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Quinn, a leading mayoral candidate for 2013, and Catullo, an attorney, married in an evening ceremony at the Highline Stages in Chelsea attended by family members, friends and the city and state’s political elite. The roster of elected officials among the nearly 300 invited guests included Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Nydia Velazquez, Joseph Crowley, and Charles Rangel, State Senator Tom Duane, Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, and a dozen City Council members. Other political figures in attendance according to various reports included Sally Susman, Quinn’s finance chairwoman and a major Obama campaign bundler, labor leader Randi Weingarten and the lobbyist Emily Giske, who introduced Quinn to Catullo in 2001.
The evening ceremony was closed to the press, but journalists outside the venue offered Twitter updates about the comings and goings. Gay City News reports that shortly after 7 p.m., a spokesman emerged to announce that Quinn and Catullo, who are both 45, were officially married. Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who wrote the dissent in a 2006 court ruling that found same-sex couples had no right to marry in New York, officiated. Audra McDonald sang “She Loves” by George and Ira Gershwin before heading uptown to Broadway, where she is appearing in Porgy and Bess.
Gay City News offers more details about what the brides wore and their walk down the aisle.
“Quinn, dressed in a full-length, cream gown designed by Carolina Herrera, was walked down the aisle by her father, Lawrence. Catullo, wearing a cream silk evening suit from Ralph Lauren, was accompanied by her father, Anthony. The couple exchanged rings designed by Doyle & Doyle.
“A mix of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘What a Wonderful World’ was played as the bridal party entered the ceremony. Catullo walked down the aisle to the strains of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘If I Should Fall Behind,’ while Quinn made a more traditional choice with Beyonce’s rendition of ‘Ave Maria.’”
Quinn, who hails from Long Island, and Catullo, who was born and raised in New Jersey, met a decade ago three days after 9/11. During her lobbying to pass the marriage equality bill in the state legislature, Quinn publicly said that the women wanted their elderly fathers to be able to dance at their wedding.
The New York Times provides some details on the music and food, including a surprise appearance by the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck at the end of the night, courtesy of the Speaker.
“After the ceremony, guests dined on a buffet dinner of spring pea risotto, roast chicken and grilled swordfish. Everyone, including both New York senators — though not the mayor and the governor, who had left — joined the first dance, to Neil Diamond’s ‘I’m a Believer.’
“In addition to the cake, which was five tiers of chocolate chip and chocolate custard layers, covered in white chocolate butter cream icing, guests were also treated to a surprise: The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, which offers flavors including ‘Bea Arthur,’ drove up to the sidewalk outside to offer the crowd ice cream cones and milk shakes.”
Photo - Quinn (in gown) and Catullo exchange rings before Judge Kaye. Photo by William Alatriste.
