Monthly Archives: October 2010

Real Weddings | Closter, NJ

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

What was love like before the Internet? These days, we see so many online-inspired romances, that instead of asking, “How did you meet?” we should ask couples, “Which site brought you together?” After all, this was the case for today’s Real Weddings bride and groom. When mutual friends connected David with Rona on Friendster.com, David was initially intrigued by Rona’s experience living in exotic places, which included everything from Key West to Israel. They decided to meet, and Rona was impressed with David’s genuine interest in her. A relationship blossomed, and the couple dated for over a year.

One night they had planned to go to dinner with their parents, but when Rona arrived at David’s apartment, he was late getting ready and suggested she catch up on the latest episode of 24, a show they both loved to watch. Rona quickly discovered that the show he’d put on wasn’t 24 after all, but a 24-style video of their first date followed by a slideshow documenting their time together as a couple — complete with theme music! When it was over, David asked Rona to report to the “situation room” (his bedroom) and proposed to her in Hebrew and English, presenting her with a diamond that was a family heirloom. This is a proposal that would definitely make Jack Bauer swoon!

Mazel tov, Rona and David!

Venue – Temple Emanu-El
Photographer – Silk Studio
Floral Design – Atlas
Paper Products, Yarmulkes and Benchers – Party Panache
Ketubah – Art Ketubah
Bakery – Closter Caterers
Entertainment – Ike Walkover
Bridal Gown – Kleinfeld
Bridesmaid Dresses – Macy’s

closter-nj-real-jewish-wedding

Ask The Yentas: Edition #2 – The Chair Scare

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Alison in Ask The Yentas, Inside Scoop, Jewish Traditions, Planning

The Chair Scare: The feeling of butterflies about going up in a chair a handful of feet above the ground while holding onto a napkin, grinning with clenched teeth through the tight corset of the wedding dress during a series of bounces and hollers from the crowd.

Sound fun?

It doesn’t have to be scary. The tradition of going up in the chair is a festive and fun part of the reception’s Hora dance and we’ve received questions about how to get over the fear of this custom.

Dear Yentas,
My wedding is around the corner, and everyone tells me that the fun part is the reception where my soon-to-be husband and I will go up in the chair. I’m afraid of heights. I hate roller coasters. What if I drop the napkin? What if I fall off the chair? I don’t want to break any rules, and I’d like to get over my fear, but maybe I can just avoid it altogether. What do you think?
Thanks,
Elise
Tampa, Florida

Elise, and all others who are feeling under the weather with The Chair Scare,
This is supposed to be a fun tradition and definitely not something that causes you stress. First, make sure that your venue or wedding coordinator set aside two arm chairs for you. There should be two chairs with arms. Make sure the chairs have arms. You should use arm chairs. Is the point clear? This gives you something to hold on to and provides your body with boundaries as you become (lightly) jostled around.

the-hora-chair-lift

Also, there are no rules! Just hop in the chair, hold on, and enjoy the ride. Someone will probably toss you a napkin to hold with your new partner and if you drop it through all the excitement – meh! – so what! The napkin isn’t a Torah; it’s okay if it falls. Many couples do and they lived happily ever after.

Before you plop down on the chair, remember to do a quick smooth-out on the tushie part of your dress. That way, if you have any beading or details on your dress, you won’t be uncomfortable from getting them lodged in nooks and crannies when you sit on them. The more comfortable you are, the more you can relax, and the less afraid you’ll be. See? It all comes full circle.

If you’re wearing a short dress or a tea length dress, cross your legs at the ankles. You are a married woman for goodness sake! You don’t want all those eligible bachelors to get a free show! Be a lady and make sure the tops of your feet touch each other.

