Wedding Bells for Shawn LaTourette and Michael Marielli
They swiped right and hit the jackpot.
After a five-year courtship that only strengthened during a global pandemic, Shawn LaTourette and Michael Marielli celebrated their love and commitment by tying the knot over Jersey Pride weekend.
Mr. LaTourette is NJ’s Environmental Commission and the first Gay man to serve in a cabinet-level position.
Mr. Marielli is an event planner who creates flawless and innovative memories for others. But on this joyous day, Michael and his new husband Shawn were the ones being fêted in front of friends and family, including their twin daughters.
The Grooms swapped rings in matching custom Navy blue tuxedos with black satin detailing topped off with feather bowties. Later, they swapped out their patent leather loafers to dance the night away in studded Louboutin sneakers for the lively reception that followed at the Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren, NJ.
NJ Governor Phil Murphy, Mr. LaTourette’s boss and a true friend to NJ’s LGBTQ community, was quick to send his best wishes.
“I extend the warmest of congratulations to Shawn LaTourette and Michael Marielli on their marriage,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I wish Shawn and Michael the best as they embark on a new chapter of their lives together.”
At the reception, guests enjoyed an impossibly chic menu including short ribs with white polenta, panko-crusted chicken with quinoa + baby carrots, and roasted cauliflower with baby kale + carrot purée.
A three-tiered wedding cake from Rudy’s Pastry Shop in Bloomfield appeared elegant and traditional from the outside. But removing that first slice revealed a multi-layer rainbow cake with cannoli filling inside.
“Because I’m colorful and he’s Italian,” Mr. LaTourette quipped.
Gay weddings are a lot like straight ones but with better flowers. There’s cake, a honeymoon, a champagne toast, and plenty of happy tears. But on this occasion we celebrate two men, Michael and Shawn, whose path down the aisle wasn’t even possible until 2015 when marriage equality finally arrived here in the Garden State.
Never forget, LGBTQ people had to work really hard for a very long time just for the right just to be here.
That’s what makes Gay weddings, especially this one, different and special.
This love and happiness is what makes the work so many of us did to win marriage equality in New Jersey… so damn worth it.
Jay – You forgot to mention that DEP Commissioner LaTourette previously served as a corporate lawyer who representing major corporate polluters.
He has huge conflicts on interest in his DEP role.
How is Latourette and different than Gov. Christie’s DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, who spent his career as a corporate consultant?
This is an abuse of identity politics, a phenomenon best described by Prof. Nancy Fraser in her essays on “Progressive Neoliberalism”. Basically, that works illustrates how Democrats use identity polecats to mask a pro-corporate Neoliberal economic agenda.
Progressive need to call this crap out, not reinforce it.
You know me, and you know that I am not a right wing homophobic bigot.