PHOTOS: Mayor Bloomberg Marries Two Gay Staffers

2011-07-25T15:39:00Z

Around 150 guests gathered behind Gracie Mansion last night to watch Mayor Mike Bloomberg officiate at the marriage of two city officials on Sunday, the first day of same-sex marriages in New York.

The couple, John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz, were not the first pair of gay New Yorkers to wed in Manhattan; that honor went to Phyllis Siegel, 77, and Connie Kopelov, 85, who married at a city clerk's office earlier that day.

They were, however, the most high-profile. Mintz, 47, is the city's commissioner of consumer affairs, and Feinblatt, 60, is Bloomberg's chief policy adviser.

"Usually when the three of us get together, we discuss gun control and consumer fraud," Mayor Bloomberg said during the 15-minute ceremony. "I can't tell you how nice this is for a change."

Mintz and Feinblatt were flanked by their daughters, Maeve, 8, and Georgia, 6. Acclaimed actor Joel Grey sang the couple a song from Cabaret.

At the end of the ceremony, the pair took part in a traditional Jewish rite; the breaking of a glass. But in a new twist, not one, but two, glasses were smashed.

A record 659 marriage licenses were handed out in New York City Sunday, as clerks' offices remained open to cater to same-sex couples. All told, 484 marriages were performed by officials around the city, including 293 in Manhattan.

The New York State senate voted to legalize gay marriage June 24, and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law later that night.

The ceremony took place in the backyard of Gracie Mansion, overlooking the East River

Guests mingled in white tents before the 15-minute ceremony

And a quartet played "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and other love songs

There were nearly as many members of the press as there were guests

Friends and family of the couple, John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz, gathered for the ceremony

There's Mayor Bloomberg. He has performed only two other weddings since taking office; his daughter's and former Mayor Giuliani's

The couple's daughters, Maeve, 8, and Georgia, 6, made adorable flower girls

And stood by their fathers throughout the ceremony

Feinblatt, right, and Mintz, left, have been together 14 years

"Today, history takes a step forward by allowing every person to participate," Mayor Bloomberg said

Joel Grey serenaded the couple with a love song from Cabaret

And finally, it was time to exchange rings

The couple smashed not one, but two glasses in a twist on the traditional Jewish ritual

And guests tossed confetti

Mintz and Feinblatt were at their desks Monday morning; the Mayor said they couldn't take off due to the looming budget crisis

At the reception, guests feasted at food stations with New York themes like Montauk seafood and Central Park picnic

In typical New York City fashion, a food truck stopped by

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn confided she was somewhat behind in planning her own wedding, scheduled for next spring

Mintz and Feinblatt were only one of 484 couples to marry Sunday in New York City, where clerks' offices remained open

Ray Durand, left, and his partner Dale Shields kissed at the City Clerk's office

Here, Jeanette Coleman applies lipstick as her partner Kawane Harris looks on while filing paperwork at the City Clerk's Office

Douglas Robinson, right, and Michael Elsasser exchanged wedding rings at a clerk's office Sunday

At Niagara Falls, which was lit in rainbow colors, Kitty Lambert, left, and Cheryle Rudd, right, hugged while posing for a newspaper photographer

Planning your own affair?

PHOTOS: Mayor Bloomberg Marries Two Gay Staffers

The ceremony took place in the backyard of Gracie Mansion, overlooking the East River

Guests mingled in white tents before the 15-minute ceremony

And a quartet played "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and other love songs

There were nearly as many members of the press as there were guests

Friends and family of the couple, John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz, gathered for the ceremony

There's Mayor Bloomberg. He has performed only two other weddings since taking office; his daughter's and former Mayor Giuliani's

The couple's daughters, Maeve, 8, and Georgia, 6, made adorable flower girls

And stood by their fathers throughout the ceremony

Feinblatt, right, and Mintz, left, have been together 14 years

"Today, history takes a step forward by allowing every person to participate," Mayor Bloomberg said

Joel Grey serenaded the couple with a love song from Cabaret

And finally, it was time to exchange rings

The couple smashed not one, but two glasses in a twist on the traditional Jewish ritual

And guests tossed confetti

Mintz and Feinblatt were at their desks Monday morning; the Mayor said they couldn't take off due to the looming budget crisis

At the reception, guests feasted at food stations with New York themes like Montauk seafood and Central Park picnic

In typical New York City fashion, a food truck stopped by

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn confided she was somewhat behind in planning her own wedding, scheduled for next spring

Mintz and Feinblatt were only one of 484 couples to marry Sunday in New York City, where clerks' offices remained open

Ray Durand, left, and his partner Dale Shields kissed at the City Clerk's office

Here, Jeanette Coleman applies lipstick as her partner Kawane Harris looks on while filing paperwork at the City Clerk's Office

Douglas Robinson, right, and Michael Elsasser exchanged wedding rings at a clerk's office Sunday

At Niagara Falls, which was lit in rainbow colors, Kitty Lambert, left, and Cheryle Rudd, right, hugged while posing for a newspaper photographer

Planning your own affair?

Here are some of the best gay wedding venues New York City >

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PHOTOS: Mayor Bloomberg Marries Two Gay Staffers

The ceremony took place in the backyard of Gracie Mansion, overlooking the East River

Guests mingled in white tents before the 15-minute ceremony

And a quartet played "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and other love songs

There were nearly as many members of the press as there were guests

Friends and family of the couple, John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz, gathered for the ceremony

There's Mayor Bloomberg. He has performed only two other weddings since taking office; his daughter's and former Mayor Giuliani's

The couple's daughters, Maeve, 8, and Georgia, 6, made adorable flower girls

And stood by their fathers throughout the ceremony

Feinblatt, right, and Mintz, left, have been together 14 years

"Today, history takes a step forward by allowing every person to participate," Mayor Bloomberg said

Joel Grey serenaded the couple with a love song from Cabaret

And finally, it was time to exchange rings

The couple smashed not one, but two glasses in a twist on the traditional Jewish ritual

And guests tossed confetti

Mintz and Feinblatt were at their desks Monday morning; the Mayor said they couldn't take off due to the looming budget crisis

At the reception, guests feasted at food stations with New York themes like Montauk seafood and Central Park picnic

In typical New York City fashion, a food truck stopped by

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn confided she was somewhat behind in planning her own wedding, scheduled for next spring

Mintz and Feinblatt were only one of 484 couples to marry Sunday in New York City, where clerks' offices remained open

Ray Durand, left, and his partner Dale Shields kissed at the City Clerk's office

Here, Jeanette Coleman applies lipstick as her partner Kawane Harris looks on while filing paperwork at the City Clerk's Office

Douglas Robinson, right, and Michael Elsasser exchanged wedding rings at a clerk's office Sunday

At Niagara Falls, which was lit in rainbow colors, Kitty Lambert, left, and Cheryle Rudd, right, hugged while posing for a newspaper photographer

Planning your own affair?

Here are some of the best gay wedding venues New York City >

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