Category Archives: Real Jewish Weddings

My sister-in-law’s one-year wedding anniversary was yesterday, and what better way to acknowledge 365 days of marital bliss than with the gift of blog post? Happy anniversary, Alison & Michael!

Nothing is more important to both Alison and Michael than loved ones, laughter, music, and good food. When planning their wedding day, they were sure to make those four passions take the spotlight. By using a regal purple as the main color (Alison’s favorite color and Michael’s college color, go Northwestern Cats!) and their take on a simple yet elegant aesthetic, they were able to make the day shine with the help of their loving family and friends, a rocking band, incredible food, and inevitable laughter.

Since both bride and groom are professional performers (as are many of their family and friends), the band played while various members of the party would sing their hearts out, including a special performance by the groom in which he surprised his wife by singing a song just for her (“Grow Old With Me” by Jason Robert Brown). The ceremony itself was a reform ceremony in which Michael drank most of the wine, Alison and Michael tearfully and giddily exchanged vows, and Michael crushed the glass to roaring sounds of “Mazel Tov.” It was a beautiful day, full of love and joy, which neither of them will ever forget!

Mazel tov, Alison and Michael!

Venue/Caterer: Skirball Center
Photographer: ES Photography
Coordinator: Melissa Jordan of Liquid Bliss
Florist: Happy Flowers
Band: Wayne Foster Entertainment
Cake: Cake Crumbs
Officiant: Cantor David Shukiar from Temple Adat Elohim
Wedding Dress: Camarillo Bridal
Bridesmaids/Flower Girl Dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom/Groomsmen’s Tuxes: Victor Talbots
Party Favors: Salty and Sweet Theme! Sweet from Penny’s Sweet Shoppe and bath salts from bath junkie
Bride’s Hair Stylist: Susie Hooper
Bridesmaids’ Hair Stylist: Briana Bayar, Bella B Salon
Bridal and Bridesmaids’ Makeup Artist: Samantha Salk

Grace and Jake have known each other since elementary school, but did not become friends until high school. Their first date was to homecoming in 2003. They dated off and on through the years as they both attended University of Georgia and later both lived in Atlanta. It was not until Grace was working abroad for a year in India that the two decided that they wanted to be together forever!

It was important to the couple to incorporate elements of Jake’s Jewish heritage into the wedding as well as respect Grace’s Christian background. Their wedding took place on a Sunday afternoon on a farm outside of Frankin, TN, with both a Christian minister and a Jewish cantor presiding. Decor was in a color palette of blues, grays, and peach, and their designer incorporated touches of the ikat pattern that Grace loves. Guests enjoyed an open air afternoon meal following the ceremony on the front lawn, and danced into the evening when shuttle buses transported them back to Nashville.

Mazel tov, Grace and Jake!

Venue: Southall Eden
Photographer: Photographix
Planning and Design: Sage Nines Event Production
Cake: Dessert Designs
Caterer: Bacon and Caviar
DJ: Mike Beaver
Flowers: The Enchanted Florist
Hair and Makeup: Ashlea Mullins and Stephanie Harrison
Officiant: Ralph Griggs
Cantor: Tracy Fishbein
Rentals: Music City Tents

James and Nancy met online, and coincidentally, their first date happened to be on the one-year anniversary of her twin sister’s marriage. They hit it off immediately and quickly fell in love. One year later James and Nancy got engaged at the romantic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. She said YES and the wedding planning began!

The vision for their special day was to be surrounded by Jewish tradition and old southern charm. The original plan was to have everything outside, but since there was a 90% chance of rain, the hard decision was made to move the wedding and reception inside. Thankfully it only sprinkled off and on. The highlight prior to the ceremony was going on a golf cart photo adventure, zipping around and dodging raindrops. Despite the threatening weather, the wedding was absolutely beautiful.

James and Nancy included many Jewish traditions in their ceremony. One of the favorites was the signing of the Ketubah. The moment was meaningful and a beautiful symbol of their covenant which will be displayed in their home forever. Nancy’s paternal grandfather gave them a Kiddush cup that had been used at her grandparents’ own wedding 71 years ago, and the other Kiddush cup was a gift from her twin sister. Their Chuppah was the centerpiece of the ceremony and was handmade by a friend of the family. The rabbi was very special to the couple since they are friends; he did an excellent job at explaining all the Jewish traditions during the ceremony as they are an interfaith couple. The bride and groom and all of the guests had a wonderful time at the wedding and have memories that will last a lifetime!

Mazel tov, Nancy and James!

Venue and Catering: Ballantyne Country Club
Photography: Whitney Gray Photography
Cake: Cakes by MaryAnn
Florist: The Place for Flowers
Makeup Artist: Bethany Gregory
Band: Mo’ Money by East Coast Entertainment
Dress: New York Bride
Ketubah: Jerise on Etsy
Invitations/Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas
Jeweler: Skatells
Rabbi: Rabbi Michael Shields

Ben and Cambria’s wedding was a beautiful, sunny, summer wedding! In addition to hiring awesome photographers to document their love in still pictures, these two film and photo buffs included Super Eight cameras to capture the day in all of its vintage and handmade glory. So many of the details were creatively and heartfully designed and assembled by the couple themselves, and they were so lucky to have wonderful friends who helped in all facets of the getting ready time, ceremony, and reception. Thinking outside the box allows a couple to keep a wedding reasonably priced and also still beautifully memorable. Hard work clearly went into this wedding, but that’s why their love looks easy! What a wedding to be proud of and a life ahead to enjoy together.

Mazel tov, Cambria and Ben!

Photographer: Ampersand Wedding Photography
Venue: Intervale Center
Cake: Caketopia Cakes
Jeweler: VK Designs

Claire and Ilia enjoyed a classic and romantic Pasadena wedding. They infused a touch of Jewish traditions into the ceremony to honor Ilia’s heritage. He wore a yarmulke and stepped on the glass at the end as these are festive Jewish groom traits. They also performed their own version of a mitzvah buy donating their flowers to the local nursing and convalescent hospital. What a wonderful idea! Claire had seen this practice when she was younger while doing volunteer work in convalescent homes. One time she came in and the whole place was full of these beautiful post-wedding flowers! The residents seemed to really get a kick out of having the flowers, and the director said that people occasionally donated their flowers after events. So it seemed like a much better option to donate them rather than just throw them away!!

Mazel tov, Claire and Ilia!

Photographer:  Pepper Nix Photography
Venue: Annandale Golf Club
Bridesmaid Dresses: Adrianna Papell
Floral Designer: Jerry Palmer Floral Design
Bakery: Pastries by Nancy
Invitation Designer: Vroman’s

Submitted via Two Bright Lights