Monthly Archives: September 2010

Real Weddings | Beverly Hills, CA

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Stephanie and Matt’s love and happiness were due to the brilliant matchmaking of a mom, an aunt and a manicurist friend that prompted a blind date at Coffee Bean in 2005. Their caffeinated spark led to 4.5 years of dating and a proposal was inevitable. Stephanie arrived home one afternoon, opened the front door, and saw that the hallway was lined with red and pink rose petals and tea light candles. Steph found Matt on one knee with ring in hand and a gorgeous bouquet of red, yellow and pink roses behind him with a bottle of champagne. After Matt said some beautiful words and asked Steph to marry him, she noticed the camera that was set-up on the fireplace that captured the entire proposal! But the fun wasn’t finished yet: Matt had another surprise. As a kid, Matt used to write adorable poems and Steph always wondered why she never received one of these masterpieces, so he asked the graphic designer at his office to help with an illustration of their first date at Coffee Bean in the style of one of Matt’s favorite poets, Shel Silverstein. He then had it framed with a poem about their first date below the illustration and he proceeded to read it aloud to Steph. Afterward, she glanced down at her newly-jeweled hand and realized her nails were not looking too hot. Matt, quickly responded with “That’s okay, you have a 5:30 manicure appointment!” So Steph went from prettying up her digits to a dinner with Matt and a surprise visit for drinks by her parents at her favorite restaurant.

Their story is magical, so it’s no surprise that their wedding day followed suit. Personal touches sprinkled all over the wedding: Stephanie’s mom hand-knit shawls for months prior to the wedding for guests to wear in case they were chilly during the outdoor ceremony. The programs also contained the Seven Blessings so that during the ceremony, Steph & Matt could turn to the audience to have these blessing bestowed upon them by all of their loved ones. They were also able to tie in several generations, by topping the flower-filled chuppah with Stephanie’s grandfather’s tallit. The ring she used for the ceremony was her great grandfather’s. They used Matt’s father’s tallit to cover them during the rabbi’s blessing and they also drank wine from their own bar and bat mitzvah kiddush cups. Stephanie wore the same veil her sister wore during her wedding, and her garter was made from pieces of her grandmother’s wedding dress and her mother’s veil.

It’s easy to see in the pictures that a sweet story, family members, and two people in love created a beautiful wedding day.

Mazel tov, Stephanie and Matt!

Venue – Skirball Cultural Center
Photographer – Kim Fox
Floral Design – Flora by Fauna
Band – Debois Entertainment
Cake – Cake Crumbs
Rabbi – Rabbi Ken Chasen
Makeup – Kelsey Deenihan
Ketubah – Gallery Judaica
Kippot – Simcha Centre
Jeweler – Jonny Ritz & Company, Inc.
TV Monitors – AV Masters
Rentals – Luna Party Rentals
Bridal Dress – Pebbles Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses – Renee Strauss
Chocolate Fountain – Amor Chocolate Fountains
Candy Station – Custom Candy Buffet Bars

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L’Chaim to the Heights

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Jewish Traditions, Planning

Most people know that there are two things I couldn’t love any more than I already do: Broadway musicals and wedding toasts. Both are performances, craving acceptance and still oozing with pride. A moving instrumental overture that precedes the first bit of action of a Broadway show has the same effect on me as a father of the bride who is so tearfully happy on his daughter’s wedding day as he welcomes the room with champagne in hand. Likewise, comedy bits in funny musicals make me literally LOL the way I’ve caught myself howling with laughter during a best man’s speech, filled with anecdotes he may regret sharing the next day. A wedding and a Broadway musical are not dissimilar: they both cost a lot of money, they both require a team of people to pull it off, and they both include a leading man and leading lady to make the whole thing worth seeing.

So, what happens when a Broadway star includes a Broadway musical into his wedding day as a surprise to his new wife?

