened and gay weddings are a common occurrence, we all must remember that wasn’t always the case. And Marc Solomon is one of the reasons why. He was one of the driving forces behind the organization Freedom to Marry, and he also authored Winning Marriage which outlines the entire movement. Personally, I know that I wouldn’t have my current career without people like him.
In searching for venues together, they told me they were “chillaxed homosexuals” who wanted to celebrate the life they were now sharing in the borough of Brooklyn. This wedding was going to be less about centerpieces and more about them, the movement they had been a part of, and the guests who would be on hand to celebrate. We landed on having the ceremony at the Wythe Hotel and reception at the Brooklyn Winery.
This wasn’t just any ceremony. Not only did their dog Salvy walk down the aisle as ring bearer, but It was almost a who’s who of the marriage equality movement. It was officiated by Evan Wolfson, the founder and president of Freedom to Marry. Their friend Mary Bonauto, read passages from two major court cases affirming the freedom to marry, both of which she argued. These were Goodridge v. Department of Public Health in 2003 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. Adding to this was the incredible live clarinet played by Eric Umble.
As guests departed the ceremony and arrived at the reception, they were instantly greeted with the made-in-house varietals that make the Brooklyn Winery so special. As Marc and Dan were introduced to their guests they executed a choreographed dance by Josh Green to “I Got Lost in His Arms” by Jonathan Groff. After DJ Lady Crumbcake of Sugartown Industries kept the crowd moving for this cocktail-style reception, and when the winery put out their multiple food stations they did not disappoint. Nine Cakes provided three tiers of deliciousness, and upon cutting the grooms had requested “Helpless” from Hamilton. I had just worked with the singers of their first dance and cake-cutting choices, so it was thrilling for me to surprise them with a congratulatory video message from Phillipa Soo and Jonathan Groff.
"If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it.”
View the full gallery here.
View video highlight here.
View the story in the Advocate here.
Ceremony Venue: The Wythe Hotel
Reception Venue: The Brooklyn Winery
Ceremony Musician: Eric Umble
Photographer: Justin McCallum
Videographer: Daniel Robinson
Choreographer: Josh Green
Cake: Nine Cakes
Floral: L’Oasis
Lighting: Universal Light and Sound
Favors: NuNu Chocolates