Some couples are just so cool that they deserve two ceremonies.
Bryan and Nicole had a small and intimate ceremony in Brooklyn Heights and followed that up with a larger ceremony under a tree in Fort Tryon Park. The reception was held at The New Leaf Cafe and later in the evening we could hear the fireworks over the Hudson. It was one of those perfect summer evenings. Where else would you wanna spend it than with friends and family in the park, with food, wine, lots of love and a few fire flies?

Click HERE for a slide show from their wedding day and if you like Lee Hazlewood as much as I do.

Who says that only the bride can wear white?

Bryan and Nicole asked their friend to perform the ceremony and he did an amazing job in creating a highly personal, warm and often funny ceremony.

Sarah Ryhanen from Saipua in Red Hook did the floral arrangements. I am the first to admit that I don’t know a thing about flowers but her creations really caught my attention. She had free range to create what she wanted and the result was stunning.

Did you know that The New Leaf Cafe is run by Bette Midler? Well, at least it is operated by New York Restoration Project which Midler founded. I looked for her at the wedding but didn’t find her. I am sure that she would have been just as taken as I was by the great atmosphere.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit a part of the United States I had long wanted to see. The South.
A friend of mine worked on last year’s presidential campaign (for one of the two candidates) and was appointed to a rural county in the Florida panhandle. A small but diverse group of people, most of whom had never met before, came together to devote their time end energy for their candidate. After the election, this group remained friends and continued to meet for potlucks and discussions. They quickly found that as a group they can improve the community and started working with the local food banks.

After a while they decided to take on an epic project. To give the local middle school a serious face lift. This would require hundreds of volunteers, corporate sponsors and many many hours of hard work. How they managed or where they get their energy is beyond me but they pulled it off in just 8 days.