Check out my new favorite video that had me laughing and crying, going down as one of the best “speeches” in wedding history. The creative, rapping genius behind Broadway’s smash hit “In the Heights” tipped his hat to “Fiddler on the Roof” and arranged a toast like I’ve never seen that left me with the biggest smile on my face. To you, Lin-Manuel Miranda, I say “L’chaim!” and “Bravo!” and “Mazel tov!”

Friday Favorites | Fly Me To The Moon

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Alison in Friday Favorites

Runya The Travel Expert joins us in wishing everyone a very happy Friday! This week felt long and the weekend will be busy with Yom Kippur upon us. Read on for a little editorial escape and check the bottom for a smokin’ deal that will make you want to get set to jet set!

Planning a wedding all on your own, no matter how much of a control freak you may be, is ill-advised! Let’s be honest brides: sometimes wedding plans get out of hand! Before you begin pulling out those expensive extensions and in order to stop the silly wedding nightmares from haunting your dreams, you turn to an expert outside of your whole mispucha to assist you with the major and mundane details. This person will offer you moral support while being the neutral peace keeper. This person acts as your wedding guru, the sultan of satin, the ruler of roses, and he or she becomes an integral part of making your wedding day a day to go down in the record books of your life!

Just as you would hire a wedding planner for all the obvious reasons to make life a little easier, you should not think twice about using a honeymoon expert to help you plan your special trip! Enter moi! I am your Honeymoon Guru and here to make sure that you and your honey are pampered pooches! You have enough going on and deserve someone to help carry out all of your travel plans, from putting together ideas and itineraries, to scheduling flights and booking only the best resorts that fit your budget. I offer you my personal attention and expertise, making it easy for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime moon of your dreams.

For those of you who love to plan trips, and prefer to submerge yourself in every detail, well, the more power to you. I can do as little or as much of the research and planning as you would like me to! Working with me is much better than checking boxes on a computer screen and putting your trust in travel or hotel websites. What I deliver is advice, guidance, and even special deals that are offered to only honeymoon travel experts such as myself. Anyone can plan a vacation online while sitting at work or on their couch at home, but this is your honeymoon and should experience the same service that you get from your wedding planner. There are no extra costs or hourly fees associated with using travel experts, and we are here solely to bring your wants and desires in a honeymoon to life!

I have wished bon voyage to many happy newlyweds, sending them to fabulous honeymoon locales all over the world. They have all come back home refreshed, relaxed — and most importantly — still married! I always take that as a good sign!! Helping couples plan their honeymoon is such a joyful experience that I even throw in free wedding advice, etiquette, and other little wedding and honeymoon gems of wisdom. My wish is that your wedding day be filled with much love and happiness, and when you depart for your honeymoon hand in hand, you do so with a smile in your heart and a spring in your step, and maybe even a little something lacey and sexy in your carry on!

Happy trails on your moon!

Readers of The Wedding Yentas receive a special gift from Runya! The first 5 people to book their honeymoon or special occasion vacation with Runya will receive a $50 gift card. It’s her wedding present to you! (gift cards will be mailed upon final deposit of honeymoon)

Runya Simon is a Honeymoon and Wedding Travel Specialist. Just like a wedding coordinator helps your wedding dreams come true, she assists you with every step of planning and booking the “moon” of your dreams. Runya is based in Los Angeles, but can help jet-setting brides and grooms everywhere. Her vast knowledge and passion for travel make her your ideal honeymoon coordinator. Runya works with Calig Travel in Association with Altour. You can check out Runya’s blog or contact Runya today to book your memorable getaway: runyasimon@gmail.com.

Real Honeymoons | Wailea + Kauai, HI

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop, Planning

Hawaii is one of the ultimate honeymoon spots. We love it because it’s easy for traveling since it’s a domestic location, but it’s easy to forget sometimes, as you could feel like you’re in your own little world, far removed from anything resembling reality.

If you’re aching for some Aloha spirit after you tie the knot, follow this travel guide from Yenta Alison’s honeymoon to the islands of Maui and Kauai.

