Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin were special guests on The Colbert Report last Thursday, as the show threw what it humbly dubbed the "Wedding of the Century." Host Stephen Colbert officiated an on-air wedding ceremony for a couple whose wedding plans were thwarted by the US government shutdown. To help celebrate newlyweds Mike Cassesso and MaiLien Le, Patinkin offered a non-denominational Jewish blessing and McDonald sang a ballad version of Billy Idol's "White Wedding" for the couple's first dance. You can watch the segment below.

McDonald and Patinkin had each joined Colbert on the show last December to perform holiday favorites: "Baby It's Cold Outside" for McDonald and Colbert; "Good King Wenceslas" for Patinkin, with Colbert and REM's Michael Stipe.

Audra McDonald, who is currently touring the country performing songs from her latest album, Go Back Home, released earlier this year on Nonesuch Records, was due to give a free concert at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, this Thursday. Unfortunately, the concert was canceled due to the government shutdown (as had that of label mate Randy Newman's this past weekend), and will hopefully be rescheduled for a later date. The tour continues with a performance at the Symphony Center in Chicago this Saturday. For tour details and tickets, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

Mandy Patinkin, now starring in the third season of the hit Showtime drama Homeland, was in Chicago, his hometown, this past weekend. He joined his frequent duet partner Patti Lupone for a special performance at Northwestern University to benefit the Over the Rainbow Association and its efforts to support housing for the physically disabled.

Watch The Colbert Report's "Wedding of the Century" here: