Category Archives: Real Jewish Weddings

Real Weddings | Los Angeles, CA

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

Some couples see their wedding day as an extension of their courtship. Other nearlyweds feel that their wedding day is a new start to their lives. Neither vision is wrong, but for today’s Real Weddings couple, we are looking at a celebratory event that marks another day in six years together. The concept that Michael and Kristen decided on for their June wedding was a fun, casual, environmentally-conscious day with a core group of family and close friends, and lots of creative touches to express their personalities.

Michael is Jewish and Kristen is Protestant, but they have always enjoyed incorporating Jewish rituals into their home life together, and it was a natural choice for them to decide to have a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony with a very musical reform rabbi. They found the perfect, off-beat spot at Smog Shoppe, an amazing, indoor/outdoor eco-friendly venue in Culver City, California with vertical succulent gardens lining the walls and eclectic vintage furniture and decor. Next, they hired an organic caterer, arranged for planted succulent centerpieces rather than cut flowers, and picked conflict-free, recycled platinum wedding rings.

Despite being in grad school and working part time, Kristen poured hours and hours of time and creativity into the wedding planning, crafting almost all the details herself. Her list of projects included designing all the invitations and paper products, sewing different napkin sets for each table with corresponding fabric swatch escort cards (plus a coordinating backdrop for the homemade photo booth at the reception and a bag for Michael’s big glass-breaking moment for the ceremony), collecting vintage white compote dishes to use as planters for the centerpieces, designing and creating the chuppah canopy, as well as screen printing the favor bags, which Kristen and Michael filled with ruggelah cookies from Canter’s Deli on Fairfax.

Michael was no creative slouch either, mixing all the music and visual playlists in advance, and editing a movie of photos of their lives to show before dinner at the reception. For anything they couldn’t do themselves, Kristen and Michael tried to support small local entrepreneurs, from the dress to the cake. They both agreed that the day came together even better than they thought it would. Guests raved about the ceremony, the food was delicious, and everyone packed the dance floor, pitching in to lift the chairs for the Hora and creating a giant Love Train winding around the room!

Mazel tov, Kristen and Michael!

Venue – Smog Shoppe
Photographer – Suthi Picotte
Day Of Coordinator – Ruby Events LA
Catering – Eco Caters
Officiant – Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels
Cake – Kiss My Bundt
Bride’s Dress – Alix & Kelly
Belt – Ban.do
Hair and Makeup – Mandy Perez
Centerpieces – Succulent Love
Chuppah Stand – Happy Chuppah
Ketubah – New Ketubah
Favor Cookies – Canter’s Deli
Groom’s Suit – J Crew
Rings – Brilliant Earth

los-angeles-smogshoppe-jewish-wedding

Real Weddings | Cape Town, South Africa

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Nicholas and Stasia’s story goes back to high school where they had known of each other but had no romantic spark. They were reunited when Stasia was 17 and Nic’s best friend was helping tutor Stasia in math. Naturally, Stasia and Nic saw more of each other and they began to have feelings for each other when they shared long chats on Clifton Beach and Nic would walk Stasia home each evening. By the end of the winter vacation, they realized there was something between them and just like that, a seven year love affair was set into motion.

Having dated for such a long period of time, they shared every milestone together: Stasia’s matric dance, Nic’s 21st birthday, graduations, home purchases, and family celebrations. Their courtship was a magical whirlwind of a romance so it’s only fitting that on the most romantic day of the year, Nic would pop the question. On Valentine’s Day, he got down on one knee, ring in hand, surrounded by rose petals in their bedroom, and asked Stasia to be his wife. As if a ring wasn’t enough, he presented a Yorkie puppy and storybook about them. Gush!

In usual Nic and Stasia fashion, the proposal was followed by a celebratory l’chaim with close family and friends at the couple’s home to toast to another happy milestone together. A few days later they set a date and got on with planning their big day. Originally, the couple aimed to say “I do” in Italy at a Tuscan Villa, but it meant that Granny Yetta, Stasia’s paternal grandmother, wouldn’t be able to come and in the battle of location vs. family, family wins.

We love to see beautiful weddings that honor timeless love between the couple and their families through Jewish traditions and meaningful moments.

Mazel tov, Stasia and Nic!

Ceremony Venue – Great Park Synagogue
Photographer – Mario Sales
Rabbi – Ryan Goldstein
Floral Design – The Bloom Room
Decor – Trendy Settings
Entertainment – Zenith Band
Wedding Dress – Abigail Betz
Groom’s Suit – Fabiani
Makeup – Mac Cosmetics

cape-town-south-africa-jewish-wedding

Real Weddings | Los Cabos, Mexico

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Spring had sprung and love was in the air. The recycled, coffee-saturated, phone-ringing office air. No, this isn’t another story of a scandalous workplace romance. This is the story of a girl, Kate, who thought the young man who worked in the office was cute… for her little sister. Alex worked in Rose’s sister’s office and after getting to know him, Kate realized that Alex and Rose had a lot in common. Kate arranged for the three of them (how romantic) to have dinner in Harvard Square. After several months of friendship, Rose attended Alex’s college graduation in May of 2000, after which they said our goodbyes. Alex was moving back to Connecticut for the summer and then to New York City in September to conquer the world. Rose, on the other hand, was about to embark on her senior year of high school in New Hampshire. Romance shmomance. It would never work. They kept in touch over summer and in August, Alex invited Rose to visit and see his band play. Romance shmomance, yeah right! Undeniable sparks flew, and as they say, the rest is history. After a year together, Rose moved to New York for college… and Alex.

