Playwright and former Rockette Ivy Risser planned to marry Blue Man Group performer Josh Elrod on September 18 at St. Marks Church—and then she got pregnant. “I didn’t want to be a balloon bride,” says Risser, so the couple pushed their wedding up to July 23. Here’s how they pulled it off.
March 10: “St. Marks doesn’t have AC, and in July, that would have been a nightmare. So we reached out again to my original choice, Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Sq. S., nr. Thompson St.; 212-477-0351), and they took us. It was meant to be.”
March 27: “Sent out save-the-dates via e-mail.”
April 10: “Ordered invitations from Hatch Show Print in Nashville (countrymusichalloffame.org). Josh worked there years ago, so they turned them around for us superfast.”
May 1: “Contacted our performer friends: Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner spoke; his fiancé, Adam Dugas, sang; Damon McMahon sang and played guitar; and Eric Fraser played bansuri flute.”
May 2–6: “Did a walk-through of the church. Had tastings for rehearsal-dinner locations and decided on the penthouse at Hotel on Rivington (107 Rivington St., nr. Essex St.; 212-475-2600), catered by their new restaurant, Co-Op. Met with our florist at Sprout Home (44 Grand St., nr. Kent Ave.; 718-388-4440). Had a cake tasting with Momofuku Milk Bar (251 E. 13th St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-254-3500).”
May 20: “Booked the coolest psycho-mambo horn band, called Gato Loco (gatolocomusica.com).”
May 27: “Booked photographer Ro Agents (roagents.com). At first I was like, ‘There is no way I can afford her.’ But I e-mailed anyway, and when I described what our wedding was going to be like, she told me she would do it to fit my budget.”
June 11: “Met with Electric Feathers designer Leana Zuniga (electricfeathers.com) and found my dress. Being pregnant is one of the most romantic things ever; I felt sexy.”
July 5–22: “Met with the Judson minister, Henry Schoenfield. Wrote vows. Shopped for wedding favors in Chinatown with my friend, stylist Cooper Vasquez (coopervasquez.com). Picked up our marriage license. Took lots of Bikram to stay mellow.”
July 23: “Got married. It was spectacular.”