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The wedding of Anna Kennedy and Michael Safir

Tent at night with Kilkare House behind.
Anna Kennedy and Michael Safir of New York City were married Saturday, June 27th 2009 in a Catholic ceremony at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Bridgehampton, New York with the Deacon Carl Sanfilippo officiating. His Excellency Father Miguel d’ Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations participated in the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Eleanora and Michael Kennedy of New York, Wainscott, and West Palm Beach. Her father is a New York City trial lawyer and is currently Special Advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly. Her mother serves as Vice President of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy and a member of the Board of the Society of Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center.

The bridegroom is the son of Ann Safir of Dallas, Texas and of Diane and David Safir
of Williamsville, New York.

The bride attended Episcopal, The Chapin School, Riverdale Country School in New York City, and earned a Bachelors Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. She was presented at the Junior League Debutante Ball in New York in 2003.

In March 2006 Anna was recognized at the UN by Madre, in a photo exhibition dedicated to a group of young women human rights activists. In 2003 she was given the Zonta International Service Award for young women in public affairs. She received the President’s commendation for work done on death penalty issues in the spring 2003 from the New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Presently she is a Criminal Justice Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at the United Nations, New York City. Her most recent mission took her to Uganda with the artist Ross Bleckner, whom she assisted in teaching art to former child soldiers who are being rehabilitated.

The bridegroom graduated from Weston High School in Massachusetts. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with high distinction from Indiana University in Bloomington. In 2009 he received a Masters Degree in sports business from New York University. He is presently head of Salary and Arbitration Research at Peter Greenberg & Associates, a premier New York sports management firm.
Anna Kennedy and Michael Safir wedding collage.
The bride wore a dress by Carolina Herrera with a sweep train and a cathedral veil was bordered in embroidered flower buds. She carried pale blue hydrangeas. The bridesmaids wore J.Crew plum chiffon dresses. The mother of the bride wore a embroidered, metallic short sleeved dress also from Carolina Herrera.

The reception was held at the Kennedy home by the ocean in Wainscott. Cocktails were served on the terrace overlooking the beach followed by a tented dinner dance in the meadow. Olivier Cheng of New York City created a sumptuous dinner in a tent designed by Van Wyck and Van Wyck of New York City.

It was a quintessential American summer wedding at home in a white high peaked tent adorned with fabrics and flowers in multiple shades of blues and whites combined with both modern and classic details evocative of an elegant and hip outdoor celebration.
Pre-wedding scenes ...
White gauze panels trimmed with natural flax flanked each entry pole to reveal the black and white dance floor, paired with a sea of white paper lanterns floating above.

A combination of rectangular, round and square dinner tables were covered with linen tablecloths in sky and pool blue interspersed with natural flax. This was supported by a combination of hand-painted indigo blue striped canvas walls and printed pattern pillows piled on white canvas bed ottomans flanking the dance floor which set a breezy tone for the dinner dance.

Centerpiece arrangements were collections of assorted shades of blues and whites consisting of orchids, hydrangea, hybrid blue delphinium, bachelor buttons, larkspur, white antique garden roses, forget-me-knots, and sweet peas interspersed with herbs in assorted sized julep cups and silver revere bowls. Selected dinner tables were anchored with tall clear glass cylinders holding coco palm fronds which created a canopy over the guests’ heads. Hand-blown cylinders in indigo blue placed on the bars were mirrored by the lapis blue water goblets at each dinner place setting.
“We have brought multiple layers of contrasting design elements together to create an elegant and gracious wedding for a beautiful young couple,” according to Mimi van Wyck.

As the guests departed late night snacks of Egg McMuffin and Truffle Cheese Crème Brulee French toast sent the guests on their way.

The raspberry wedding cake with cream cheese frosting was prepared by Mary Spellman, who also prepared the same cakes for Anna’s 1st and 21st birthdays.
Guests included: Susan and Tim Malloy, Bobby Gianos and Amy Hoadley, Ginger and Matthew Dontzin, Joanie McDonell, Sandra Whitman, Eric Freeman, Burt Minkoff, Lisa Kennedy, Scott Kennedy (brother and sister of the bride), Susan Calhoun and Charlie Moss, Susan and Bob Cochran, Nessia Pope, Harry Hurt, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Barker, Candice Bergen and Marshall Rose, Priscilla Rattazzi and Chris Whittle, Jennifer Maguire, Chris Isham, Ross Bleckner, Bianca Jagger, Katherine Price Mondadori, Alexandra Penney and Dennis Ashbaugh, Joan and John Jakobson, Ed Victor and Carol Ryan, Robert Rionda, Barbara Dixon, Nick McDonell, Brooke and Daniel Neidich, Simone Monasebian, head of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in New York.

The couple will honeymoon in Puglia in Southeastern Italy and then return to their apartment and work in Manhattan.


Now onto the wedding! ...
Ring Bearers Matthew and Nicky Diloreto. Anna and Michael married!
Outside Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church: Filippo Mondadori, Susan Calhoun, and Katherine Mondadori; Nick McDonell.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church; Cocktails at Kilkare House; Anna and Michael on the beach.
Michael and Anna with bridesmaids on the beach.
The bridal party.
Eleanora Kennedy with groomsmen.
Kennedy and Safir families.
The bridal table. The wedding cake with bobble heads standing guard.
Clockwise from above: His Excellency Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, Janeth Guttierez, Susan Calhoun, Priscilla Whittle, and Candice Bergen; Dennis Ashbaugh and Barbara Dixon; Edna Thornton and Daniel Neidich.
Clockwise from top left: Robin Seegal, Sandra Whitman, and Fred Seegal; Richard and Greta Conway; Paige Peterson and Harry Hurt; Andrea Pemberton, Eden Hammond, and Olivia Magowan.
Lisa Kennedy. Susan and Tim Malloy with Katherine and Filippo Mondadori.
Susan Malloy and Amy Hoadley. Alexandra Penney and Anna Kennedy Safir.
Carol Ryan and Ed Victor. Michael Barker, Ross Bleckner, Jennifer Maguire, and Chris Whittle.
Candice Bergen and Marshall Rose. Robert and Suzanne Cochran.
Priscilla Whittle and Chris Isham. Brooke Neidich and Edna Thornton
Alex Powers with Scott and Catherine Kennedy. Bianca Jagger and Ross Bleckner.
Tent at night with luminaries.
Polly Onet of Ober, Onet Associates — who has planned some of the most memorable parties and weddings in New York and Palm Beach for more than a decade — working with some of her favorite vendors, created the magical wedding day/evening for the newlyweds.
Photographs by Eric Striffler and Christina Pan.

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