Christine Quinn, NYC Politician (& Favorite for Next Mayor) Weds Partner

On Saturday New York's Council Speaker Christine Quinn married her longtime partner Kim Catullo.

The New York Post reports that the couple tied the knot during a lavish event where Quinn, 45, wore a cream-colored gown designed by Carolina Herrera. Catullo, 45, a corporate lawyer, wore a silk suit created by iconic American designer Ralph Lauren.

The wedding took place nearly two weeks after President Obama declared his support for gay marriage and nearly a year after New York State legalized such marriages. The Post called the wedding New York's "highest-profile same-sex nuptials since the legalization.

The women walked down the isle with "tough-as nails, blue-collar" dads who are both World War II veterans, the article says. During Quinn's vows, the politician said that her life was in "black and white" before meeting Catullo. But now she says her life is in "Technicolor."

The wedding welcomed 275 guests, including Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, Sen. Charles Schumer, about 10 City Council members, New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly and U.S.Rep. Charlie Rangel. As the City Council speaker, she is second in the city's political structure only to the mayor.

"I just wish both women an enormous life of happiness together," Gillibrand said. "They're incredibly loving - they compliment each other."

Cuomo, who played a large role in legalizing gay marriage in the state, was asked if he felt responsible for Quinn and Catullo's wedding.

"No, only two people are responsible for this day," he said.

It's been widely reported that Quinn will run for mayor in 2013, when Bloomberg retires. Currently, she's considered the favorite in a Democratic primary. Last year, the New York Times fueled speculation that Bloomberg would endorse Quinn for mayor.

Quinn has close ties to the mayor, which has smoothed the wheels of the City Council, but some observers -- including LGBT ones -- believe that she is too cozy with the mayor and the city's powerful business interests.

"I think she personifies cronyism in the worst possible way," said activist Earl Plante. "She is not a progressive in any sense of the word. It says a lot that Bloomberg would support her and is anointing her as his heir apparent."

Plante went on to accuse her of "a long history of swooping in at the last minute and taking credit for things she had no hand in. She got a lot of credit for gay marriage, and was featured in lots of newspaper pictures, but behind the scenes, she was useless. She didn't use her political capital when it was needed, but she swooped in and took credit for it during Pride week."

In her last run for City Council, she faced a lesbian attorney in the Democratic primary. Nevertheless, Quinn maintains a widespread presence in New York's sprawling gay community. She began her career as the head of the city's Anti-Violence Project, which fights street violence against LGBT New Yorkers.

In the City Council, she represents a district with a large gay population, including Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen. She succeeded her friend and close political ally, Tom Duane. Duane is currently the only out-gay member of the State Senate and is the nation's first openly HIV-positive person elected to a prominent public office.