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Wedding held on NYC sidewalk as friend officiates from balcony during coronavirus social distancing

By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

wedding A wedding happened despite social distancing and self-quarantine in New York City. (hichako/Getty Images)

By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NEW YORK — Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler were not letting the COVID-19 outbreak put a damper on getting married.

Originally the couple had planned on having a ceremony in October, but they actually moved up the day and had gotten a license, planning to go back to the marriage bureau later for the ceremony itself. But the mayor announced the office would be closed until further notice.

So, Jennings and Wheeler got married in the middle of a sidewalk in a residential section In Washington Heights in New York City, NBC News reported.

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At first, they were not happy with the closing of the office.

“We sulked all day until our dear friend messaged us on a group chat letting us know he was ordained by the county clerk’s office in New York City," Jennings told E!.

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Matt Wilson did the honors from his fourth-floor balcony performing the ceremony only two hours later. Jennings, who wore a sleeveless white gown and had a bouquet of flowers, and Wheeler, who donned a black jacket and black jeans with a white shirt and white tennis shoes, stayed on the ground, E! reported.

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we were supposed to get married in October. the reality of that happening in our current climate seemed slim. Amanda’s business closed and everything has just blown up. we got our marriage license yesterday and were walking out the door to get hitched at the courthouse when the mayor announced the immediate closure of the marriage bureau. after several hours of crying (& drinking), one of our dear friends @iknowmattwilson sent us a message saying he was ordained and could marry us through the state of NY (nyc has weird laws that you have to be married by someone ordained by this county clerk). we said YES, finished our work meetings, walked down the street to his apartment and got married below his fourth story window as the neighborhood looked on alongside 4 of our best friends @kktapper @harold_gibbons @joselynmujica (& @erikahenningsen through a car because #socialdistancing). what a day. amidst the uncertainty and despair we all feel right now, marrying the love of my life in the most NYC moment was perfect. i’ve waited 4 years to call @wheelsfit my wife and this was all just the cherry on top of the love i feel every day. ❤️

A post shared by Reilly Jennings (@reillyjennings) on

A few friends gathered, but at a safe distance from everyone else as they adhered to social distancing.

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“It was perfect, classic New York. Everything I love about this city was encompassed in that moment,” Jennings told NBC News.

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