HughE Dillon: Flower Show Wedding Wednesday
The Philadelphia International Flower Show was happening last night. When I arrived around 5 p.m., the place was packed with the after-work crowd, and lots of mothers and daughters for Wedding Wednesday. I spotted Dr. Jill Biden and her daughter, Ashley, walking around checking out the wedding vendors, especially the head pieces at Unveiled Philadelphia. Ashley Biden got engaged to Philadelphia physician Dr. Howard Krein last September, so the wedding should be coming up soon. I was asked not to take any photos of them, and I complied. No one in the crowd realized they were there, and the Secret Service blended in mostly—except for those ear pieces that gave them away. Below: Reinhard model Rita Morkunaite (second from right) is getting married this year and is doing a little shopping with her friends, left to right, Katrina Vitenas, Ruta Samukenaite and Jurgita Valt.
The Cake Boss was in the house, filming last night. Mauro Castano is Buddy Valastro’s right-hand man and brother-in-law.
For only the second time, the Flower Show played host to a wedding. Below: Long-time exhibitor Bill Schaffer (right), a third-generation florist, and his co-designer Kris Kratt (left), were wed by municipal court judge Gerard A. Kosinski in front of friends and Flower Show guests last night around 7:30 p.m.
Below: Henri David and Paul Struck attended the wedding. The happy couple (Schaffer and Kratt) bought their wedding rings from David’s jewelery store, Halloween, on Pine Street, a Philly staple for unique jewelry.
Below: Ed Salvato, social media consultant at Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Maria Papadakis, and Bill Matter, of Ann’s Cake Pan in Horsham. If you look closely you might see that Maria is engaged. Lately she’s been on a tear looking for the perfect wedding dress. I know because I’ve been going with her snapping shots and giving my opinion. We did see some beautiful dresses at Bridals by Danielle on 13th Street last week and VanCleve Collection and Wedding Pavilion in Paoli, but nothing has popped out and said this is the one.
Below: Before heading to the wedding festivities, I stopped by to meet Michael P. Victorino, Shane Victorino’s dad, who was in the Show’s “Hawaii Village” greeting people. Mr. Victorino is not only a proud son, but a a Maui County councilman. He was here to support the Hawaiian businesses and services participating in the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show, whose theme is “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha.” He also spotlighted the important community work of the Shane Victorino Foundation. I showed him a tweet from Shane to me that said “say aloha to my dad for me.” Also saying aloha was Steven Bessellieu, executive committee chair, 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show, and Drew Becher, president, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
