• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • Living

This couple didn't let a New York City power outage stop their wedding

6:27
News headlines today: Dec. 23, 2020
Courtesy Justin Rosenthal
Catherine Thorbecke
ByCatherine Thorbecke
July 17, 2019, 12:21 AM

The lights and air conditioning may have gone out mid-ceremony, but one New York City couple did not let last weekend's power outage in Manhattan stop them from their wedding vows.

Craig Silverstein, 35, tied the knot with Amy Rosenthal, 32, in what was supposed to be a fairy tale venue: New York City's famous Plaza Hotel.

Related Articles

(MORE: This woman cancelled her wedding, then donated her venue to a couple she never met)

On Saturday, however, a spontaneous power outage hit a huge swath of midtown Manhattan, shutting down a Jennifer Lopez concert, and trapping hundreds of people in elevators.

It wasn't enough, however, to stop the couple from saying "I do" with the help of their guests.

Although the lights went out, guests lit up the room with their smartphones. The couple told local ABC station WABC that they also used their photographer's extra light kits to illuminate the ceremony.

Craig Silverstein and Amy Rosenthal got married in New York City even though the power went out on July 13, 2019.
Courtesy Justin Rosenthal

"As I got to the end of the aisle and took Craig's hand, the lights all went out," Rosenthal told WABC from her honeymoon in Italy.

"People in the audience thought it may have been on purpose," Silverstein said.

Rosenthal added that some people initially thought they pulled a stunt "to add some drama."

Editor’s Picks

Bride gets surprise Barefoot Contessa-themed party and how easy was that?

  • May 22, 2019

Here's the moment a 'first dance' was interrupted by a wedding crasher

  • May 23, 2019

5 websites for buying or selling gorgeous used wedding dresses

  • Apr 05, 2019

Related Articles

(MORE: As 'wedding loans' soar, here's how to spend smartly so you're not married to debt)

To make matters worse, however, the toilets in the venue also stopped working, and dinner for their 200 guests could not be served due to the power outage.

"There's parts of it that I laugh about, there's parts I cry about," Silverstein said.

Rosenthal added that what was supposed to be her dream day turned out to be one of "the most traumatic events of my entire life."

Eventually, the celebration was relocated to the Lavo nightclub, which had power, and the couple was able to eat their wedding cake and dance the night away with their guests.

Related Topics

  • New York

Editor’s Picks

Bride gets surprise Barefoot Contessa-themed party and how easy was that?

  • May 22, 2019

Here's the moment a 'first dance' was interrupted by a wedding crasher

  • May 23, 2019

5 websites for buying or selling gorgeous used wedding dresses

  • Apr 05, 2019

Up Next in Living—

Christina Koch reunites with dog after historic Artemis II mission

April 13, 2026

Meet the 'sewer singer' going viral on TikTok with nearly 500K likes

April 13, 2026

Home Depot's Skelly returns with upgrades in 'Halfway to Halloween' collection

April 9, 2026

What to know about Artemis II astronaut Reid Wiseman's late wife

April 7, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News