Monthly Archives: January 2012

What IS a Junior Bridesmaid Anyway?

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Your younger, but not thaaaaat much younger cousin whose hair you used to french braid for dance class every Thursday. The cute girls down the street who considered you their favorite babysitter when they were tiny and you used to gossip with their mom after she’d come home from work. Your fiance’s only niece and the other cute girl in his life who takes him up on every offer for a piggy back ride and tea party. None of these girls are young enough to be the toddling and cute-but-clueless flower girl who walks down the aisle. But they’re also not old enough to be a bridesmaid who can do and afford all of the bridesmaid-y events. So, you have an epiphany and say to yourself, “Self! I know! [Insert Name Here] can be a JUNIOR BRIDESMAID!”

Genius idea, but what the blintzes does a junior bridesmaid even do?

Well, a junior bridesmaid is like a watered down version of an adult bridesmaid and a totally upgraded model of a flower girl. She’s cute and gets time to shine like a flower girl, but fits in more with the adult bridesmaids. Best of both worlds, right?

Usually, the over/under for the age of a junior bridesmaid is between 9 and 14. None of the traditions are requirements, but you can take what you need and make up your own rules about how to include your junior bridesmaid on your wedding day.

Because a junior bridesmaid is not, like, working for The Man, she probably has no income to throw you a shower. Unless your junior bridesmaid is Dakota Fanning. Wait, I think she’s older than 14 now. But you know what I mean. So, even though she won’t dish out cash to help sponsor the shower, she should be included by planning to attend and assist with bridal shower duties like set-up and clean-up, making favors, cooking and baking, helping with gifts, and other very important tasks.

You can even include your junior bridesmaid when you go wedding gown shopping. Now, you are not required to follow her opinions or let her pick out The Dress, but certainly she can be there as part of the experience. This is really more appropriate if your junior bridesmaid is a sister or a daughter, but it’s a nice and special way to include her. And she’ll love all the pretty dresses!

Speaking of dresses, she’ll get to wear a similar, if not the same, dress as the bridesmaids! Sometimes, brides select a dress for the junior bridesmaid that may be a bit longer in length or something with straps. It can be the same fabric and color as the adult bridesmaids, but if your gals are sporting a sexy dress, nothing says “tacky wedding” like allowing the junior bridesmaid to wear the identical frock. So, you know, good judgement yada yada yada.

She can also hold a smaller version of the adult bridesmaids’ bouquet. There’s always the corsage option, but that’s a little too prom for my personal taste. Most would agree.

When it comes to the wedding events, the junior bridesmaid will be at your rehearsal dinner like the rest of the bridal party and she can also hang with the ushers (what younger girl wouldn’t want to rub elbows with cool, older, cute guys in suits?) by also seating guests, handing out programs, or standing by the yarmulkes. She’ll definitely charm the old Jewish men that way.

Your junior bridesmaid can walk alone down the aisle, with another young man (junior groomsman?), or with another adult member of the wedding party. No rule here. It’s up to you and how symmetrical you are in your planning.

Just keep in mind — and this is a reminder because most of us have tried to forget — that your junior bridesmaid might be going through the, you know, change. Puberty. So, when it comes to picking out her look for day, be cognizant of the fact that she might be self-conscious or unable to pull off the style you have in mind. Remember when we were figuring it all out? Yeah, that’s probably what she’s going through right now. She might be brushing her curls… not something I ever did. No, no. I would have never done that because it causes really annoying frizzy hair, which makes awkward pubescent years even more traumatic. Sigh.

So, even though she may be a wee bit underage to join you for your bachelorette party at Guido’s Chippendales, your favorite younger gal pal can experience your bridal experience in a more G-rated fashion. She’ll be honored to be by your side as you say “I do” to your love, and maybe even learn a thing or to about how to be the coolest bride ever for when it’s her turn in 15-ish years.

Inspired By: Sweets and Purples

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Alison in Inspiration Boards

It’s no secret that a spread of sweets at a wedding reception is all the rage. This display is perfect for noshing on while your guests wait for wedding cake slices to come out and, let’s be honest, it looks really pretty.

A full table of cupcakes and macarons and cookies and brownies and cake pops is never a bad thing. Hold on, I must go get a rag to clean up the drool from thinking about such delicacies. No, really, I think I just ingested 42 trillion calories just looking at photos of sweets! A sweets table not only makes for great photos, but is also a great reflection of you two as a couple! Maybe you have a thing for ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies or maybe your first date was at a cupcake shop. Use the sweets that you and your sweet enjoy, and then share them with your wedding guests. They’ll love you for it!

