Category Archives: Featured

Mazel Tov With A Bang!

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Alison in Featured, From The Yentas, Inside Scoop, Real Jewish Weddings

Last week, the all new and refreshed Wedding Yentas launched and in order to celebrate the Yentas reboot, a hearty mazel tov is in order. But with old traditions come new ones and that’s why it’s so exciting to feature Mazel Tov Stone, the gotta-have-it of under-the-chuppah Judaica.

A California couple accidentally discovered The Mazel Tov Stone while attending a family member’s wedding rehearsal. The bride began to panic that the glass wouldn’t break under her groom’s foot, so her quick-thinking relative who also happens to be a stone sculptor, ran to his car and delivered her a slab of limestone to guarantee a sturdy surface on which glass would cleanly and beautifully break. And just like that, Robb and Lisa had woven a new concept on an old tradition. Beach wedding on the sand? Garden wedding on the grass? A wimpy groom with a soft shoe (don’t worry, we won’t tell)? No problem! The Mazel Tov Stone will make sure the glass breaks!

The Mazel Tov Stone is also a great commemorative piece from your wedding, just like your photos, your ketubah, and the shards of glass you might keep for decorative purposes. Since the stone is cut in a beautiful shape of your choice and can be completely customized with your names, date, flourishes, border, and font, it’s a reflection of you as a couple from your wedding day.

I love the fact that you can literally get married in any location in any state, and know that your wedding still has a place in Israel. Hmmm?? How can you be in both places at once? The customized stone is Jerusalem limestone, hailing all the way from the motherland. It’s derived from the same quarries that produced the stone used to build the ancient temples in Jerusalem. Talk about a permanent piece of rock! Having this stone beneath your feet is sure to provide you the same strength and stability that Israel’s rich history has endured. Warm fuzzies, right?

Mazel Tov Stone is part of The Wedding Yentas family, and it’s such an honor to have them as an elite vendor here on the site. You can check them out in the Vendor Directory either under Judaica Stores or Chuppot.

So, say “mazel tov!” for all of us Yentas on our new home, and say “mazel tov!” to yourself for a beautiful marriage that will start with a big bang!

Honoring Thy Mother

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Real Jewish Weddings

Not to sound like a naggy mother, but don’t forget Mother’s Day is this Sunday! Time flew! Weren’t we just eating matzo for a week? Now we’re onto the next family holiday. Mothers play a big part in our lives. Well, for starters, a mother gives us life — literally — so that’s got to count for something. And then as a little girl, you start to imitate her, wearing her too-big high heels around the house and overspritzing her perfume all over your little body. Then you’re a teenager and you declare at least twice daily that she’s, like, ohmygosh soooo embarrassing and ruining your life, but you don’t really mean it. And then you’re engaged and she’s part of your entourage as you shop for The Dress and she helps top off your registry with all the big ticket items at your bridal shower. And then it’s your wedding day, and she manages to cry/giggle/smile/sob/sniffle/beam the entire day — all concurrently — because she raised a beautiful, perfect woman who’s a stunning bride.

And then, a few years later, you are pregnant with your first child — a daughter — and your mom’s same cry/giggle/smile/sob/sniffle/beam carries over as she watches you enjoy the ups and only a few downs (mostly having to do with your expanding tushie) of her daughter becoming a mother. (Alison’s Baby Yenta due in August!)

But that wedding day. Oh, that wedding. It’s the best day of your life as you leap into your new role as wife to your amazing husband. But you will still always be your mom’s little girl. So a few days before Mother’s Day 2011, we take this time to look at some tender mother moments from past Real Weddings.

Happy Mother’s Day — not just on Sunday — but every day!

Mom shares excitement as the walk to the chuppah nears!
Dana & Mark | California — Todd Rafalovich Photography

Mom kisses her little girl as she’s about to become a wife. You are never too old for kisses.
Sara & Matt | Florida — Karen Lisa Artistic Photography

Mom is always handy to have around as she lends a helping hand to her handsome soon-to-be son-in-law.
Rachel & Tim | Hawaii — Dawn Nash of the Romance Specialists

Mom gets final approval as she proudly watches her daughter become a bride.
Alison & Bryan | California — eight20 photography

It never gets old to hear from mom that you’re beautiful.
Jennifer & Gary | California — Matei Horvath Photography

Mom has spent her whole life giving you presents, so on your wedding day, it’s fun to give her something sentimental in return!
Rose & Alex | Mexico — Leigh Miller Photography

Kate’s Dress Inspires Jewish Brides

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop

It’s a sure bet that we’re going to start seeing Kate Middleton wannabe dresses, styles, and accessories all over Wedding Land. And why not? Girlfriend was gorgeous! The Princess Bride could not have looked more stunning with her simple, feminine hair that flowed down, her natural and fresh makeup, and of course the dress, oh That Dress, by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

It is The Wedding Yentas opinion that The Dress definitely lived up to expectations. How difficult it must be to be a bride where people even have expectations of your dress, and then to pull it off flawlessly, well, kudos to Kate. It was the perfect combination of traditional, royal wedding-wear and young, fresh, modern bride. Her arms and shoulders were conservatively covered per Westminster Abbey’s required tradition, but Kate’s beautiful fashion sense still shone through in her neckline, skirt, and style of lace. She really was absolutely breathtaking.

