Best Reason to Put a Ring On It
Grand Opening
Last summer, New York had a few less single ladies—and single gentlemen—when Grand Opening, a conceptual boutique, became a pop-up wedding chapel. The store, which had previously functioned as a barn, ping-pong parlor, and drive-in theater, transformed into a Vegas-style church. In this recession, pricey weddings are out, and nuptials don't get much cheaper or smaller than those held in the Lower East Side 350-square-foot store for $100. In addition to the benediction of a Universal Life Minister, a Grand Opening wedding included a staff photographer, a choice of backdrops, karaoke hymns, and a disco ball. The chapel also included a choice of rite—a legally binding nuptial, a commitment ceremony, a vow renewal, or the popular mock wedding (all the confetti and folderol, but no need for an annulment). Those without a significant other need not let that deficiency bar them from marital bliss as the project offers bride and groom rentals. Take that, City Hall!
