Broadway’s Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman Are Married! Inside Their Star-Studded Celebration (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman.Photo:Rachel Leiner

Rachel Leiner

Jessica PhillipsandChelsea Nachmancelebrated their “I dos” on Sunday, Nov. 10, alongside a sea of family, friends and fellow members of the theatrical community.

The couple — who both haveextensive Broadway creditsfor their work in the theater industry; Phillips as an actress and Nachman as a publicist — officially tied the knot on Sept. 20 in an intimate backyard wedding at their home in South Orange, New Jersey.

But while just 50 guests were there on that day, more than 250 loved ones including PEOPLE gathered atBrooklyn Bowlin Williamsburg on Sunday for what the two dubbed their “Broadway Opening Night Party.”

Among the crowd were Tony Award winnersLaura BenantiandCelia Keenan-Bolgeras well asThe White LotusbreakoutMeghann Fahyand Tony nomineesJenn Colella,Micaela Diamond,Will Chase,Betsy Wolfe,Eden Espinosa, Michael Greif andJarrod Spector.

Chelsea Nachman and Jessica Phillips posed on top a bar at their wedding.Rachel Leiner

A slew of the stage’s brightest stars were there, too, includingAlysha Umphress, Drew Gehling, Julia Mattison, Lora Lee Gayer, Zachary Noah Piser, Jenifer Foote, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe,Joel Waggoner, Tyler Merritt, Eric Anderson, Jessica Rush and Spector’s wife,Kelli Barrett.

Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman dance as Ingrid Michaelson sings.Rachel Leiner

Spector also sangElton John’s “Your Song” after duetting onKim Weston and Marvin Gaye’s “It Takes Two.” And Wolfe ended the evening with a pitch-perfect cover ofChappell Roan’s"Pink Pony Club."

Laura Benanti strikes a pose while singing “I Think We’re Alone Now” at Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman’s wedding.Rachel Leiner

Nachman, 35, went with a straplessAlex Perrycocktail dress and silverChristian Louboutinshoes.

“It was not the traditional wedding I used to dream about when I was younger; it was so much better,” Nachman admits. “And it was only possible because of the lives we’ve created and the people we’ve surrounded ourselves with over the years.”

Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman hold hands at their wedding.Rachel Leiner

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Between dancing, guests sipped on signature cocktails, enjoyed comfort food like fried chicken and mac n' cheese and partook in games of bowling.Artist Deanna Firstwas also doing custom fashion illustrations of attendees willing to pose.

Socks were waiting for those who needed a rest from their shoes, while a guest-book filled up throughout the night with Polaroid selfies and heartfelt notes. In lieu of a traditional cake, desserts were served including frozen treats fromBig Gay Ice Cream.

Jessica Phillips and Chelsea Nachman during the Hora.Rachel Leiner

Phillips and Nachman originally hoped the bash would double as a celebration for the country’s first woman president, and tell PEOPLE that “it was a tough decision to move forward with the party” after the election.

“What we know is that the only way forward in this moment is in community, so we wanted to lock arms, love each other and drink a lot of tequila,” they joke.

“The result was life-affirming; it turned out to be so important for us to gather together to celebrate love and celebrate joy,” the happy couple adds. “We partied as protest.”

Chelsea Nachman and Jessica Phillips cheer on a performer at their wedding celebration.Rachel Leiner

source: people.com