The Maine Republican and the Washington consultant wed in front of family and friends at Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou, where a former teacher of Collins’ played organ and her niece sang a solo.
It was a family affair with the senator escorted down the aisle by her father, her sisters serving matron of honor and bridesmaid, and her brother serving as a groomsman. Daffron’s best man was Steve Abbott, Collins’ former longtime chief of staff and now athletic director at the University of Maine. Also participating were Daffron’s daughter and his brother-in-law, as well as the bride’s four nieces.
“I have known Sen. Collins for many years,” Abbott said before the ceremony. “It’s rare that she takes time for herself, so it’s really nice to see her truly enjoying this moment. Both she and Tom are very happy, and they are incredibly appreciative of the kindness that so many Mainers have shown them.”
The couple became engaged in February after dating for about two years. They met years ago while both were aides to Republican Sen. Bill Cohen of Maine. The first public hint that they were a couple came when Collins and Daffron together purchased a $705,000 town house in Washington.
Daffron is a former chief of staff to Cohen and several other senators, and currently serves as chief operating officer of Jefferson Consulting Group.
The Maine Republican tried to keep her wedding date a secret, but the news media discovered her bridal registries at retailers.
Saturday’s ceremony was deliberately low-key.
Invited guests were friends and family in Maine, where Collins returns every weekend. She still plans to return home each weekend to her home in Bangor or her retreat on Cold Stream Pond, as she always has, her office has said.
This is the first marriage for the 59-year-old Collins, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, and the second for Daffron, 73, a native of New York.
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