Alex proposed on their seventh dating anniversary. They spent the better part of the past year traveling and enjoying their engagement before finally settling into “negotiation talks” about this wedding also known as the case of Boston Bride v. NYC Groom. The two settled out of court and decided to get married in neutral territory — Mexico!

We love the tropical Los Cabos details of this wedding and the dresses, chuppah, and flowers. Planning a destination wedding doesn’t mean having to forgo Jewish traditions either! Rose and Alex were still about to have the Jewish wedding of their dreams while on vacation with their favorite family members and friends!

Mazel tov, Rose and Alex!

Venue – One & Only Palmilla
Photographer – Leigh Miller Leigh splits her time between CA and KS but is available for travel worldwide!
Coordinator – Amy Abbott – Fiestas Los Cabos
Invitations – AB Paperie
Florist – Elena Damy
Event Design – Oxten
Wedding Gown – Kleinfelds
Jewelry – Suzy B
Wedding Website – MyWedding.com

los-cabos-mexico-jewish-wedding

Real Weddings | Baltimore, MD

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Their prescription for love could have been written much sooner in life, but it wasn’t doctor’s orders to meet yet. Even though Randi and Ari grew up in the same town, they didn’t connect until the first year of medical school during orientation. He had Randi’s email from a mutual friend and sent her a message to introduce himself because, you know, it’s always good to have friends at med school. Throughout the mixers and meetings of orientation, Randi recognized his Ari’s name on his tag and broke the ice, making conversation that would forever change their lives. From then, they became best friends, and spent most of their days together whether it was attending classes, studying, cooking dinners, or going out to let off med school steam. The two were inseparable, but it wasn’t until the end of the first year that they started dating. As any good doctor in training knows, the heart beats for love and these two had on-the-job training. Planning a wedding and surviving medical school make this one powerful couple. Now they are in residency together at the same hospital and they’re love sick for the rest of their lives!

Mazel tov, Randi and Ari!

Venue and Catering – Tremont Grand
Coordination – Lauren Thurston
Photographer – Bob Blanken
Videographer – In Motion Video
Floral – Divine Designs and Events
Hair and makeup – Studio 921 Salon
Entertainment – Round Midnight
Ketubah – TheKetubah.com-Stephanie Caplan
Bridal boutique – Betsy Robinson Bridal
Wedding gown – Watters and Watters
Grooms tux – Calvin Klein

baltimore-maryland-jewish-wedding

Real Weddings | Mitchellville, MD

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

It was a warm Saturday afternoon in the fall of 2003 and the smell of beer and grilled hot dogs wafted through the air the University of Maryland’s football tailgating season. Emily’s good friend, Michelle, had invited her to pre-game with Eric and his friends. It was then that the two were first introduced. A few weeks later, Emily and Eric found themselves sitting next to each other at the Midnight Madness basketball game. From there, it was a slam dunk.

Emily and Eric combined many special touches on their wedding day. Eric is Jewish and Emily is Catholic, so the couple was married in an interfaith ceremony integrating both religions by having a Jewish cantor and a priest. They included several traditional elements from both religions in the ceremony. Emily and Eric’s program clearly explained the different rituals to guests (chuppah, kiddush cups, ketubah, breaking of the glass, sign of peace, unity candle, etc). They mixed some cultural elements into the reception, too, drawing from Jewish and Italian backgrounds. The newlyweds and their guests danced the festive Hora and chair lift and also a slow-to-quick speed Tarantella. To honor their current lives, the bride and groom ordered cookies from a Baltimore bakery to serve a combination of both Italian and Jewish cookies. Also, Emily cleverly made up specialty signs for the cookie display and bar using Hebrew and Italian sayings like “Salute!” and “L’chaim!” Fun! Cheers!

Mazel tov, Emily and Eric!

Venue – Newton White Mansion
Catering – Caribbean Caterers
Day-Of Coordinator – Tina’s Creative Touch
Photographers – Borrowed Blue
Cantor – Ellie Shaffer
Ceremony Entertainment – String Poets
Flowers – Homestead Florals
Hair and Makeup – Updos for I Dos
Cake – Occasional Cakes
Cookies – Piedigrotta Bakery
Invitations, Favors, Programs and Place cards – LizArts Designs