You don’t have to stop eating for 2 weeks before the wedding. Give some strong men a heads up about the chair lift portion of the Hora and they’ll carry you like you’re Tinkerbell. Do not be afraid of being dropped. With four legs on the chair and at least one man per leg, it’ll be easily for the strong men to balance you. Perhaps in the days leading up to the wedding, call some of the men you’d like to be your chair lifters and give them advance warning that they’ll have this duty at your reception. That way, you can relax knowing that this very important task is handled and you don’t have to worry about it during your ketubah signing, aisle walk, circles, wine blessings, photos, and shmoozing that all take place during the Wedding Olympics.

Remember, the Hora is a joyous and happy part of the wedding reception. So as you are six feet off the ground and literally high on life, look at your husband who is up there with you and know that together you’re on top of the world. Then, look down, and enjoy all of your favorite people singing and clapping and loving you right back.

Love,
Alison & Nicky
The Wedding Yentas

Real Weddings | Malibu, CA

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

As a little girl Natasha drew pictures of wedding dresses and wedding cakes in all of her notebooks. She had daydreams of what her picture-perfect wedding would be like, but she never thought that her daydream would be a dim comparison to the real wedding.

The venue was Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, a private estate with buffalo, zebras, horses and camels all living together in a valley covered in grapevines with a cluster of old oak trees. It was a magical place that really captured what Dan and Natasha wanted for their wedding. The natural beauty of Saddlerock set the stage for an elegant affair but also allowed their guests to feel relaxed and calm in such a serene place. Just walking the grounds there is an experience unto itself.

Decor was a huge part of Natasha’s vision. She had decided on a slightly vintage/country/glamor theme. Hydrangeas and roses in shades of pink and white covered everything. She also used a lot of glass pieces and candles in varying heights and widths to make it feel as though guests were sitting down at someone’s dining room table. Natasha wanted the reception to feel intimate and warm, that it should glow. And glow it did.

Dan and Natasha are extremely loving people. There are so many people in their lives that are truly a part of who they are as a couple and they wanted to celebrate that. A 10-piece band rocked the night away followed up by a DJ until 2 in the morning. Over 50 people celebrated with the newlyweds until the last song played. It’s no wonder the party kept going and going. It mirrored the love that Natasha and Dan feel for each other and their loved ones — there’s no end. The wedding day was just as Natasha had dreamed and more, and now, in her reality, she gets to live happily ever after with Dan.

Mazel tov, Natasha and Dan!

Venue – Saddlerock Ranch
Photography – Meghan Aileen Photography
Wedding Coordinator – Heidi Jacobsen
Videography – Well Spun Weddings
Catering – Pat’s Catering
Flowers and Decor – Commerce Flowers
Cake and Dessert – Unique Pastry
Entertainment – Debois Productions
Rentals and Lighting – Classic Party Rentals
Hair and Makeup – J Beverly Hills Salon

malibu-california-real-jewish-wedding

Hebrew School for Groomsmen

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

The Wedding Yentas are happy to have Brian Becker guest-blog today! Brian, who is not Jewish and more of a practicing Nothingish, has been the Best Man in a Jewish wedding and brings his expert opinion to the Yentas family of readers. Here he explains what every Jewish bride and groom should tell their non-Jewish wedding party.

I am not a Jewish Bride. I’m not even Jewish. But having been the Best Man, I do have an important piece of advice for anyone getting ready to tie the knot – a little list I like to call “Things to Tell Your Gentile Groomsmen.”

Look, men are already at a disadvantage because…well…we don’t know about weddings. And unlike bridesmaids who are let in on every little detail, for the most part, nobody tells us anything. So imagine how confusing it can be to be the goyim in the wedding party when the more traditional customs start to unfold. For example…

Yarmulkes. We’ve probably never worn one. In fact, I just had to look up how to spell it. On top of that, we’re expected to fasten it with another foreign piece of hardware: a bobby pin. In my case, the groomsmen did such an abysmal job that the bridesmaids had to do emergency readjustments just seconds before we escorted them down the aisle. So please, do everyone a favor and offer a little kippah 101 in advance.

