City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wed her longtime partner, Kim Catullo, Saturday evening in a ceremony surrounded by family, friends and politicians.
The 275-person guest list was a who's-who in politics, including Mayor Bloomberg and his girlfriend Diana Taylor; Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer; Assemblyman Vito Lopez; Rep. Carolyn Maloney; and openly gay state Sen. Tom Duane, who joked outside that the music was better at same-sex weddings.
Schumer told reporters it was "not a matter of if, but when" same-sex marriage was legalized everywhere.
The wedding, held at the lofty 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.
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The space was decorated with local wildflowers, including some grown at the nearby Highline Park.
Quinn wore a full-length creme-colored gown designed by Carolina Herrera, and Catullo wore a creme-colored silk suit designed for her by Ralph Lauren. Their makeup was done by Bobbi Brown.
The brides were walked down the aisles separately by their fathers, Lawrence Quinn and Anthony Catullo. Quinn walked down to Beyonce's "Ave Maria," and Catullo walked down to Bruce Springsteen's "If I Fall Behind."
The couple met 11 years ago this September, and their history was detailed in a video shown during the reception. Quinn was given Catullo's mother's ring, which was reset with sapphires, the official stone of September.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in New York last June, and at the time, Quinn tearfully explained how the new law would change things for her and Catullo.
"I was never sure this bill would pass," she said then. "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," she said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo worked hard to legalize same-sex marriage, engaging in often contentious debates before signing the bill into law in June.
On Saturday, as he slowly walked past reporters to watch Quinn and Catullo wed, NBC 4 New York asked him if he felt responsible for the day.
"No," he replied, after walking back out. "Only two people are responsible."
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