When Peter approached me about planning his wedding with Nathan, I didn’t even blink before saying yes. I’ve known Peter for over a decade. We met working together in hospitality, became good friends and even once shared a Hell’s Kitchen apartment. I have always admired many things about Peter, including how he marches to the beat of his own colorful drum. So it wasn’t a huge surprise in our initial conversation that Peter said:

“We’d really like to get married on unicorns. Since that might be a logistical challenge, we’ve picked Jane’s Carousel in Dumbo.”

Even without the real unicorns, this event faced some logistical challenges, but collaborating with these grooms to solve them was part of the fun. Peter and Nathan have tremendous experience in throwing parties in Fire Island, so they had no issue comprehending how it might all come together. Our main concern was that Jane’s Carousel is open to the public until 7pm, and set up for a private event cannot start any sooner. Peter and Nathan had wisely chosen the evening of the summer solstice, providing the latest sunset possible. But to pull off the Carousel Wedding and have their ceremony in sunlight, we would have to have the entire event packed in one truck set to arrive exactly at 7pm. All contents needed to be unpacked and set up within one hour. This included lighting & sound equipment with dance floor lighting, a DJ station & additional bistro lighting to help separate the event space from the public park, the dining tables and benches, the entire bar and all of its supplies, and all décor items, including the handcrafted paper flower installation for the ceremony. It was a jam-packed hour to manage for set-up, but the guests did not know.

We had asked them to meet in the nearby Max Family Garden, where they were greeted by our festive hostesses with sparkling rosé cider and sunglasses. The live musicians who had been playing prelude music then led the group to the space. The grooms entered from either side of the Carousel and met in the middle to complete the walk down the aisle. Their ceremony, led by officiant Bob Howard, celebrated so many themes of love, acceptance, community, history and pride. Almost like clockwork, Mother Nature decided to add a real rainbow to the skyline.

During the reception, guests dined on Luke’s Lobster Rolls and the works from the Takumi Taco Truck. They alternated between taking rides on the Carousel and dancing to the beats led by DJ Erol. Individual containers of Eton Mess were devoured as a refreshing summer dessert. In addition to the open bar, there was a unicorn liquor ice luge offering guests shots of tequila all night.

It was a picturesque summer night in New York situated in a spot with the most amazing views. The food, drinks and dancing flowed as smoothly as a trip around a carousel. But nothing created a bigger rainbow than the ostensible love and connection shared between these two grooms. Their song choice for their processional really said it all:

“And when I'm dreaming, well I know I'm gonna dream

I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you

When I go out (when I go out) well I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you

And when I come home (when I come home) yes I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who comes back home with you

I'm gonna be the man who's coming home with you”

View the full gallery here

Photographer: Liz Devine

Ceremony Musicians: Cody Geil

DJ: Erol Sabadosh

Lighting: Mike Megliola