The Wailea Marriott was recently renovated and in pristine condition. The rooms are spacious, clean, and filled with the new and fashionable furnishings. There’s nothing like sleeping with the window open and being lulled to sleep by the rocking and rolling waves that are just a few yards away from the balcony. The hotel provides many pools for relaxation, but nothing takes you to your happy place more than the infinity pool, equipped with posh cabanas, gorgeous views, and a very friendly staff that wants nothing more than to fill you up with drinks and grub. With no wedding dress to fit into anymore, this is a good thing! When inside the pool, there’s confusion about where the pool water stops and where the ocean tides begin because of the way it’s designed, it appears that the pool and ocean are one. This cool illusion is perfect for relaxing and romance. Oh, and it’s adults-only!

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There’s a great walking path in Wailea that lines up with all of the resorts. A morning walk or a sunset stroll will provide you with fresh air and beautiful sights. It’s fun to exit the paths and check out the hotels along the way. Make sure to also check out the Grand Wailea, The Four Seasons, and the Fairmont Kea Lani. All of these properties along this walk are magnificent and can provide you with dinner options during your stay on the Wailea side of the island.

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Like what you see below? This could be your final destination if you choose to brave the Road to Hana. This famous, windy drive takes you to some of the most beautiful parts of Maui where you can trek through lush jungles, swim through waterfalls and pools, enjoy fresh fruit off the side of the road, and take in postcard views. This day-long drive takes you to a surreal black sand beach with awesome rock formations and the bluest water. Driving the Road to Hana is a fun adventure that has many great photo moments.

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Island hop! Check out another one of Hawaii’s treasures. Maui has a little more action, but if you want an even more laid-back, tropical experience, visit the island of Kauai. This is the giant pool at the Kauai Marriott in Lihue. Lounge chairs and towels galore give the guests a pleasant experience. The unique scalloped pool, known as one of the biggest in the state of Hawaii, is family-friendly, so if you’d like to experience both kinds of vacations, that’s why we suggest island hopping. Think of it as a Hawaii buffet: you get a little bit of everything.

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Also, it’s always a good idea to check out the local food. We love living like the locals and eating at family establishments. Sometimes the little shacks on the side of the road will serve you the most delicious food, like Shrimp Station, which is off of Kaumualii Highway in Waimea. For something cool and refreshing, you can’t go wrong with shave ice! Amateurs will not only call it shaved ice (no past-tense “ed”), but they will also classify this treat as a snow cone. It. Is. Not. I don’t know why it’s not, but it just isn’t. Shave ice is very fine granules of ice that are flavored with delicious syrups that usually taste like their real, inspired food. For example, watermelon tastes like watermelon and passion fruit really is passion fruit. Some people like to put ice cream at the bottom of their shave ice. There are many places on the mainland that try to imitate Kauai shave ice, but it’s no contest. Some favorite shave ice spots are Koloa Shave Ice or Shave Ice Paradise in Hanalei.

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Do something adventurous that would be unique to your location! Take a helicopter ride over the beautiful mountain ranges, cliffs, and jungles of the Garden Isle. Even though you sign your life away prior to taking flight, it’s not at all scary and you get, literally, a bird’s eye view of the whole island. You can appreciate Kauai’s beauty even more when you see parts that can only be accessed by foot or boat. Because Kauai is one of the rainiest spots on Earth, the island is filled with lush jungle areas that can’t be seen via car or main roads. There’s nothing cooler than zipping around and getting up close and personal inside — yes, inside — an inactive volcano. Oh, and for all of you movie buffs, you get to see the famous Jurassic Park waterfall.

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Check out Spouting Horn. It’s a giant blow hole that’s one of those natural miracles. Every few seconds, with the waves, a big spray of water will come up and out of a hole in the beached rocks with mighty force. Okay, I’m not really selling it, but trust me. It’s a cool 15 minutes to spend time and see what it’s going to do.

And if you’re in the mood for beautiful views and a nice drive to match, you should definitely visit Kilauea Lighthouse. It’s a picturesque landmark and a great place to get the giggles with your newlywed; the area is filled with birds called boobies. I’ll leave it at that. What?! Okay, so I have a 5th grade sense of humor. It’s funny.