Take it a step further: Include a sweets table that also blends in with your color palette. This is another fabulous way to bring out your colors without having to use streamers and balloon arches. Instead of shoving matchy-matchy colors down your guests’ throats — “WE LOVE PURPLE! IT’S OUR FAVORITE! OH, AND HERE’S BARNEY THE DINOSAUR TO PROVE IT! WHEEEEE!” — sprinkle your hues onto your sweets table. And your guests will thank you for shoving those down their throats! Mm mm mmmm…

Photographer: Erin Johnson Photography
Dessert Bar: Cocoa & Fig
Floral Designer: Sadie’s Couture Floral and Event Styling

A Groom With A View: Directing A Wedding

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop

Special Guest Blogger and Mr. Yenta himself, Bryan, is here to share a little inside information from the groom’s point of view. This movie buff breaks down the players in a wedding, making comparisons and analogies that will make you want to give this post a standing ovation. So grab your popcorn and soda, sit back, and relax because this installment of A Groom With A View is totally Oscar material. ACTION!

I remember hearing an interview with Jon Favreau, director of Elf and Iron Man, about how, for a director, making a movie is really just a series of decisions. People come to the director and ask questions about seemlingly minor details like “should the car be blue or red in this scene?” The director may not have given any thought to this question until it comes up, and in virtually no time, they have to decide what to do. And they may get many differing opinions from their cinematographer, producer, production designer, and anyone who wants to share their thoughts. But the decision ultimately lies with them and they still have to make the right call. And they probably won’t know if it’s actually the right call until the movie is finished. And by then it may be too late to change it.

If you’ve ever planned a wedding — and if you’re a regular on The Wedding Yentas, then you’re probably in the thick of it — this may sound like a familiar scenario. In my last post, I compared wedding planning with making a movie for exactly these reasons. Planning a wedding is probably about 90% just simply making decisions and hoping they turn out right on the big day. And for most brides who’ve never planned a wedding before, there is a lot of pressure to make the “right” decisions. Because of this, they will (hopefully) consult everyone under the sun: the groom, the MOB, the MOH, maybe even other family members or friends who have gotten married recently. (And hopefully TWY too!) But, just like the movie director, the decision ultimately has to be made by the bride (and the groom, or whoever is doing the planning with them).

While I already had a good idea about this during my own wedding planning process, now that I get to watch as my sister (and her fiance) plan their wedding, I’m realizing just how true that analogy rings. Every day there is another decision to be made, and my sister is a first time “director,” so she’s feeling the pressure. I think the important thing here is to examine what it means to make the “right” decision. Who decides what the “right” decision is?

In the case of a movie, there are many people who decide what was right. The crew will have their own opinions, and the writers, the producers, the studio, the actors… everyone! Everybody involved with making the movie will judge whether the director made the right or wrong move. Of course the critics will dissect every little decision that was made and call it out in their reviews as well. The real test, though, lies in the hands of the audiences who come to see the picture. For most audience members, little decisions may not matter so much, but the big ones certainly do — they determine whether the audiences like the overall film or not.

Again, weddings are similar. The crew in this case is made up of all the people helping you plan the wedding: your parents, the groom’s parents, your siblings, your wedding coordinator, your friends. You will get solicited and unsolicited advice from just about anyone who has an opinion. Thankfully, unless you are a celebrity, your wedding probably won’t be subject to reviews from any wedding or fashion critics. However, most brides and grooms and their parents are definitely trying to please their “audience,” the wedding guests.

This is where I think a director (and the bride) has to be careful. Pleasing the audience (the guests) may sometimes threaten the integrity of the film’s script (the bride’s vision of her perfect wedding day). The balancing act between “pleasing your guests” and “doing what you want” is definitely tricky.

And let’s not forget, the decisions you make as a director affect what it costs to make the movie. So if you are producing and directing, it may be easier to make expensive decisions. Otherwise, you’ll have to consult/lobby the producer first and make sure the budget can support your decision.

Of course this analogy (that I’ve probably taken too far already) falls apart when you realize that a movie ultimately needs to turn a profit, and a wedding clearly doesn’t. But it’s an interesting comparison to make because of the sheer amount of decisions there are to make in both scenarios and the impact they have on each other and the final outcome.

I will end with my [unsolicited] advice on the best way to make wedding decisions — the wedding decision flowchart. Hopefully by following this, the movie that is your wedding will get five stars and two thumbs up. And a Golden Globe. Okay, and an Oscar, too.

When a question comes up, just go through these steps*:

Real Jewish Weddings | Virginia Beach, VA

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Kellie and Zach met on a Birthright trip to Israel and after coming home and meeting again at a reunion, they knew they were more than friends. Zach went to visit Kellie one weekend in Chapel Hill where she was working toward her Ph.D. and just never left.

