Five years ago, while Andrew Gallagher was getting ready for dinner and drinks in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, he asked his friend if the guests he was bringing were cute. His friend assured him that neither would be his type.
That evening, Andrew met Marc Jackman and was taken aback. He was so nervous that he did everything he could to avoid making eye contact with him, the most striking man he’d ever seen, he said. Eventually, Marc bought Andrew a drink and he had to look up.
They’ve been staring into each other’s eyes ever since. In September 2024, the two men made their partnership official underneath an ivy-covered arch at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs – the first venue they toured while planning their Island wedding.
The couple knew they wanted to wed on Martha’s Vineyard from the beginning. Marc’s family has a pink cottage in Oak Bluffs, which he said is his sanctuary. His father passed away in 2022, and marrying Andrew on the Island was a way for him to feel like his dad would be there. “This was one of [my dad’s] favorite places in the entire world,” Marc said. “I wanted to make sure that his presence was felt, and I [thought] there’s no better place for that spirit to live brightly.”
The two planned their wedding themselves because they felt it would be fun and they wanted their guests to see their unique personalities in every detail. They spent over a year designing a black-tie-meets-garden aesthetic. The two even got crafty by gluing newspapers to insulated bags so their guests could snack on fresh French fries between dances.
Following their “I dos,” they held hands and jumped over a broom onto glass – a combination of Marc’s African American and Andrew’s Jewish traditions. From then on, chic morphed into disco as guests walked over to the reception tent. The pair even changed outfits after dinner to fit the vibe of the party.
Guests jumped and shimmied on the dance floor, tapping their feet against black-and-white-checkered tiles. Thirty-six disco balls, in a variety of sizes, cast shimmering sparkles over their friends and family. Andrew and Marc spent almost their entire engagement curating the perfect playlist, and DJ Dern shared the voices of Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, and Prince throughout the night.
“I spent maybe a full pregnancy curating a playlist,” Marc joked.
“I did not leave the dance floor the entire time,” Andrew added.
Details
Wedding Date: September 6, 2024
Ceremony + Reception: Farm Neck Golf Club
Photographer: Larisa Stinga
Day-Of Coordinator: My Vineyard Elopement
Flowers: Aubrey Maria Designs/Donaroma’s
Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Caterers: Clambulance + Farm Neck Golf Club
Cake + Dessert: The Black Dog Bakery Café + Back Door Donuts
Music: DJ Dern
Transportation: ResortMan
Signage: Yellowpop
Welcome Party: The Sand Bar
Rehearsal Dinner: Pawnee House
Brunch Caterer: Black Sheep
