And so, guided by the light of smartphones and a wedding photographer’s light stand, the ceremony continued.

Afterward at the reception, the 12-piece band improvised, too. Using instruments that didn’t require power (saxophone, trumpet, violin), the band played on. Realizing it couldn’t use a microphone, it stuck to easy-to-sing classics.

“It was unbelievable,” said Ms. Rosenthal , 32. “Everyone stepped up and were doing everything in their power to make the night a special one.”

The Con Edison malfunction affected six power sectors, cutting electricity from 72nd Street to the West 40s, and from Fifth Avenue to the Hudson River. The failure shut down 26 Broadway shows near an eerily dim Times Square, caused traffic lights to stop working and stranded at least 2,875 subway passengers, who were escorted to safety off three D trains and two A trains.

Top Con Edison officials apologized on Sunday and said it was too soon to know exactly what caused the failure to cascade from neighborhood to neighborhood.

“It’s kind of cool,” said Alex Cedeno, a 53-year-old construction worker from Hell’s Kitchen. Mr. Cedeno used the opportunity to hang out on his front stoop and take in the sights and sounds of the city around him. “I love the darkness.”

Never change, New York.

From The Times

The power went out. Where was de Blasio? He was in rural Iowa, illustrating the perils mayors face when they run for president.