Zach and Kellie had lots of people coming to the wedding from all over the country, so they had a dinner for everyone the night before the wedding. This really helped people to get to know each other so that everyone was already comfortable, friendly, and ready to party on the wedding night! Since they met on a Birthright trip, Kellie and Zach wanted to be sure to honor their beginnings, so Jewish wedding traditions such as the signing and reading of the ketubah and becoming husband and wife under the chuppah were obvious customs to include. They love the idea that people have been doing these rituals for centuries, which makes them special and important traditions to keep alive. Kellie and Zach’s wedding had an elegant black and white theme with pops of red, and their cake was inspired by the handmade paper used in their invitations.

Zach and Kellie now live in Boston where Zach is attending grad school and Dr. Kellie obtained a post-doctorate position at Harvard.

Mazel tov, Kellie and Zach!

Ceremony Location- Temple El Beth, Norfolk
Reception Venue- Lesner Inn
Photographer- Valerie Demo Photography
DJ- Chris Phillips with DJ on the Side
Wedding Day of Planner- Events by Nicolle
Bakery- E&E Special Events
Hair and Makeup- Brooke Primas
Floral Designer- Palette of Petals
Invitation Designer- La Belle Vie Design, LLC

real-jewish-weddings-|-virginia-beach,-va

Proud Editorial Partner of Two Bright Lights!

Spotlight On Gallery Judaica

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Alison in Featured

Gallery Judaica is an extensive and simple online resource for a Jewish wedding, holiday, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, birthday — or any joyous occasion. Whether you are interested in something specific or are simply curious about contemporary judaica, Gallery Judaica is happy to help and takes great pride in their ketubah personalization service. One of the ketubah artists from the extensive roster skillfully fills in your ketubah, transforming the exquisitely displayed wedding vows into an art-piece that is truly your own.

The Wedding Yentas: Let’s start at the beginning. How did Gallery Judaica start?
Gallery Judaica: Gallery Judaica began with a class at a local synagogue around 30 years ago. The Holiday Workshop Series at Kehillat Israel made people realize that the West Los Angeles area needed a place to find beautiful Judaica to celebrate the holidays. First operating out of a private home, the gallery grew into the local community’s go-to resource for Jewish gifts and one-stop shop for Jewish weddings. Then around 10 years ago, we built a modest little website that’s grown into a major retail destination for clients around the world. Our mission has always been “Hiddur Mitzvah,” the beautification of the commandments. We love bringing contemporary style and sensibilities to ages-old Jewish traditions.

TWY: What kinds of items does Gallery Judaica sell?
GJ: Gallery Judaica sells all things Judaica. We sell everything you need for Jewish occasions: a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, and we specialize in Jewish weddings. We have a large collection of stunning ketubot (plural of ketubah) with designs for every taste. Our ketubah personalization service transforms the exquisitely displayed wedding vows into an art-piece that is truly your own. We also have a wide selection of beautiful Tallits, from contemporary, hand-sewn designs to the time-honored wool with stripes. We have a range of sizes, too, all the way up to 60″ x 80″ that you can use for your Chuppah canopy! And if you’re looking to honor someone for an achievement or a contribution to your community, we have a whole section on our website dedicated to Awards and Presentation Pieces, from glass shofar sculptures to Tzedakah Boxes to Woman of Valor Platters. In addition, we sell a broad range of gift items, including Kiddush cups, Shabbat candlesticks, Havdalah sets, menorahs, mezuzahs, Jewish art, and jewelry.

Mezuzahs from Gallery Judaica

TWY: Buying a ketubah seems daunting and scary. Break it down for the Yentas and tell us: How does ordering a ketubah work and what’s the personalization process?
GJ: Ordering a ketubah is actually pretty simple, and involves three main steps: determining which ketubah text you need, choosing the ketubah design, and providing personalization information.

Step 1, Choosing the right ketubah text
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements have different thoughts about ketubah requirements, so we recommend that you ask your rabbi, cantor, or wedding officiant if they have a preference about the ketubah text. Depending on the ketubah and the artist, you typically have the choice of the following texts: Traditional Aramaic (Orthodox) with or without English, Conservative with the Lieberman Clause and English, Egalitarian/Reform in modern Hebrew and English, and variations of the Egalitarian texts which include interfaith, commitment vows, English only, gender neutral, and non-denominational. (Click here to see a more in-depth explanation of Ketubah texts.) Remember that any English or modern Hebrew text will vary from artist to artist, while the Orthodox and Conservative Aramaic texts are “set in stone” with little variation among artists.

Step 2, Choosing the design
After determining the text you need, you’ll choose the design of your ketubah. From Danny Azoulay and Enya Keshet’s finely detailed papercuts, to Nava Shoham’s colorful works of art, to Betsy Teutsch’s Judaic nature themes, to Amy Fagin’s swirling hues, our online Judaica store makes it easy to navigate through a wondrous array of ketubah artists and themes.

