Alexandra and Giora met for the first time at the Ritz-Carlton on Key Biscayne. He was playing a tribute concert to his mentor, the great violinist Itzhak Perlman. She was in the audience that night and summoned the nerve to ask him out.
Lucky him.
Dark-haired and fair-skinned, with the look and grace of a movie star from a bygone era, Alex would have been difficult to resist. A classic beauty for a classical musician.
When Giora proposed, the obvious choice for a wedding was the site of their first meeting. And because Alex’s step dad owns the Ritz, securing their date was a cinch!
I was impressed by the poise and good humor of these two.
When a glich in preparations threatened to make her late for the ceremony, Alex remained perfectly composed while other brides might have gone berserk.
When Giora beheld the giant, reconstructed Aspen that was the centerpiece of their reception, he introduced it in his speech as “the tree from Avatar.”
Regrettably, Giora did not perform on violin – an instrument with which he holds otherworldly talent. Here’s his performance with the Israel Philharmonic at the ripe old age of 21 (pay special attention to his fingers around the three-minute mark). That’s Izhak Perlman conducting.
Thanks to Alex and Giora for trusting me with your wedding and flying me to Miami, to Susan Kleinberg for her deft coordination, to Donnie and Judy Lefton for their generous hospitality and to Max Whittaker for the additional firepower.