New York, May 26: Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his longtime companion tied the knot Saturday night in a 15-minute ceremony before 400 guests gathered on the lawn outside Gracie Mansion. Giuliani and Judith Nathan recited traditional wedding vows before Mayor Michael Bloomberg under an altar surrounded by yellow flowers and facing the east river, said Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel. The bride wore a Vera Wang oyster-colored silk gown with a halter neck and a foot-long train, with a 19th-century diamond-and-pearl tiara on her head, Mindel said. The 40-something nurse's father, Donald Stish Sr, gave her away, while Nathan's daughter, Whitney, was maid of honor. Giuliani's 17-year-old son, Andrew, was best man.

Asked whether he was nervous before the ceremony, Giuliani replied, "no, not at all. I've performed 200 of these as Mayor."


He arrived at his former home with son Andrew and daughter, 13-year-old Caroline, saying "I feel absolutely wonderful. I feel terrific." Giuliani started seeing Nathan more than three years ago while still married to Donna Hanover, who drove him out of Gracie Mansion after their 20-year marriage fell apart. He had spent the previous seven years living there while running the city.

Among the guests at the wedding were New York Yankees great Yogi Berra, Governor George Pataki, Donald Trump, opera star Beverly Sills, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and television personality Barbara Walters.


Bureau Report