New York’s Biggest Day – Lincoln Center Wedding for 800 Couples

By Prudence Hajmeli

Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City’s special event just took place on June 22nd at David Geffen Hall. Appropriately named “New York’s Biggest Day,” Lincoln Center hosted an unofficial wedding reception for every couple interested in celebrating their love and the city. The event is not a sanctioned wedding, and no one in attendance has the power to legally marry. It is more than anything a festival and commemoration of love, as all weddings tend to be, and so who is to say what makes a wedding real or not? 

This is Lincoln Center’s third year hosting the city’s biggest day. The tradition began in 2022, for those couples whose weddings were either canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. Since then, it has grown into a city-wide event, with as many as 1,000 people in attendance as of 2023. This year there were reported to be 800 couples. Created by award-winning director Scott Wittman, the event is hosted by Jason Eagan, the Founding Artistic Director of Ars Nova and is part of Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival. The festivities are a party-platter of various modes of art and entertainment. Spanning poetry, music, dancing, and live performances it is no wonder this is labeled the city’s biggest day. The audience was treated to an opera performance, ballets, a string quartet, karaoke, rounds of dessert, and so much more. Last year, Lady Bunny, a long-time drag icon and DJ, hosted the party on the outdoor dance floor. This year featured artists included The Dance Cartel, Juilliard's Alumni String Quartet, Street Beat Brass, Isaac Oliver, César Alvarez, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Harolyn Blackwell, Joshua Henry, DJ Lina, and more! 

The event is also meant to celebrate multicultural identities and relationships, and the organizers have put effort into their accommodations. Last year, the festivities included blessings and messages from a Sikh and a Korean Shaman, and henna tattoo artists. 

Many in attendance came from far and wide for the matrimonial experience to renew their vows, or simply celebrate the love in and around them.