“The mayor and John popped the question,” said Jonathan Mintz, of a marriage proposal that is probably unique in that age-old and most doted on of queries. Mr. Mintz is New York’s commissioner of consumer affairs. His partner, John Feinblatt, is the chief policy adviser to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In a wonderfully sweet ’n’ sappy story, The New York Times’ Michael Barbaro reports that Bloomberg made the offer to Feinblatt to officiate at the couples’ wedding … should they be planning to marry. They were but had not heretofore been able to decide on where to do it. Though New York was “home,” gay marriage wasn’t legal there until recently. The couple consulted and accepted and “City Hall’s first gay wedding was on.”

Bloomberg was an advocate of legalizing gay marriage in NYC, but hadn’t officiated many weddings—just those of his own daughter and of former Mayor Rudolph Guiliani. Barbaro writes that Mintz, 47, and Feinblatt, 60, have been together for 14 years and fathered two daughters with the help of a surrogate. The wedding will take place on July 24 on the lawn of historic Gracie Mansion.