Step 3, Personalizing the contract-turned-work-of-art
Each ketubah text has blanks for your personal information. These blanks need to be filled in with your names and the date and location of your wedding. This can generally be done by your rabbi, if he or she is willing, or by us! Some ketubot are filled in with hand-calligraphy and some with computer print – it depends on which artist you choose. If you choose to have us do the personalization, we have a worksheet for you to fill in and send back to us.

Collage Ketubah by Robin Hall

TWY: What are some popular brands or artists?
GJ: We have such a long list of great artists, it’s hard to choose! Our most popular ketubah artists are Danny Azoulay and Enya Keshet, who specialize in finely detailed papercut ketubot, and Nava Shoham and Amy Fagin for more colorful works of art. Other popular artists for Jewish home necessities and wonderful Jewish gifts are Shardz, Quest Collection, Michael Aram, Gary Rosenthal, Keleman K4 Glassart, Dabbah and Nambe. If you are looking for a tallit, our most popular come from Reeva Shaffer and Argaman Embroidery.

TWY: When should an engaged couple start shopping for their ketubah?
GJ: We recommend that you start looking as soon as possible, and make your final purchase at least six weeks before your deadline. If you need a personalized ketubah in less than four weeks (or a non-personalized ketubah in less than two weeks) we can almost always make it happen, though we do head into rush-fees. These beautiful pieces of art take time to look perfect for you and it’s best to give the artist as much time as you can.

TWY: Can you confirm what kind of pen to use on the ketubah? (The Wedding Yentas did a whole article on this, but it’ll be good to hear it again from you, too!)
GJ: Because we work with so many artists who print on various paper types, it’s hard for us to make a general recommendation. A ball-point pen is your safest bet to avoid ink bleeding. With any other type, we recommend testing the pen first by making a tiny mark with it on the very edge of the back of the ketubah to make sure the ink doesn’t bleed. Make sure you mark it in a spot that will frame or trim out later. We know for certain that ketubot by Danny Azoulay are very happy with the Micron by Pigma Color Technologies – the ones that say “archival, suitable for acid free environments.” One of our trusted calligraphers recommends size 01. Once you know which artist you’re working with, we can find out which pen that artist recommends.

TWY: What other items do I need for my wedding in addition to the ketubah?
GJ: We have a wedding checklist to assist you in purchasing everything you need for your wedding!
1. Ketubah
2. Tallit
3. Breaking Glass
4. Kiddush Cup
5. Chuppah
6. Kippot (We sell kippot/yarmulkes individually at our store in Los Angeles. For bulk orders, see our wedding checklist)

Breaking Glasses from Gallery Judaica

TWY: Do you offer a wedding registry and how does a couple get started? What kinds of items should couples include in their registry?
GJ: We have paired up with MyRegistry to offer a gift registry for Jewish weddings and other occasions. This is a great way to let people know exactly what you would like to receive for your wedding, and avoid receiving duplicate gifts!

TWY: What if you are attending a wedding or an anniversary? What are some special gifts to purchase for a couple?
GJ: For weddings and anniversaries, we recommend gifts for the home. A mezuzah is a great gift for a couple who has just moved into a new home, as is a home blessing. A set of Shabbat candlesticks, a Kiddush cup, or a challah board is a piece of art that a couple will use every Friday night. A Hanukkah menorah or a Passover Seder Plate is something they will display in their home and use each year. You can also give the couple an apple and honey set for Rosh Hashanah or a Tzedakah box for giving to those in need.

TWY: Besides weddings, what other special events or holidays does Gallery Judaica accommodate?
GJ: Gallery Judaica accommodates almost every Jewish event! We have everything you need to celebrate the big holidays: Shabbat, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Passover. We have Awards and Presentation Pieces to honor individuals for achievements and contributions. We’ve got all your Bar and Bat Mitzvah necessities and gifts to give the young adult. We have baby blessings, blessings for the new home, and gifts for any occasion you can think of!

Honey Pot and Oval Apple Tray, Stainless Steel by Mary Jurek

TWY: Do you have a brick-and-mortar store and can fellow Yentas order online?
GJ: We have both!
Our brick-and-mortar store has been a Jewish resource in Los Angeles for almost 30 years. Come on by!

Gallery Judaica
1312 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90024

You can also order online. Feel free to e-mail (info@galleryjudaica.com) or call us (310-475-1242 or 888-311-3636) if you have any questions about merchandise or our services!

TWY: What’s one must-have Jewish household item that every couple should have?
GJ: There are two, actually: Mezuzahs and Shabbat candlesticks. If a Jewish family has no other piece of Judaica, there is almost always a Mezuzah on the front door, and we think it should be a beautiful one. We’ve also found that many people aren’t aware that mezuzahs can go on every doorway in the home (except closets and bathrooms), so there’s often room for one more when you’re looking to give a special gift. Also beautiful to display in your home are Shabbat candlesticks, which sanctify Shabbat every Friday night, and on the holidays, too!