New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn has wed her long-time partner Kim Catullo in front of delighted friends and family.
Quinn and Catullo exchanged vows on Saturday night in a ceremony attended by many politicians who helped to introduce same sex marriage in the State.
Reports state that the 275 person guest list was a veritable who’s-who of New York politics.
It included Mayor Bloomberg and his girlfriend Diana Taylor; Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, Assemblyman Vito Lopez; Rep. Carolyn Maloney and openly-gay State Senator Tom Duane.
He joked to reporters outside that the music was "better at same-sex weddings."
Senator Schumer told reporters: “It is not a matter of if, but when same-sex marriage is legalized everywhere.”
The wedding, at the Highline Stages on West 15 Street, had a ‘Spring in New York’ theme with each table named for one of the couple’s favorite city neighborhoods.
Reports say the space was decorated with local wildflowers including some grown at the nearby Highline Park.
NBC New York reports that Quinn wore a full-length creme-colored gown designed by Carolina Herrera. Catullo wore a creme-colored silk suit designed for her by Ralph Lauren with make-up by Bobbi Brown.
The brides walked down the aisle separately with their fathers, Lawrence Quinn and Anthony Catullo. Quinn arrived to Beyonce’s ‘Ave Maria’ and Catullo to Bruce Springsteen’s ‘If I Fall Behind.'
Quinn received Catullo’s mother’s ring, reset with sapphires, the official stone of September.
A history of the couple’s 11 year relationship was shown during the reception.
Quinn ended up in tears when she spoke to the media after same-sex marriage was legalized in New York last June.
She said: “I was never sure this bill would pass. Even this morning as I stood in my apartment getting ready, I was so nervous, because I had begun to plan the wedding in my mind.
“And I thought, ‘What if it doesn’t happen again,’ the disappointment will be so tremendous.
“It’s hard to describe the feeling of having the law of your state changed to say what you know in your heart is true, that you are a full member of the state, and that your family is as good as any other family.”
Governor Cuomo worked hard to legalize same-sex marriage and engaged in contentious debates before signing the bill into law in June.
On Saturday, as he arrived for the wedding reception, Cumo was asked by NBC 4 New York if he felt responsible for the day.
“No,” he replied, after walking back out. “Only two people are responsible.”
Comments