With a wave of wedding cancelations and postponements around the world, Mitch (L) and his partner Brian refused to let the coronavirus pandemic imperil their wedding. (Mitch Case)

Mitch and Brian didn’t picture their wedding like this.

Reading their vows somewhat drowned out by traffic, the ticking of a wall clock nearby and a ‘home sweet home’ bunting as decoration, the pair were in a studio apartment in New York City last Thursday.

With Brian’s coworker performing the ceremony, two close friends stood six feet away from them both.

Friends later, individually, ran by their apartment to shout their congrats as a sign reading “Just married (still quarantined)” was slipped through the bars of the fire escape on the multi-story apartment block they called home.

In the space of days, New York City has emerged as the epicentre of a pandemic. Coronavirus has snarled the US, threatening the lives and livelihoods of many and redefining the daily grind for New Yorkers.

Gay couple marry in midst of coronavirus crisis: ‘Our studio apartment wasn’t the venue of our dreams.’

After popping the question on the sun-splashed shores of Provincetown last summer, the pair had joyfully pictured what their wedding would be months since.

Then the news alerts happened. Broadway closed, bodegas shuttered doors and so far 157 people have died of COVID-19 in New York at time of writing.

New York City was in lockdown and citizens were told by lawmakers to self-isolate, emptying out the city’s streets and avenues. Now still and cold.

Mitch, who works at an arts and culture nonprofit, was frightened.

Anxious that he would lose his job at any given moment as the pandemic pelts the country’s economy.

“We figured it was a good idea to pull the trigger on getting married,” Mitch told PinkNews, “so that I could be added to Brian’s health insurance, if it gets to that.

“So, this past Thursday, we broke our self-isolation and went to City Hall to get our marriage license.”

They telephoned the Marriage Bureau and administrators told the hopefuls they could still get hitched if they had their licence signed by an officiant and mailed in.

As is the way in New York – where everyone has a Rolodex of people for every oddly specific situation to hand – Brian knew someone. One of his co-workers was ordained and able to perform a ceremony.

After a couple of calls to close friends, Mitch and Brian’s studio apartment was heaving, well, by current social distancing standards, with people.

“Our studio apartment wasn’t the venue of our dreams, but it felt right and was great to have the support of everyone who was present,” Mitch said.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating with everyone when we’re allowed to go back outside.”

#LoveInTheTimeOfCorona.

After posting their story on Twitter, the world is essentially petitioning for a love in the time of coronavirus Netflix original series.

That sign on the fire escape is peak NYC. https://t.co/wY67cw9xlg — Mark Schoofs (@SchoofsFeed) March 21, 2020

This is some real “Love Wins” shit congrats! — Kevin Atkinson (@IKEAtkinson) March 21, 2020