If you'd like to congratulate Gelf writer and editor David Goldenberg on his wedding Sunday to Sara Thierman, you'll have to get in line behind the roving pack of reporters and the many Goldenberg-Thierman fans. Well, not really. But the happy couple did get their Warholian 15 minutes—the time it would take to read the Chronicle article that started it all, listen to the radio-news clips, and watch the video of two local TV stations (NBC and ABC affiliates) that covered the notorious nuptials. Surprisingly, all the hoopla wasn't due to Sara's medical mastery nor David's Gelf affiliation; instead, the wedding provided some much-needed color for reporters trying to put a human face (or two) on the terrible toll of Bay Bridge construction.

About a month ago came word that the artery connecting San Francisco with the East Bay would be closed in the eastbound direction over Labor Day weekend. Between the two bridge endpoints lies Treasure Island, the picturesque planned setting for this wedding of more than 200 guests. After a good deal of hassle, David (who would be writing this post if he weren't now on his honeymoon) and Sara organized charter buses and got the necessary clearances. The wedding would go forward.

This all entailed great personal anguish, expense, and perseverance, of course. A story on par in importance with Iran nuclear wrangling or Oakland baseball? Perhaps. But without question, the story—and the telegenic couple—made for a good story within the greater story about the bridge work, a source of endless fascination in car-mad California. The Chronicle got the ball rolling by beginning its report like this:

Caltrans officials say they chose Labor Day weekend to close the lower deck of the Bay Bridge for construction because of the dearth of big events that tend to draw drivers into or out of San Francisco. But they didn't consider the Sara Thierman-David Goldenberg wedding on Treasure Island.

By the next week, TV reporters were coming calling to David and Sara's home; both recorded the couple's against-the-odds story; both showed Sara over the helpful caption, "bride."

This me-too anecdote-gathering is harmless, of course, and can even be a win-win for reporter and subject. David, never one to miss a marketing opportunity, dressed in his Gelf T-shirt for the NBC interview. (You can buy one here!) He even managed to get the URL on air. Screengrabs below.

Oh, and the wedding? It was excellent. Thanks for asking. Well wishes can be sent to david@gelfmagazine.com

Courtesy NBC 11 Gelf in the news