New York mayoral frontrunner marries partner in lesbian wedding



New York City council speaker Christine Quinn has married her longtime partner Kim Catullo on Saturday in a private ceremony on a sunny, warm spring evening.

The city council's first openly gay speaker and Catullo were walked down the aisle by their fathers. Quinn wore a gown made by designer Carolina Herrera. Catullo, a lawyer, wore a cream silk suit designed by Ralph Lauren.

The theme of the wedding was 'Spring in New York,' and was inspired by the High Line city park, around the corner from the venue in Manhattan's Chelsea neighbourhood.

Wedding bliss: Christine Quinn (right), speaker of the New York City Council running to replace Mayor Mike Bloomberg married longtime partner Kim Catullo (left) in a private ceremony in Manhattan

Love: At the wedding, Ms Quinn (right) wore a gown made by designer Carolina Herrera and Ms Catullo (left) wore a cream silk suit designed by Ralph Lauren during their nuptials on Saturday

A variety of local flowers were used, including many wildflowers that grow at the park.

Photos of the couple showed the two hand-in-hand, smiling. Quinn wore a one-of-a-kind hair comb fashioned with family heirlooms.

Among the guests in attendance were Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer.

It was a private end to a public battle over the right for same-sex marriage. Quinn, along with many others, lobbied for the law that New York passed last summer.

Invites: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg showed support to his potential successor on his way inside the festivities with his girlfriend Diana Taylor

New York's finest: New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly shuffles through cars on his way to the nuptials of Ms Quinn and Ms Catullo themed as 'Spring in New York'

Big day: New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stops to talk with the media before she heads to the wedding

The wedding comes 10 days after President Barack Obama voiced his support for same-sex marriage.

After his announcement, Quinn said it made her feel that the president himself would be walking her down the aisle.

The speaker is a Democrat who is expected to run to replace Bloomberg next year and currently leads the pack of presumptive candidates in fundraising.



Both women lost their mothers to cancer when they were teenagers, and they have established a women's cancer research fund in their honor in advance of the ceremony.

Bloomberg, a billionaire who lobbied for the marriage legalisation alongside Quinn, has said he will make a donation.

High-profile: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shows off a smile to the media as he arrives for the joyful occasion