A short six months after a beachside marriage proposal in Venice, California, Matthew Christopher Sobaski and David John Marchi exchanged heartfelt vows beneath an icy sprinkling of snow in New York City… snow that they had arranged to fall indoors.

“We both love film, so our theme was a formal red-carpet wedding,” says Matthew, explaining that impressive special effects were therefore naturally to be expected. From the theatrical venue to the couture bridesmaid gowns designed by Matthew himself, the wedding was a study in unadulterated glamour.

The stunning event space – formerly a 19th-century synagogue – set the stage for the event, both literally and figuratively. Rich lighting cast a red-velvet glow on dramatic architectural details and danced off the shimmering gold of beaded chandeliers. Gilt stands featuring candles and cascades of crimson flowers stood sentry over the altar and entrance to the aisle, coordinating beautifully with the roses held by each of the bridesmaids. Attendants were dressed in dramatic black: Maids wore custom Matthew Christopher gowns in different styles and silhouettes, while groomsmen were clad in tailored tuxedos. Gold-embellished angels' wings adorned the dresses worn by the flower girls, who sprinkled snowflakes instead of petals down the glamorous red carpet.

Each groom was accompanied down the aisle by very special loved ones. “Matthew’s incredibly emotional walk with the ‘parents’ who took him in when his birth parents were unsupportive was one of the most memorable moments of the wedding,” says David. David himself was escorted by his daughter and former wife to the altar where his sons stood proudly among the honor attendants.

A plethora of appetizers were enjoyed during the cocktail hour, followed by amazing offerings at dinner stations throughout the reception. Selections included shaved-parmesan quinoa salad with edamame at a grain station; hand-rolled cavatelli pasta with a winter truffle sauce at a Little Italy station; and crispy fried chicken with whipped Yukon-gold potatoes at a station devoted to comfort foods. Butler-passed desserts preceded the couple’s fantastic wedding cake, which featured layers designed to reflect details of different gowns from Matthew’s collection. Graciano wines bottled and imported specifically for the wedding accompanied the magnificent meal.

“We put the most emphasis on the menu and the décor,” says David of the hands-on planning he and Matthew did with the support of a wedding coordinator.

Friends with musical backgrounds and experience on Broadway gave a 30-minute performance that was enjoyed by all. The theatrical atmosphere was emphasized by a step-and-repeat backdrop utilized for red-carpet-style photos, and tables named for the grooms’ favorite musicals and films. The tables were swathed in linens embroidered intricately in gold and featured glass trumpet vases topped with voluminous clouds of baby’s breath. Mercury-glass votives surrounded petite tabletop centerpieces of delicate, wintry roses gathered in burnished vases. Golden branches accented the larger arrangements, including an urn filled with roses and amaranth displayed on the seating-card table.

Guests departed with chocolate statuettes dusted in 14K gold, the perfect note on which to end such a spectacularly themed evening. “We’d change absolutely nothing,” the couple asserts of their extraordinary event. “From the snowfall to the favors, it was absolutely perfect.”