Lincoln Center hosts 500 couples in free, mass ‘wedding’ party

They were feeling the love at Lincoln Center, as nearly 1,000 people turned out for a party celebrating all things matrimonial.

Dubbed “New York’s Biggest Day,” the event is part of Lincoln Center’s “Summer for the City” program, which offers hundreds of free, festival-type affairs — including Saturday’s second annual mass “wedding” for about 500 couples.

No one legally tied the knot during the festivities hosted by comedian Murray Hill, but smitten guests were guided through a variety of multi-cultural, love-themed blessings and messages from a Sikh, a Korean Shaman and others in David Geffen Hall, prompting some to treat the day as a way to properly revisit their “I dos.”

“I promised him a big wedding 12 years ago and that has yet to happen,” Archley Prudent, 67, said of his spouse.

Prudent and his husband, Hugh Gallagher-Prudent, of Woodside, Queens, were hastily wed in a City Hall ceremony soon after gay marriage was legalized 12 years ago. 

So the Irish-kilt-clad couple made their way to Lincoln Center for a “do-over,” and even bought a new wedding ring for Gallagher-Prudent to mark the day.

Maureen and Richard Carruthers tied the knot 52 years ago, but were eager to bask in the romance of the day.

“We have our fights – everyone has their fights,” Maureen, 76, admitted.

Regardless, “It’s been wonderful,” said Richard, 77, adding, “and I am looking forward to renewing my vows tonight…I’m a lucky man.”

“New York’s Biggest Day” was first held in July 2022 as a way to honor the weddings disrupted by the pandemic, according to Shanta Thake, Lincoln Center’s chief artistic officer. 

“Coming out of COVID, we were thinking about all of the rituals that we lost out on as a community…Weddings were at the top of the list, of course, as people had canceled so many weddings, so we thought it would be fun to throw a dream wedding for as many people as possible,” Thake explained.

At least one woman was hoping her partner would be inspired by the Lincoln Center lovefest.

“I’m hoping he’s going to propose soon,” said Upper West Sider Riana Erickson, 27, who attended with boyfriend of eight years John Grenham, nudging him as she quipped, “We wanted to practice getting married.”

“I just need time to formulate an idea [of how to propose]. But in the meantime, maybe this will keep the love alive – not that it’s going anywhere,” Grenham, 26, assured her.