It was April 6, 2024, and Manhattan was doing that thing where the air feels just a little too crisp for spring but the light hits the buildings perfectly. Don Lemon and Tim Malone were standing outside the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. After five years of being engaged—which is basically a lifetime in the world of celebrity news—they finally did it. They got married.
Honestly, if you follow Don Lemon, you know he doesn’t do anything halfway. But this wasn’t just about the custom suits or the guest list that looked like a "who’s who" of New York media. It felt different. For Lemon, a man who grew up in Baton Rouge during an era when being "out" wasn't even a remote possibility, standing on those steps as a 58-year-old groom was a massive deal.
He’s mentioned before that he never really thought marriage was in the cards for him. Tim is 18 years younger. For Tim’s generation, the idea of a legal wedding was always on the table, but for Don? It was a hard-won victory.
The Meet-Cute That Happened During a Political Earthquake
You might think they met at some high-end gala or on a TV set. Nope. They actually met in the Hamptons back in 2015 at a place called Almond Restaurant. But they didn't really start dating until the summer of 2016.
Their first official date is kind of legendary in its own right. It happened on election night in 2016. Imagine that for a second. While the rest of the country was glued to their screens watching the returns come in, Don and Tim were at a viewing party. When things started getting intense, they left the party and headed to the Ralph Lauren Polo Bar.
Cell service in that subterranean restaurant is notoriously spotty. They were basically in a bubble while the world changed outside. Lemon recalls looking at Tim and realizing he didn't want to be alone that night. Tim went back to Don’s apartment in Harlem, and as the story goes, he basically never left.
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A Wedding That Doubled as a Media Reunion
The ceremony itself was a fascinating mix of traditions. Since Don is from Louisiana and Tim has Irish roots, they mashed it all together. They had an Irish blessing led by Tim’s sisters and then they jumped the broom—a nod to African American culture.
And the guests? It was like a CNN and NBC reunion mixed with a "Real Housewives" episode. You had:
- Linda Thomas-Greenfield (the U.S. Ambassador to the UN) officiating the whole thing.
- Matt Lauer making a rare public appearance with his girlfriend Shamin Abas.
- The View crew: Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, and Ana Navarro.
- Alec and Hilaria Baldwin showing up to support.
- Clive Davis, because apparently, no major NYC event is complete without him.
But the real stars were the dogs. Boomer, Barkley, and Gus. They were right there on the steps, wearing little bow ties. If you’ve followed Tim Malone’s Instagram, you know those rescue pups are essentially their children. In fact, the couple even asked guests to donate to the Southampton Animal Shelter instead of buying gifts.
Life After the CNN Shakeup
It’s impossible to talk about Don Lemon and Tim Malone without acknowledging the elephant in the room: Don’s exit from CNN in 2023. After 17 years, being told you’re out via a memo is a brutal pill to swallow.
A lot of people wondered if the stress would rattle the relationship. It actually did the opposite. Sources close to them said it brought them closer. Tim, who is a successful real estate broker with Douglas Elliman, was the anchor while Don’s professional world was spinning.
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When you lose a job that defined your identity for two decades, you need someone who sees you as more than just "the guy on the 10:00 PM news." Tim was that person. He even helped Don sell his Harlem condo for $1.5 million when they decided to shift their focus.
Why the Second Line Mattered
After the vows, they didn't just hop into a limo. They led a "Second Line" procession through the streets of Manhattan. For the uninitiated, a Second Line is a New Orleans tradition—a brass band parade where everyone dances down the street.
There’s something poetic about a Black man from Louisiana leading a jazz parade through the heart of Midtown Manhattan with his husband and three dogs. It was loud. it was public. It was unapologetic.
They ended up back at the Polo Bar for the reception. They didn't even have a wedding cake. Instead, they served the restaurant's signature desserts and bone-in ribeye. It was a full-circle moment since that was their first date spot.
What They’re Doing Now
These days, the vibe is a lot more "quiet wealth" and a lot less "cable news chaos." They’ve been spending more time in Florida and the Hamptons. Don has his own independent show on X (formerly Twitter), though that’s had its own share of drama with Elon Musk.
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But if you look at their lives in 2026, it’s clear they’ve moved into a phase of stability. Tim continues to crush it in the luxury real estate market, and Don seems to be enjoying the freedom of not having a corporate boss breathing down his neck.
Real-World Takeaway for the Rest of Us
What can we actually learn from Don and Tim? Aside from the fact that a New York wedding is expensive?
- Wait for the "right" time, even if it takes years. They were engaged for five years before pulling the trigger. There’s no law that says you have to rush to the altar.
- Support is everything during a career crisis. If your partner is going through a job loss, being the "stable one" matters more than any grand gesture.
- Mix your heritages. Don’t be afraid to blend traditions. The broom-jumping and the Irish blessing shouldn’t work together on paper, but they did.
If you’re looking to follow in their footsteps—maybe not the "getting fired from CNN" part, but the "building a lasting relationship" part—focus on finding someone who stays when the cell service cuts out.
If you want to keep up with their latest moves, keep an eye on Tim Malone’s real estate listings in the Hamptons. That’s often where the real news about their lifestyle shifts actually happens. Just look for the houses with the best yards for three energetic rescue dogs.