After a 10 month engagement, Katie Couric wed John Molner at her home in the Hamptons on Saturday, June 21. This is the second marriage for Couric, whose first husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998. The bride walked down the aisle wearing an ivory, crystal beaded and embroidered Chantilly lace halter gown with a high neckline, designed by Carmen Marc Valvo.
The couple’s friend, John Ellis, officiated the intimate ceremony, which was attended by close friends and family. The list included Couric’s daughters Ellie Monahan, 22, and Carrie Monahan, 18; Molner’s children, Allie and Henry Molner, The groom’s nieces and nephews served as ring bearers and flower girls, the rep said.
The guests enjoyed a strawberry lemon cake, made with lemon thyme and garden strawberry sorbet, provided by the catering company, Topping Rose House of Bridgehampton, New York.
Florist Elisa Held Events provided gorgeous garden arrangements complimenting Katie’s own. Peonies, garden roses, dahlias, lissianthus, spray roses, hydrangeas, mini calla, ranunculus, and vendela roses were displayed in centerpieces set in sleek, mirrored containers, the rep said. Hank Lane provided the music.
Meet the Molners!
Couric, 57, had been updating her fans about her big day preparations via her Instagram for weeks. "The garden is ready for the big day one week from today!" she wrote in a photo caption June 14. "Gulp!"
The former Today co-host had been looking forward to this moment for quite some time. Couric and Molner, who is head of mergers and acquisitions at Brown Brothers Harriman, first went public with their romance in April 2012.
"It’s actually surprising to me that it has been almost 15 years and I haven’t remarried," the widow said in the February 2013 issue of More. "I think life is more fun when you have someone in your life." Seven months after that interview, the financier proposed on the beach at sunset.
Couric gushed about her future hubby on her now-canceled eponymous talk show. "The quality I look for in a person is integrity and someone who’s honorable and loyal and has just really terrific core values, and I think he has all those things," she said. "He’s really funny. He makes me laugh all the time, and I really think that the best way to get through all of life’s challenges is to have a sense of humor."
During a May 2014 appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, Couric joked about getting married during the summer solstice. "I don’t know whether that’s the good thing or bad thing," she said with a laugh.
Molner was heavily involved in the planning. "I call him groomzilla," Couric joked. "I’m so busy and he’s great. He’s a finance guy and he is methodical and get things done. I said, ‘Do it! Do your thing!’ And I have been involved… I met with the people for the music and picked some songs I want, strings playing guitar, violin, cello. I was involved with the invitations and all of that. I have been doing something."
The two also plan to "have a big blowout party" this fall. "That’s where we’ll be dancing," she said. Couric, who serves as Global Anchor for Yahoo News, said she and Molner will honeymoon in December. The newlyweds have plenty of time to pick a destination, but New Zealand is the early front-runner. "I’ve never been there and always been on my bucket list. We’ll take a trip," Couric, who is a mom of two, said. "I’m excited to get married and take a few days at the beach and relax and completely zone out."