And as a Jewish bride, you may have something in common with her! No, you are probably not going to inherit the Queen of England as your grandmother-in-law and certainly no one is putting bets into Vegas on the length of your first public kiss at Buckingham Palace, but it’s likely you may wish to have or be required to have your shoulders covered for your Jewish wedding. And like Kate, you don’t have to sacrifice style for modesty.

In case you missed it, last year The Wedding Yentas published a great spread on how to rock a bolero jacket or shoulder covering with your wedding dress. Here’s another glimpse into the professional photo shoot that helped so many of our readers learn about dressing fashionably and pleasing a rabbi.

Mazel tov to Kate… and mazel tov to you!

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Unless you’re shopping for your wedding dress at a Victorian-themed costume shop, most of the wedding gowns you’re seeing at mainstream bridal salons include some sexy attributes or cuts that reveal a lot of epidermis real estate. Whether you’re just not comfortable with how the dress fits your upper body or if there are dress code restrictions by which you must abide, The Wedding Yentas are here to reassure you that on your big day, you can look like a dream without living through any couture nightmares.

Many Jewish brides are unable to show their shoulders or open backs, specifically during the ceremony portion of the wedding. We understand that very traditional and observant brides will wear dresses that have sleeves and high collars the whole day. These styles of dresses are gorgeous and absolutely ideal for Orthodox weddings. However, for brides who practice a more reform or conservative denomination of Judaism, it’s possible that the synagogue, rabbi, or the bride’s own personal beliefs will guide her to keep her shoulders covered during the ceremony, but uncovering them for the reception. Always make sure to check with your rabbi first to make sure you’re on the same page regarding wedding attire.

Instead of buying an additional reception dress, The Wedding Yentas have you covered for shoulder covering ideas. Gone are the days of shawls made out of yarn that clash with your raw-silk gown. We have found boleros for you that are stylish, modern, and provide the modesty you need to meet your one-and-only under the chuppah. These boleros are so good-looking, you’ll want to keep them on for the party, anyway!

On May 2, 2010, The Wedding Yentas produced their first ever photo shoot that included a fantastic team of wedding vendors that get 5 out 5 stars (of David) in our little blue and white book. You can expect to see more shoots like this in the future where we assemble a team of some of the best wedding vendors in the industry to show our readers just how to combine style with tradition. Producing these events gives brides a chance to see the latest and greatest in Jewish wedding planning while spotlighting vendors who are experts in their field. We hope you enjoy this 2-part feature because we are so excited to present to you The Bolero Look Book for Jewish Brides!

All of the boleros we feature can be made to order and purchased via the links below. We are showcasing artists who provide excellent customer service along with high-end product. We are happy to endorse these boleros and their talented creators!

Shauna’s World Online Store
Shauna’s World offers classic boleros with quality lace and fashionable details that complement any style of wedding gown.

Mary and Angelika’s Etsy Store
Mary and Angelika graced our models with their vintage-style boleros, featurng feminine details that would make Marie Antoinette squirm with jealousy. Forget diamonds; ruffles are a girl’s best friend.

Uptown Urban Craft’s Online Store
Uptown Urban fit right in with this rural photo shoot. The boleros provide a modesty that is both adorable and chic, allowing any bride to feel like she’s walking down a runway instead of an aisle.

Gertie B’s Etsy Store
Gertie B gets an A+ for her delicate boleros! A bride who wears these boleros feels graceful and ladylike, as lace is the epitome of bridal.

Our phenomenal photographers were Eight20 Photography, Chelsea Elizabeth Photography, Araxi Photography, and Photography by Tara Rochelle. They captured the models in the boleros perfectly, providing you a glimpse of how stylish you can look in your traditional wedding!

Alison Franchi of Le Petit Gardenia provided a table scape that would make Butchart Gardens envious! She assembled gorgeous bouquets for the brides and dreamy details all around. She is quite the floral artist and really helped set the tone of the shoot.

Susie Chhuor worked her magic on our three models and did a terrific job enhancing their beauty, creating a natural, feminine look. The makeup looked just as great at the end of the shoot as it did when Susie applied it.

Special Occasion Hair by Natascha designed hair styles that stayed in tact all day and emphasized the bridal look we wanted our models to showcase. Her diverse works of hair art definitely complemented the flowing styles we were featuring.

The fabulous designers behind these boleros provided us quality fashions and we couldn’t be more obsessed with them! On Wednesday, we’ll talk more about our awesome day and give you a behind-the-scenes view of the photo shoot, so visit us on May 12th to see how exactly The Wedding Yentas produced this day!