Rings. As the Best Man, I was the nearest person with pockets at any given moment. That meant that I was constantly being handed more things to carry. In fact, I ended up carrying three ring boxes (one for the groom, one for the bride and one plain, unornamented ring for the bride to use during the ceremony). Add to that other last-minute cargo like vows and tissues, and the groomsmen can start to feel like we’re wearing saddle bags. Do your best to think through who will schlep around your wedding day accessories – and give that person a heads up!

The Hora. Think for a second what it must be like to witness a giant whirlpool form on the dance floor just moments before someone grabs your hand and pulls you into the vortex. Speaking for the “non-chosen people,” we do not see that one coming. What’s more, we’re expected to hoist the groom up on a chair and carry him around for several minutes. This is a great moment, and a lot of fun. Just make sure you prep your bridal party that some heavy lifting may be required.

The Ceremony. If you’re incorporating Jewish traditions into your wedding, it’s a nice idea to explain them in advance. Otherwise, while you’re circling your husband seven times, your groomsmen may be scratching their heads. If you fill the bridal party in on the significance of the customs featured in your ceremony, they’ll be able to share the moment with the rest of your guests, instead of wondering what’s going on.

Take it from a Jewish wedding survivor: A little orientation can go a long way. Make a point to share some your wedding customs with the gentile-men in your bridal party, and you’ll help ensure that every one is relaxed and happy on your special day. Good luck…and l’chaim!

brian-becker-best-man

Brian Becker is a freelance writer and editor, and most importantly, a Best Man extraordinaire. He lives in the Los Angeles area and enjoys a good Captain and Coke, an Aaron Sorkin flick, and a round of trivia.

Friday Favorites | Pop Judaica to a Tee

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Alison in Friday Favorites

We are absolutely in love with funny t-shirts that can make a statement and indulge your identity. For this reason, we can’t stop laughing our tushies off over one of our favorite Jewish-themed sites that has everything, PopJudaica. The online store, which features funny Jewish t-shirts and apparel for men and women, is powered by ModernTribe, so it’s no surprise we love this site.

It’s the kind of store that is addicting to browse because we want to see “what’s next! what’s next!’ — every item is funnier than the next, playing up total shtick!

For example, give your groom a little sass on your wedding night or honeymoon with these briefs that say “Kish mir in tuchis” which, as you know, is telling any lucky viewer to kiss ya where the sun don’t shine (unless you’re frequenting a particular beach… power to ya! We don’t judge!).

And if you’re working out before the wedding, or at least want to look cute at the gym while you pretend to work out before stuffing your face with bagels, you can strut your stuff in these adorable “tush” sweatpants. With the popularity of butt shorts adorned with the name of your college on the rear, this is a graduated version that plays to your inner Yiddish culture.

Are you known in your group of friends for being a foodie? Do your taste buds enjoy the finest of Jewish cuisine? Wear your talent proudly with these fantastic shirts that pay homage to the bagel, pickle and blintz. Let’s face it, our people have a tendency to eat and eat well. Share the wealth and let the world know that they’re missing out on some pretty yummy delicacies.

If you or friends of yours are happily engaged or married to someone thanks to the joys of online dating, you can make sure that the offspring brag about their parents’ perfect shidduch. Our friends at JDate® have brought so many couples together, and while this adorable shirt isn’t a JDate-made product, it certainly proves the point that Internet love can create Internet babies. Plus, The Wedding Yentas love JDate® and remind you to submit your success stories and check out articles by the Yentas on JMag, the online magazine by JDate®.

And yes, even the family pup can flaunt his Jewish tail with accessories that would make any Jewish dog mother proud. If your pooch is a chosen one, make sure you spoil it rotten with its very own tallit and kipah and if Roverstein is nearing his Bark Mitzvah, this ensemble makes a great gift… may he wear it in good health.

Happy Friday, friends! Come back next week for more fabulous posts and stay tuned for exciting news!