They do: Giuliani marries long-time girlfriend

Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his long-time companion have tied the knot in a 15-minute ceremony before 400 guests gathered on the lawn outside Manhattan’s Gracie Mansion.

Giuliani, who rallied the city after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and Judith Nathan recited traditional wedding vows before current mayor Michael Bloomberg under an altar surrounded by yellow flowers and facing the East River, said Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel.

Ronan Tynan, the Irish tenor who sang at numerous memorial services following the World Trade Centre attacks, sang Ave Maria during the ceremony.

The bride wore a Vera Wang oyster-coloured silk gown with a halter neck and a foot-long train, with a 19th-century diamond-and-pearl tiara.

The 40-something nurse’s father, Donald Stish Sr, gave her away, while Nathan’s daughter, Whitney, was maid of honour. Giuliani’s 17-year-old son, Andrew, was best man.

After the ceremony, guests dined on rack of lamb, striped bass, and an eight-tiered yellow butter wedding cake filled with fresh raspberries.

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.

Their divorce became final last July, with Giuliani agreeing to pay Hanover more than $6.8m (€5.7m). Hanover, too, has since found love again. She reunited with her old high school sweetheart, and they became engaged in March.

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

Giuliani was picking up the cost of the wedding, including the security and rental of Gracie Mansion.