Monthly Archives: October 2013

{Real Jewish Weddings} Even Yehuda, Israel

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Kim and Shay met seven years ago when they were both working at a friend’s bar in central Tel Aviv. Kim was the hostess and Shay was the bartender so they bonded over a festive atmosphere. Kim was born in New Zealand in a non-Jewish family, but had lived in Israel for 20 years. She had wanted to take the plunge and convert for many years, but never found the right time.

After a few years of friendship, Shay and Kim decided that they wanted to get married so therefore it meant Kim had finally decided that it was time to begin studying. She converted at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv and was welcomed into the Jewish community in May 2011.

When Kim and Shay came to look for a rabbi to marry them, there was no question, Rabbi Michael Boiden would be the one to guide them as they began their lives together. He had had a large part in Kim’s conversion.

Kim is also a wedding planner and designer, so she had a blast planning all the details. She could finally do it exactly how she wanted and the only problem she faced was making up her mind since she liked so many different kinds of ideas! She has planned so many weddings, that she wanted to have her’s in a venue that she had never used before. It was a classic and modern type of an affair, but the design included a lot of potted plants that created a softer, natural look — and became great giveaways at the end of the night! All of the vendors were personal friends and colleagues which meant that she could celebrate with all of them, too!

Mazel tov, Kim and Shay!

Photographer: Shay Ohayon Photography
Venue: Citrus
Catering: Mazal Tela
Production & Design: Kim – Event Production & Design
DJ: Art Music – DJ Doron
Makeup: Dikla Sharabi
Rabbi: Michael Boiden

Tales From The Veil: Saying Yes To The Dress

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Alison in Planning, Tales from the Veil

Remember real bride Jordan? She’s back to share her moment when she said “yes!”… to the dress!

After visiting Kleinfelds and Gabriella Bridal Salon in New York, I came home and started visiting places here in LA. I went to Saks Bridal Salon and a famous boutique in the valley, and at each place, I found beautiful dresses that looked really, really nice on me. I loved a Reem Acra strapless ballgown at one shop, a beautiful embroidered Kenneth Pool at Saks, and a lace trumpet gown at another shop… but they weren’t The One, and deep down I knew it. So I kept looking!

Jordan and her mom and sister at Kleinfeld in New York. Fun experience, but no luck with saying “Yes.”

Literally the day after we got engaged, my sister was so overwhelmed with excitement she started sending me a million different links to a million different web sites. I clicked one of them, which was an article about wedding cakes, and after reading it through, I randomly clicked on the tab marked “Wedding Gowns” and there in front of me was a gorgeous dress. It was seriously stunning. I pinned it to my secret “I DO!” Pinterest board and went about my day.

From then on, every time I went to a bridal salon, I’d show them the picture of this dress and try on similar ones, but none of them were it. Finally, I realized I was being an idiot; why hadn’t I tried on that exact dress yet? I started calling around and by some miracle, the designer was having a trunk show at a nearby dress salon two weeks from my phone call. I made an appointment for this past weekend and enlisted my friend, Greene Bean, and my mother to come with me.

The moment I walked into the store I saw the dress hanging on the rack in front of me and I gasped. It was even more beautiful in person. I asked to have it added to my dressing room, and spent a couple more minutes looking around the store and adding other dresses to try on, but I kept thinking about that first dress! Then I went into the dressing room with the consultant. I had planned on trying on some others and was going to lead up to it, but she said “This one is the prettiest. Try this on first!”

She put it on over my head and as soon as I saw it on me in the mirror, I gasped and turned bright red. It was STUNNING. I wiggled around impatiently while she zipped and buttoned me up and then after a billion minutes, she opened the door so I could go out and show my mom. I took two steps out of the dressing room and my mom started CRYING!!!!! She knew it just like I knew it. It was The One!!!!!

But I couldn’t say yes without showing my sister, so I posed for a billion photos from all angles and my mom texted them to Bailey, off in NYC. A few minutes passed — with me prancing around staring at myself in the mirror — and then Bailey called back. “It’s amazing and you look beautiful,” she said.

“Are you saying yes?” asked the consultant. “YES!!!!” I said. DONE AND DONE. They brought out a bottle of Champagne and everyone clapped and toasted. It was seriously like out of a movie!

A rack of beauties.

If I could have imagined my dream dress, it would have included an illusion neckline, some lace, an unusual shape, a sparkly belt, and a LOT of shimmer and sparkle… and by some miracle of God my dress has ALL OF IT. And the best part: since it was at a trunk show, we got it for 10% off PLUS you know the consultant was a sassy gay who fell in love with me, so he GAVE me the matching VEIL as a gift!!! Every time I think about it I start smiling.

