The Wedding Song...

From NY Newsday
12/12/01
Liz Smith

When I questioned the overkill notoriety of their selected bridal party - Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson standing up for the bride, Michael and Tito Jackson for the groom, Whitney Houston singing - no, NOT "Here Comes the Bride," but "The Greatest Love of All" - Liza and David shrugged. "They're our friends; so who else should we ask to be in our wedding?"

Gest: "We have had so many pals who want to sing for us at the party. Usher, who has a No. 1 record this week, Mya, Patti Austin, Petula Clark, Michael Feinstein, the original Doobie Brothers, who are reuniting with Michael McDonald, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Tony Bennett, Ben Vereen, Gloria Gaynor, Freda Payne, Edwin Starr, Al Green, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. of the Fifth Dimension, James Ingram and others." I asked Liza if she would sing? "Maybe at the end if I feel like it!"
       
Liza: "We are going to marry March 16 at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 51st and Fifth Avenue. Then we are inviting 1,200 people to a reception after. That will probably turn into an elegant jam session for about eight hours."

Gest: "This will be a once-in-a-lifetime party, I hope," he said. "Maybe it will help bring Wall Street back to life. My conductor, Don Parisi of Clear Channel, is bringing in 100 people from Madison Square Garden to help produce this, as a gift. I'd like to transport everyone from the church down in limousines, where a 60-piece orchestra will be playing. So many famous people we both know have asked if they can entertain to pay tribute to Liza and me."

NEWSFILE: 12 DECEMBER 2001