The “Love Above All” weddings at Rockefeller Center showcased an absolutely beautiful display of love last Saturday!
With the city celebrating Pride Month all June long, Rockefeller Center took part in the festivities! From rainbow runways to Pride flags flying, Rockefeller’s most heartfelt efforts were in treating five fortunate LGBTQ+ couples to a wedding of every New Yorkers dreams.
Each of the five couples had their wedding venues at iconic Rockefeller Center spaces including 620 Loft & Garden, The Rainbow Room and the Top of the Rock. Not only were the venues incredibly beautiful, but so were the love stories that had been celebrated.
In accordance to the “Love Above All” Wedding contest, couples that entered were required to submit their unique love stories in addition to how they celebrate and support the queer community. Winners were then selected in early June by The Ali Forney Center, a NYC nonprofit whose mission is to empower and protect the LGBTQ youth from homelessness.
On Saturday, June 26th, the chosen couples enjoyed intimate ceremonies (with up to 10 guests) overlooking 5th Avenue at 620 Loft & Garden, followed by a toast in the Rainbow Room that involved a special performance by RuPaul’s Drag Race Queen, Alexis Michelle.
And to get the most gorgeous wedding photos, each couple got the backdrop of Manhattan from the Top of the Rock for their photo shoot location.
Meet the couples:
Eddie Rosenbaum & Don Cummings (He/him)
After meeting in med school six years ago, their two paths split when Eddie left for Africa to join the Peace Corps. But fate brought the them back together for a second date three years later when Eddie’s missioned was postponed, leaving him in the same town as Don, rather than being sent an ocean away like planned. Now they live happily together in New York.
Julio Gutierrez & Argenis Payamps (He/him)
The pair knew they were soulmates instantly and shared dreams of the future. They have spent every holiday season visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and watching the Rockettes, so their wedding at Rockefeller Center is entirely fitting.
Chelsea Powell & Mia Ibrahim (She/Her)
Originally just friends, Chelsea and Mia realized there was more between them with an epiphanic realization in a wine store together. The couple got a dog, Charlie, and two months into the relationship knowing they were each other’s forever, Chelsea bought a dog tag that read “will you marry my mom?” The two wore matching commemorative Pride-themed vans on the day of their wedding.
Cole Murphy-Hockett & Marco Garcia (He/him)
Both California natives and Stanford alumni, Cole & Marco split ways after college and both found themselves in New York City years later. The unlikely pair from college suddenly found they had a connection they never knew after meeting over a cup of coffee. And it was all love from there on.
Christian O’Brien & Robert Furler (He/him)
Who knew taking your dog for a walk could result in meeting your perfect match?! With their first date at Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2019, there couldn’t be a more appropriate wedding venue than Rockefeller Center. Both do so much for the LGBTQ+ community as Christian now co-leads Pride Month programming across the city and Robert is working to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.
“Rockefeller Center is a place that has always celebrated equality and love, and we are overjoyed to participate in this year’s Pride festivities and have the opportunity to help New Yorkers create their most incredible experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives,” shared Tishman Speyer Managing Director overseeing Rockefeller Center, EB Kelly.
featured image source: Courtesy of Tishman Speyer