Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick tied the knot Saturday in a lavish New York City wedding that blended family traditions, political star power and a nod to the couple’s shared roots.
Heinrich, 37, and Fitzpatrick, 52, exchanged vows during a full Catholic Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral before celebrating with more than 300 guests aboard a yacht cruising New York Harbor.
The ceremony, officiated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, reflected the couple’s desire to honor the families and traditions that shaped them.
“More than anything, we wanted the day to reflect the people and traditions that have shaped our lives,” the newlyweds told People.
New York held special significance for the pair.
The city was Heinrich’s first assignment as a network news reporter and Fitzpatrick’s first posting as an FBI agent. Both also trace family histories back to immigrant ancestors who arrived in New York generations ago.
Fitzpatrick’s parents are New Yorkers whose own parents emigrated from Ireland through Ellis Island, while Heinrich’s great-grandparents settled in the city after arriving from Hungary.
Their reception was held aboard the Horizon’s “Edge Yacht,” a tribute to Heinrich’s parents, who were married aboard Boston’s “Spirit of Boston” cruise ship.
They also selected an Irish tune written by Fitzpatrick’s great-uncle as their cake-cutting song.
His great-uncle, an NYPD officer, was killed in the line of duty.
The wedding drew a guest list of 302 family members, friends and political figures.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former Sen. Joe Manchin delivered toasts during the reception as guests dined on a choice of Atlantic salmon, French-cut chicken breast or black angus short ribs.
A 10-piece brass band provided the soundtrack for a nighttime cruise past the Statue of Liberty.
Heinrich wore a custom-designed Galia Lahav gown that transformed throughout the celebration.
The dress featured a corseted mermaid silhouette, lace high-neck bolero, detachable overskirt and cathedral-length veil for the ceremony.
For the reception, Heinrich removed the overskirt and veil, creating a slimmer profile.
When the dancing began, the bolero and sleeves came off, revealing a strapless sweetheart gown.
The bride walked down the aisle to Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary in D Major” before exchanging traditional vows.
The reception embraced what the couple described as a “Sinatra-era Americana, old-New York” atmosphere.
Their first dance was to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Later, they cut into a three-tiered red velvet cake decorated with buttercream ruffles and rosettes.
The wedding marked the latest chapter in a relationship that began on Capitol Hill.
The couple first met while Heinrich was covering Congress and Fitzpatrick was serving in the House of Representatives.
After Heinrich moved to the White House beat, Fitzpatrick invited her to attend the Kennedy Center Honors with him.
“Brian affirmed he was, in fact, asking me on a date — and was patient while I got permission from my bosses,” Heinrich recalled.
“He then waged a charm campaign to win me over with a series of progressively more thoughtful dates. It worked.”
Heinrich added: “He still denies being first to fall in love.”
The pair announced their engagement last year after Fitzpatrick proposed during a trip to Provence, France.
Now married, they say their shared commitment to demanding careers has helped strengthen their relationship.
“We both work in fields that can be all-consuming, and it takes a certain kind of person to understand that level of commitment,” they said.
“One of the things we admire most in each other is our dedication to our work and our sense of purpose.”
The newlyweds said they are looking forward to starting a family together while navigating the practical realities of married life.
Among the first items on the agenda: combining households located in different states.
The couple is also planning a honeymoon for the summer of 2027 and hopes to complete an earlier trip to the South of France that was cut short by congressional business.