Speaking of birds, everywhere you go on Kauai there are roosters! They are friendly…ish. By that I mean, they are used to humans and won’t necessarily attack, but they’re not exactly giving out hugs and handshakes either. On Kauai, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” is a serious question and not the lead up to a joke. They are in shopping center parking lots, national park sites, and on the sides of the road. It’s not everywhere you can see a hibiscus bush and a rooster inches from each other.

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Go to a luau! It may be cliche, but so what! Most hotels have them once or twice a week and it will cost you additional money, but it’s dinner and a cultural show so that seems to justify the extra dollar amount. And it’s not even that these luaus feed you the best dinner of your life. But it’s kind of like going to Italy and not trying the pasta. You get a lei and a mai tai. Fun times.

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Also, take a surf lesson! If you’re going to learn how to surf, can’t beat the Hawaiian beaches as your classroom. There are private and group lessons and surf school tuition varies. We attended Kauai Surf School and had a great time. It’s safe and comfortable… until the next day when you feel like your arms are going to fall off. Standing up on the board is a feel-good accomplishment and being one with the ocean is, like, totally awesome, dude. Plus, taking goofy pictures in your rash guard is worth the salt water in your eyes.

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And if all you want to do is relax and turn off the world, by all means, go find a hammock and indulge. Mazel tov and aloha!

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Honeymooning Dreamin’

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Alison in Featured, From the Expert, Inside Scoop, Planning

Every blushing bride has their own wedding style! Some choose to get married barefoot on the beach in a simple dress, while others walk down the aisle in a fancy hotel or country club in a designer ball gown. There are destination weddings, backyard weddings, themed weddings, and yes we have all seen pictures or videos of underwater weddings (do they make waterproof yarmulkes?) Where you get married and how you get married says a lot about who you are and what’s important to you. Choosing where to go on your honeymoon is very similar, while you don’t get the luxury of visiting possible vacation venues, you do have the ability to dream up the perfect location that fits your honeymoon style.

First ask yourself about your honeymoon style. Are you looking for adventure? Do you dream of white beaches in paradise? How about a Euro Moon? There are many exotic locations in each of these categories, and I, for one, can help you find the perfect match for every budget, but it’s up to you to find your style and how you want to spend your honeymoon days and nights!

The Adventure Moon
If the traditional honeymoon doesn’t thrill you and lying on a beach is a bore, there are many exotic locales that will tickle your adventurous bone! How about kibitzing with zebras and lions? Break out your khaki pants, pith helmet, and leopard undies to get in touch with your wild side on an African Safari. You can visit places such as the Singita Game Reserves (“place of miracles”) which is world-renowned for providing “the best safari experience in Africa!” There are numerous award-winning lodges and safari experiences to choose from. Kruger National Park and its great lodge options is another South African locale that will benefit those who want to enjoy South Africa’s last great wilderness in peace. The Kruger is known for its superb bird-watching and its native creatures include buffalo and lion, kudu, leopard, warthogs (just like Pumba!), baboons, hippo and crocodiles. Visitors can slow down and experience the rhythm, sounds, and cycles of the bush and you can see for miles and miles, and never catch sight of another person!

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The “All You Need is a Bathing Suit” Moon
I know its cliché but spending your honeymoon surrounded by crystal clear water and sipping a pina colada with your toes in the sand is sometimes just what the doctor ordered after a stressful yet fabulous year of wedding planning. The sky is the limit when it comes to tropical luxury, so depending on your budget you have a plethora of places where you can get your relaxation on! Bora Bora and Moorea are perhaps the most popular honeymoon and reality-escape destinations! Resorts such as the Sheraton Moorea and the St. Regis Bora Bora are slices of heaven on earth. While the price tag on a Tahiti Moon will have you scream “Oy vey!”, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should not pass up! When will you ever get the opportunity to stay in an over-water bungalow and go directly from snuggling in bed to snorkeling with the fishies?! To quote a very good friend of mine who spent her moon in Bora Bora… “It’s possibly one of the most incredible places in the world!”

