Gretchen Ertl for The New York TimesRepresentative Barney Frank, left, with his husband, Jim Ready, during their wedding reception in Newton, Mass.NEWTON, Mass. — Senator John Kerry and Gov. Deval L. Patrick left early. But Representative Nancy Pelosi stayed late — and swayed on the dance floor to “It’s Raining Men.”
Elizabeth Kucinich snapped photographs, as her husband, Dennis, chatted up Representative Steny H. Hoyer by the hors d’oeuvres. And Terrence McNally, the playwright, joined in the hora and a group singalong of “Low Rider” by War, with President Obama-themed lyrics written for the occasion.
There was no shortage of boldface public servants here on Saturday, when Representative Barney Frank was married in what one guest described as “the wedding of the century for liberal gay Democratic politics.” And the reception, with music, vegan dishes and general sentimental gushing, offered its own display of the liberal Democrat establishment celebrating the first-ever same-sex wedding of a congressman.
Eschewing more glamorous locales, Mr. Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, and his husband, Jim Ready, chose a nondescript Marriott in his Congressional district to host the occasion. The hotel overlooks a bend of the Charles River — and a busy, honking intersection of two major highways. (Mr. Frank said he liked the convenience for out-of-town guests.)
The ceremony, which began at 6 p.m., took place in a garden outside the hotel’s first floor. Mr. Kerry sat by Ms. Pelosi, the House minority leader, in the first few rows.
Gretchen Ertl for The New York TimesRepresentative Nancy Pelosi congratulated Mr. Frank.Mr. Frank, famous for his tirades, appeared close to tears as his sister, Ann Lewis, walked him down the aisle. He was trailed by a few hired photographers and by Ms. Kucinich, who leapt with joy as the bridegrooms appeared and snapped dozens of photos for an album that she planned to present as a gift to the couple.
“You could see the joy on their faces,” Ms. Kucinich said. She and Mr. Ready had become close friends at Congressional retreats and picnics. “He’s humble, and at the same time, he carries a sense of joy about himself,” she said.
Later, at an outdoor cocktail reception after the ceremony, Ms. Kucinich ran up to a reporter and gestured toward a nearby meadow.
“Did you see all the rabbits?” Ms. Kucinich asked. “It’s a sign of fertility for their marriage.”
Senator Kerry and Governor Patrick, who officiated, were nowhere to be found by the time the party moved indoors, to the Marriott’s grand ballroom. There, guests dined on a four-course meal that included New England clam chowder, vegan soba noodles and a vegetable strudel.
Ms. Pelosi, in pearls and a pantsuit, sat next to Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut. The groomsmen wore brand-new Joseph Abboud suits, gifts from the couple from the Massachusetts-based manufacturer. (The wool, however, was by Loro Piana, a premium Italian mill.) The dark floral ties were designed by Baruch Shemtov, a close friend of the couple.
After cake, a lyrics sheet was passed out to the guests. It was a reworked version of the 1970s hit “Low Rider,” with politically themed lyrics co-written by Mr. Ready. Excerpts:
“All. My. Friends. Are voting O-ba-ma. … Take a little trip. Take a little trip. To help the e-con-o-mee. / Take a little trip. Take a little trip. To help beat the G-O-P.”
The gift bags included salt-water taffy from Maine, where Mr. Ready lives, and Necco wafers from Mr. Frank’s Bay State district.
Representative Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat, said he and Mr. Frank had been elected to Congress within a year of each other. Asked if he thought Mr. Frank would be the last member of his Congressional class to get married, Mr. Hoyer laughed.
“If I had been betting, I’d have bet yes,” he said.
