{Real Jewish Weddings} New York, NY

On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in late August, Rochel and Joel were married at the Harold Pratt House on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Orthodox Jewish wedding was a fun fusion of tradition and modernity. Bringing to life ancient Jewish rituals in the authentic 20th century décor of such a historic venue, the day’s celebration commenced with guests mingling during a laid-back cocktail style reception in the reception room. The bride greeted guests from her “throne” in the sitting room as the groom oversaw the signing of the ketubah during his tisch in the library.

The day captured the essence of the unique mix that is New York City by bringing together people from many diverse backgrounds, including guests from all across the Jewish spectrum, to celebrate the young couple and their love. During the intimate ceremony, the bride, in her modest, vintage inspired, lace wedding gown, walked down the aisle to the chuppah flanked by the loving atmosphere created by the couple’s closest family and friends. Shortly after the breaking of the glass, the celebration moved up the marble staircase for a dessert reception on the mansion’s second floor.

Customary Hebrew wedding music set to a modern dance beat played in the ballroom where men and women celebrated with traditional circle dancing and entertaining shtick. As a surprise climax, the groom serenaded his beautiful bride with a rendition of a classic hymn paying tribute to her as a woman of valor by enumerating a long list of her remarkable qualities. The celebration concluded and, in their first act as a newly married couple, the pair enjoyed a leisurely outdoor stroll down the concrete jungle of the iconic Park Avenue followed by a foray into the lush green paradise of nearby Central Park. Walking hand-in-hand as the sun started to dip in the sky was the perfect ending to such a lovely day.

Mazel tov, Rochel and Joel!

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