MARRIAGE HAUS

PHOTOS: Happily Divorced Star Fran Drescher Officiates Gay Weddings at NYC’s XL

Fran Drescher, star of TV Land’s Happily Divorced, showed her support for New York’s LGBT community last night, when she officiated the 100% kosher wedding of gay couple Tom and Russell, at The OUT NYC‘s XL nightclub.

On her show (based on her real life), Drescher plays a woman who divorces—but continues to live with—her husband after he comes out of the closet. The men at the altar last night, though, had a much healthier relationship: Tom and Russell met 20 years ago at a restaurant that Tom was managing. Today they share their Manhattan home with their two children.

Fran’s involvement in the ceremony was especially meaningful: Russell, much like Drescher, is a cancer survivor and during his  recovery he watched The Nanny to brighten his days. Fran was blown away by their story and chose them  as the winners of her “Love is Love” same-sex marriage contest.

Though the ceremony was fun and lighthearted—it was in a gay nightclub, after all—it was a truly beautiful affair, with many in attendance getting choked up. Fran married Tom and Russell under a chuppah (the traditional wedding canopy), with the guys’ kids serving as flower girl and ring bearer.  (Everyone had a good laugh when the ring slipped from their hands and rolled around the stage.)

When Tom and Russell  broke the glass and kissed, the crowd went wild—and after Fran pronounced the men “husband and husband,” the party erupted into a wild hora dance.

There was even some party favors: Guests enjoyed a slice of wedding cake courtesy of bakery diva Sylvia Weinstock and a copy of the first season of Happily Divorced (oh irony of ironies).

Mazel tov to Tom and Russell—and we hope you enjoyed your wedding night. (Twenty years is a long time to wait!)

 

Click through for photos of Fran Drescher, the happy couple and guests at Tom and Russell’s wedding

 Season 2 of Happily Divorced premieres March 7th at 10:30PM EST/9:30CST. Photos via JJ Keyes


 

 

 

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