I wish I had some fun pictures to put in this post but you know I can’t ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say, on October 25, 2014, I’ll be wearing the most beautiful dress in the world and marrying the cutest guy I know. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jordan Silverman is a newly engaged bride-to-be who works in nonprofit marketing & communications by day and blogs at Queen of LA by night. A native of Los Angeles and a proud Arizona Wildcat for life, Jordan has always loved to write and host fun events, so it goes without saying that she is very excited for wedding planning! Jordan lives with her fiancee, Rami, in Brentwood, California. When they are not watching reruns of Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives, attending alt-comedy shows, cooking, traveling, or watching movies, they’re dreaming about their future purchase of a French bulldog puppy.

{Real Jewish Weddings} La Jolla, CA

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

After meeting at UC Santa Barbara, Kristin and Scott spent their days on the beach, hanging with their friends, and graduating together. Those easy breezy days of college was the foundation for their relationship and after they earned their undergrad degrees, they overcame new challenges. Scott went off to medical school at USC and Kristin took a job in San Diego, so their relationship became long distance but it only strengthened their bond.

Their summer interfaith wedding in San Diego was a beautiful and purpley affair on the grounds of the beautiful La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla.

Mazel tov, Kristin and Scott!

Photographer: Karen Ard Photography
Chair Rentals: ChiavariChairRentals.com
DJ: Entertainment At Large
Event Planner: First Comes Love Weddings and Events
Reception Venue: La Valencia Hotel – Kimberley Winninger
Floral Designer: Nancy Stevens Wedding Flowers

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Pingback: Featured: The Wedding Yentas

How To Give A Wedding Toast

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Alison in Inside Scoop

Ah, the art of the toast. No, not the carbs that get crispy under heat. I am referring to the toast that involves alcohol and some kind words in public. It is an art and there are dos and don’ts. We’ve all been witnesses to toasts gone wrong, and not only is it embarrassing for the toaster (whether they know it or not), it’s also horrifying for the toastee.

It’s not uncommon to hear the best man ramble on about parties from college or gross childhood pranks. And sometimes there’s the maid of honor who shares inside jokes about high school among sniffles of really uncontrollable emotion. As guests, we feel like we want to steer the train away to safety, but can’t, and instead, that runaway train becomes unstoppable.

But toasts don’t have to be roasts! There’s no reason they should become points of embarrassment or a cause to bite off all of your freshly manicured nails!

Toasts can be thoughtful, funny, and tasteful, while also endearing, proving why you’ve been selected to speak to and on behalf of the couple.

B&G Photography

What are the signs of a successful toast?

1. Bring a drink! Don’t guzzle down so much of the drink that you can’t manage to speak, but you also don’t want to propose a toast with an empty hand. It’s easy to forget your bubbly as the M.C. calls your name to the floor and you’re in a flutter of adrenaline, but just keep repeating to yourself: Take a drink. Take a drink. Take a drink. And that way, at the end, you’re not holding up an imaginary glass of Champs!

2. Bring notes with you. You don’t want to memorize anything completely because if you blow a fuse and you forget a point, you’ll lose your entire train of thought and that rough patch will turn into a total meltdown. On the flipside, you don’t want to read your speech word-for-word off your paper. You’ll lose so much of the personable points and it’s almost impossible to not sound like you’re reading. Sounding like Charlie Brown’s teacher should be the exact opposite of your goal. So find the happy medium: Know the points you want to make, but speak about them from your heart. Use your notes as a guide to keep you on track, but speaking freely will keep your words and voice organic.

3. Keep it light and positive! This is not the time to make fun or put down. That’s uncomfortable for everyone! If you’re stuck, find a quote, a movie line, a piece of poetry, a song lyric. They make great intros and closers. You can tell a pretty benign story if it has a reason and a place in the toast or you can offer tips or advice to the couple. And like all fairytales that end in “happily ever after,” you’ll want to end your toast with kind wishes.

These tips might help you with crafting a toast, but nothing says it better than this video from a YouTube channel called PODIUM. Check out this short and entertaining clip that’ll give you some professional insight to giving toasts as well as some inspiration as you marinate on ideas of your own.

{Real Jewish Weddings} Baltimore, MD

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Emily and Eli created a truly unique wedding for themselves that reflected their taste for fresh, modern, and creative lifestyle. Ever seen a wedding take place on a staircase before? Now you will! Totally love that Emily and Eli literally surrounded themselves around their bridal party, stood above their guests so that every view was top-notch, and, whether they intended for this ritual or not, the couple was elevated to royalty like the bride and groom should be!

Taking advantage of a city’s views and landmarks is a great idea on the day of the wedding as long as time is allotted. You may see these beautiful spots regularly and take dozens of photos in front of them, but there’s nothing more special than a bride and groom posing near famous or iconic areas and having it documented by a professional photographer. Suddenly, every day views become sentimental attractions. Emily and Eli took advantage of their gorgeous city and their photos turned out great!

Sweet moments and emotions round out this real Jewish wedding, showcasing what a perfect day Emily and Eli enjoyed!

Mazel tov, Emily and Eli!