If you merely want to brush up on your Spanish or stay in the States, you can have just as much of a tropical experience visiting the beaches of Mexico or the Aloha State. The Four Seasons Punta Mita is a breathtaking resort that is surrounded by nine unbroken miles of high sandy coastal dunes. Punta Mita is a local adaptation of the Aztec word mictlan, which means “gateway to paradise,” and that it is! The One and Only hotels around the world are amazing, one of which is the Palmilla in Los Cabos. With gorgeous accommodations and balconies looking out over the Pacific Ocean or Sea of Cortez, you will wish you could set up permanent residence there.

Island hopping is yet another great way to spend your sunny honeymoon. Hands down, my favorite spot in Maui is The Grand Wailea. This unrivaled property with tranquil gardens and magnificent views is a must stay! Don’t miss the artwork including the “Celebration of Marriage” statue by a renowned artist. A visit to Spa Grande is something you can’t miss during your stay, but don’t forget that even though you are on your honeymoon, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a kid at heart! Meander down the 2000 foot river pool, and take a ride up the world’s first water elevator and then whirl down the many water slides, followed by a hop up onto a seat at the swim-up bar to sip on your favorite tropical cocktail.

Honeymooners can also be found at the amazing Four Seasons Lana’i, Four Seasons Hualalai, and the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island, and many more fantastic properties in between. Hawaii will always be the vintage honeymoon getaway as it should be; there is nothing like sitting out on your lanai in the land of hula, watching as the sun sets into the Pacific, hand-in-hand with your honey!

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The Euro Moon
This is not your backpacking, hostel-staying, college trip. This is your luna di miele, your ??? ??? (yerach d’vash), your mí?nas tou mélitos (that’s Greek)! You can honeymoon in any language, and enjoy the culture as you enjoy each other. You will be exhausted, not to mention spend a ton of moolah if you try to visit more than two places on this type of trip unless you do it the way my husband and I did, which was a fantastic Mediterranean Cruise on Princess Cruise Lines. In 12 days, most funded by the American dollar, we visited Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Florence, Rome, Venice, Capri, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Athens, and Turkey. It was the best of all worlds being able to see the majestic places we dreamed of while experiencing the food, culture, sights, and sounds — all via the most luxurious floating city! If you don’t have your sea legs just yet and cruising is not your cup of Turkish apple tea, I would opt for a land vacation and stay a few nights in Santorini and the outer Greek Islands. Oia on Santorini remain one of the foremost tourist attractions of the Aegean Sea, and is where I would love to go back to spend some more time. The views are something out of a travel magazine or painting, and the food is out of this world! Opa!!! If you wish to take a lune de miel in France, book your time in Nice and Cannes along the French Riviera; this would make an ideal, romantic ooh la la! During the Cannes Film Festival the InterContinental Carlton is the most prestigious place to stay, so even if you are not making your very own movie (wink wink) you can at least get the VIP treatment at this posh and famous hotel!

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Explore the possibilities of your honeymoon style, cut out photos and ideas from travel mags, create a vision board, or simply take virtual tours on your computer. These honeymoon styles are just a few of the many. There are so many places to visit, so many lands to travel to, so many amazing and endless adventures to be had! However you wish to find your style and wherever you find yourself on your special moon, just know that this amazing journey is only the start of your new life and just the beginning of the many memories and adventures that you will embark on together.

Good Travels Bon Voyage ????? ???? ???? ??????! ¡Buen viaje! Buon viaggio!

Runya Simon is a Honeymoon and Wedding Travel Specialist. Just like a wedding coordinator helps your wedding dreams come true, she assists you with every step of planning and booking the “moon” of your dreams. Runya is based in Los Angeles, but can help jet-setting brides and grooms everywhere. Her vast knowledge and passion for travel make her your ideal honeymoon coordinator. You can email her with questions and reservations at runya.simon@gmail.com. Runya is looking forward to hearing from you! Enjoy the rest of your planning!