Nobody seemed to enjoy their wedding more than the newlyweds, Ms. Diamandis, who will be keeping her maiden name as a nod to her mother and her heritage, and Mr. Blakeman. The wedding had very few contrived theatrics. There were no videos that touted “The Story of Us” or choreographed social media moments. But there was a tearjerker of a toast from Baron Plumley, a beautiful Greek song and traditional dance from the Diamandis uncles, who traveled from Athens and Patmos for the occasion, and the most wonderful lemon wedding cake from Room for Cake set among a meadow of florals. The couple chose the Kacey Musgraves song “Butterflies” as their first dance. The families of the couple joined them on the dance floor as the song faded into “Empire State of Mind” with Mayor Lynch escorting Ms. Diamandis.

Even when the rain came down and then the tent came down, the Bride and Groom stayed up. Guests packed the reception rooms at La Mariposa, dozens of towels appeared, hot beverages were served, a supply of pashminas materialized to warm chilled guests. The dancing continued far beyond the acceptable quiet hour in that neighborhood. As Toots Bixby, owner of La Mariposa, said, “I’m happy to pay the fine for such a glorious event.”

So when you search for the video online and gasp at the volume of water drenching the wedding party, know that all was okay. In fact, better than okay. It was a triumph.

Acknowledgments

There was a three-month period during the pandemic when it looked like the worst was over and life could get back to normal. (Spoiler! It wasn’t and it didn’t!) But during that Summer of Love, it seemed like everyone on my social media feeds got married, hosted a wedding, or went to a celebration. The joy! It was contagious. I couldn’t get enough of the wedding industrial complex! Big weddings! Micro weddings! Weddings on land, on sea, and on mountaintop. Weddings of exquisite taste and/or extravagant budgets and weddings cobbled together with duct tape and fairy dust. I soaked up every photo of beautiful brides, handsome grooms, elegant MOBs and MOGs, first dances, glorious bouquets and floral arches, bridesmaids in matching dresses (or not) and groomsmen in linen blazers. And so many dogs as ring bearers. Thank you all for still believing in wedded bliss. You were the inspiration for Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding. From your Instagram pages to my book proposal. A toast to you!