NYC Mayor Surprises Couples at Marriage Bureau

Mayor Zohran Mamdani officiated weddings for six New York City couples on a surprise visit to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In an unexpected move, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a surprise visit to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau last Thursday to officiate weddings for six local couples who had scheduled appointments to get married. The mayor's appearance shocked the couples, who had not expected the mayor to be present, but they welcomed him as a surprise guest to their ceremonies.

Why it matters

Mayor Mamdani's impromptu wedding officiating is an unusual and heartwarming gesture that highlights his personal connection to the city and its residents. The move also showcases the mayor's approachability and willingness to engage directly with New Yorkers, which could boost his public image and popularity.

The details

During his visit, Mayor Mamdani officiated the weddings of six couples who had scheduled appointments at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The couples, all local New Yorkers, were not handpicked but were simply the ones scheduled to get married that morning. A member of the marriage bureau's staff approached each pair to offer them the option of having their ceremony officiated by the mayor, and all of the couples accepted.

  • Mayor Mamdani made the surprise visit to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau last Thursday, February 9, 2026.
  • The mayor had married the artist Rama Duwaji at the same city clerk's office almost exactly one year earlier.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City who made a surprise visit to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau to officiate weddings for six local couples.

Matthew Cruz

A 30-year-old audio engineer who got married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau with his partner Molly McGhee.

Molly McGhee

A 31-year-old novelist and creative writing professor who got married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau with her partner Matthew Cruz.

Emily Grimmius

A 30-year-old lawyer in Manhattan who got married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau with her husband Muhammad Saleem.

Muhammad Saleem

A 28-year-old start-up founder who got married at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau with his wife Emily Grimmius.

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What they’re saying

“Are you kidding me?”

— Molly McGhee, Bride (New York Times)

“It took me a full 45 seconds to get our rings out because I was shaking a little bit.”

— Matthew Cruz, Groom (New York Times)

“I think it's the best of New York. You see all these couples — so many different stories, so many different ages, so many different lives, and they're all coming to get married.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (New York Times)

“I love that the mayor was there, but I'll be honest, my focus was not on him.”

— Molly McGhee, Bride (New York Times)

“It's the epitome of New York: You don't know who you are going to meet. There is nothing predictable, and that's the beauty of the city, right?”

— Muhammad Saleem, Groom (New York Times)

What’s next

Mayor Mamdani plans to travel to Albany in the coming days to make his annual budget pleas to state lawmakers.

The takeaway

Mayor Mamdani's surprise appearance at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau to officiate weddings for local couples showcases his personal connection to the city and its residents, as well as his approachability and willingness to engage directly with New Yorkers in an unexpected and heartwarming way.