Be The Next (Jewish) Princess

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Alison in Featured

The Wedding Yentas is a wedding planning blog, so it would basically be sacrilegious to not pay any attention to the wedding of the century. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the world is losing one in-demand bachelor on Friday. Prince William is marrying Kate Middleton and we’ve all lost our once-in-a-lifetime chance of becoming the next princess. Kate won the role and she’s one lucky lady.

But a girl can dream, can’t she? Want to see what you would have looked like if you were in Kate’s (probably jewel-encrusted, very expensive) shoes?

TLC’s website has a Princess Yourself app that allows you to see what you’d look like if you became royalty via marriage. Just pick out a photo of your face, select your royal hair, royal earrings, royal necklace, and royal wedding dress and you will royally laugh! If anything, have a grand ol’ time playing around with the different combinations while you keep yourself up all night in anticipation of the televised Westminster nuptials.

Here’s a sneak peak of Yenta Alison and Yentas Intern Rachel dolled up on their royal wedding days:

Next, we may be seeing apps for Kate to Jewish Princess herself which will have her uploading her headshot into a bride’s outline under a chuppah and a yarmulke on her groom.

Okay, maybe not.

As of Friday, she may be the next Queen-in-Waiting, but as we all know, there’s just nothing like a Jewish princess.

Traditional Shower/Non-traditional Registry

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop

Let’s talk about presents. We register for them. We get them. And then what? Some people may not be quite ready to store their presents or commit to household big-ticket items. Dana Ostomel, creator of Deposit a Gift, weighs in on how to enjoy a traditional bridal experience, including a shower, and still make a non-traditional registry work for you and your love!

Even in these modern times of different starter needs and alternative registries, the fun of the traditional wedding shower needn’t be lost. But let’s face it, when you think “shower” you think “gifts,” so what’s a shower-thrower to do when the guest of honor has a cash gift registry? We’ve got some tips and tricks to create a gratifying gift-giving experience for guests, and also give the guest of honor what they really want. We get this question a lot, so it is perfectly suited for the Deposit a Gift’s guest blog on The Wedding Yentas.

“How do you throw a shower for someone with an alternative registry like Deposit a Gift? Guests want to bring a gift to be opened. Is this possible with a cash gift registry?”

The Basics:

We created Deposit a Gift with showers in mind. During checkout, gift-givers have the option to delay their gift for the date after the shower, so as not to spoil the surprise, and also once the purchase is complete, they can print a gift certificate to bring to the party. Here is an example gift certificate:

dag-gift-certificate

The gift certificate can easily be slipped in a card and brought to the party. However we realize that people often want to have something more elaborate to open, so below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. But before we get to that, how do you get the guests on board?

It’s All In The Positioning:

As with any new idea, people’s willingness to jump on board and give a gift from an alternative registry is all in how it’s presented to them. If someone is throwing you a shower we recommend you or your shower hostess:

Help guests understand why the guest of honor has chosen this type of registry and how it will be helpful to them.
Tell them that they can print a gift certificate to bring to the party.
Plan a theme based on some of the below ideas that help guests have fun giving this type of gift.
Sometimes even a cute invitation poem can get folks in the mood. Here’s one we recently saw:

Like many young couples these days,
Jack & Jill have most things anyways.
A honeymoon in Fiji is how they’ll start out their life,
In their beautiful journey, as husband and wife!
If you want to give a present we’d like to suggest,
that you make a contribution to their treasure chest.
For without the help of this little pun,
their honeymoon would just not be as much fun!

You can find their honeymoon registry at XXX.mydagsite.com. We hope you enjoy picking out something with a romantic sheen, then bring the gift certificate wrapped in something fun like lingerie or sunscreen!

Fun and Inexpensive Ways to “Wrap” a DAG Gift Certificate To Be Opened At The Party:

Put out art supplies for guests to decorate their cards and envelopes. Then offer a pretty memory board or cork board to hang the gifts — it’s also a nice keepsake for later
Wrap the gift certificate in something useful, lightweight and inexpensive, like a cloth napkin, dishtowel or apron

apron-certificate-board

More Ideas for Wedding Showers:

Include the gift certificate in an envelope with a favorite recipe.
Wrap the gift certificate in sexy underwear or pretty cloth napkins. A store like TJ Maxx carries nice stuff at low prices.
Encase it in a picture frame that can be used for a wedding photo. Target is a reliable place for great finds.
Attach the gift certificate to a kitchen gadget or slip into a reusable shopping bag like awesome Envirosax.
For a honeymoon to paradise, buy a beach bag with towels, and have the guests fill the beach bag with the gift certificates attached to small tokens that would be perfect for fun in the sun like: sunscreen, chapstick, a frisbee, or water bottles.

Deposit a Gift is a cash gift registry service. We provide the tools to build a unique registry and free custom event site, all in one place. Create a gift list for monetary contributions towards dreams and experiences you want most: from honeymoons to home down payments, cribs to college funds!

With a traditional registry service, you sign up at specific stores for gifts you’d like to receive today. With DAG, you build a registry based on what you’d like to buy down the road and receive your gift money to spend where and when you want. SIGN-UP FREE TODAY.