US President Barack Obama served as a groomsman in the Florida wedding of his longtime staffer and most frequent golf partner, just hours after his star-studded farewell bash came to an end over the weekend
Obama arrived at the Jacksonville International Airport on Saturday just in time to see Marvin Nicholson, the White House trip director and the president’s personal aide, marry the love of his life.
Nicholson and Helen Pajcic tied the knot at a private evening ceremony in Jacksonville at the One Ocean Resort and Spa.
Photographs from the nuptials show a smiling Obama posing next to the blushing bride and a smiling Nicholson.
Another picture shows Obama standing in the line of groomsmen during the wedding that also saw Secretary of State John Kerry as the officiant.
For the special occasion, Obama sported a black tuxedo and was the only one to wear a long black tie. The other groomsmen, Kerry and even the groom all wore black bow ties.
Nicholson and Pajcic both worked on Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Pajcic is the daughter of a longtime Obama fundraiser and – according to her LinkedIn profile – a special assistant at the Education Department.
Obama has played 333 rounds of golf since taking office and Nicholson has joined in for 192 of them, making him the president’s most frequent golf buddy.
That’s according to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller, who is widely respected for his presidential record-keeping.
Obama’s one-day trip ended with him heading back to Washington, DC, on Air Force One.
His motorcade was caught on video going to and leaving the wedding reception at a private home in Avondale.
The president, who went to Jacksonville without first lady Michelle Obama as his date, made it just in time for the wedding that started at 6pm, before leaving soon after it was over.
It’s still unclear if the president will return to Florida to meet with the families of the slain victims in the Ft Lauderdale shooting.
Obama, who was accompanied by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, arrived to the wedding, just hours after his star-studded farewell party.
Before working for Obama, Nicholson served as Kerry’s personal aide during Kerry’s 2004 run as the Democratic presidential nominee.
On Friday night, dozens of celebrities turned out to boogie down until 4am at the White House in a farewell bash that saw the likes of Paul McCartney, Meryl Streep and Sarah Jessica Parker groove together on the dance floor.
The strictly VIP guest list were banned from recording inside the party where Barack and Michelle served chicken and waffles to weary partygoers in the early hours of Saturday morning.
But that didn’t stop A-list attendees from spilling the beans and their selfies to social media revealing how many of the Hollywood elite turned out to say goodbye to the beloved first family.
Source Mail Online