The Wedding Yentas™ | A Guide for the Jewish Bride!™

8 Reasons Why A Small Wedding Is A Good Idea

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Alison in From The Yentas, Inside Scoop, Planning

Small weddings. There’s something so romantic and special about being part of an event that has an exclusive guestlist and all focus on the bride and groom. Whether it’s for economical reasons or for destination wedding desires, intimate nuptials are big in popularity. Why?

The most special day you’ll experience with your partner will be spent among only your nearest and dearest! Whittling down your people means you have fewer guests who are extraneous or friends of relatives you hardly know. It’s all about the quality instead of the quantity!
Ahh… you can breathe! Fewer people means less pressure. Because of the small amount of guests, your wedding day jitters will likely shrink down to little to none. This is because you won’t have seemingly-foreign eyes on you. Among your closest friends and favorite family, you should feel much more relaxed. No dog and pony show for your VIPs. Just party on in a fancy dress! Om to that!
Cha-ching! You’re saving money, friends! Who doesn’t like that? Fewer people means fewer homes to send invitations (which means fewer postage stamps); Fewer tables means fewer centerpieces or printed menus at each place setting; Fewer people means fewer favors and that means fewer labels with your logo to stick on such favors. See where I’m going with this? It’s not just saving on the catering bill. It’s saving on every element that would normally be attached to a guest.
Go big! If you’re on a budget, I would strongly advise you don’t cut corners and, rather, you cut people. You can still have a high-end, beautiful wedding supported by top-notch vendors if you declutter your guestlist. Want to splurge on your dream photographer? Want to indulge in a gourmet meal that stands out from your usual banquet chicken-and-‘tatoes grub? You can when you don’t have to pay for so many people!
With a smaller wedding, you have more choices in selecting a venue. Since you won’t need to accommodate a large amount of people in a space, you could get married in some really unique and cool locations. Art galleries, boutique restaurants, university libraries… you can have a more personal experience in a unique location.
You can actually schmooze with your guests! You are inviting all your favorite people, right? So that means you can actually talk to them! It’s always so sad when the bride and groom miss out on face time with the people who’ve come to celebrate them. I know I missed out on seeing some people at my 162-person wedding and I STILL feel guilty about it! The day goes by fast, no matter how many people you invite. Big wedding, small wedding — the day flies by. You’ll want to be able to steal a hug from the people you love and if you have a smaller guest list, you’ll be able to get as many squeezes as you’d like!
People will remember your wedding! Because it won’t follow the cookie-cutter format that most large weddings employ, your guests will recall it was a unique day, representative of you as a couple! For people who get around the seasonal wedding circuit, weddings can become fairly assembly line-like and very predictable. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — chocolate cake is pretty predictable and it’s delicious every time — but it is nice to stand out and make a mark, especially on a day that’s yours.
Save some money for later! If you’re contributing to your own wedding, either fully or partially, you already know that you’re spending on one amazing day. But it really is one day. One. Ouch. That’s a lot of cash to spend on 1/365th of a year. If cash is tight — and these days, it’s likely everyone’s holding their wallets a little more tightly — you’ll want to save on your wedding with an intimate guestlist so that you have more funds for your honeymoon, a house, or a rainy day.

Weddings of all shapes and sizes are truly special in their own way, but if you’re on the fence about whether to have a large wedding or a smaller sized event, hopefully this list helped make your decision a little easier. A small wedding can still have a big heart, and when it’s all over, it’s all about the two most important guests of honor: you and your b’shert!

Elizabeth Zuluaga Photography

Get the Low Down on Short Wedding Dresses

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Alison in From The Yentas, Planning

A wedding dress above the ankles is nothing short on style. In fact, short wedding dresses can be just as fashionable — if not more! — than your more formal, long dress. There’s a time and a place for a short wedding dress and if the rest of your wedding day style can swing it, I say go big — well, short — or go home!

I am so inspired by my fellow Yentas who have featured weddings on the site. Remember Marissa who looked super chic and sophisticated in her to-the-knee white cocktail dress from Sak’s? I think we could all take a page from her stylish book!

If you’re having an intimate wedding, an artsy wedding, a beachy wedding, a courthouse wedding, or a destination wedding, a short dress may just be for you! And maybe you have killer legs or you just do not want that big pouffy dress. I found that GCGMe has the best high quality dresses. That is a-okay in my eyes! Short wedding dresses can still make a statement with fabulous style and current trends.

You can still keep Jewish traditions alive with a short wedding dress. If you need your shoulders covered, there are some great boleros or cardigans that would add even more style to the entire look. And if you plan to wear a veil, there is no better way to go with a birdcage! So if you’re on spilkes that you have to wear a traditional wedding gown in order to keep your vows kosher under the chuppah, you can still have a Jewish wedding and stay true to your style and what you love.

The long and short of it is: you can totally pull of the short wedding dress!

And now we’ve reached the portion of this post where we get to stare at photos. Because, really, who doesn’t like to stare at photos of pretty dresses?

Kate Spade New York 'Gimlet' Silk Sheath Dress from Nordstrom

Robert Rodriguez Black Label Daniela Bead-Top Dress from Neiman Marcus

Albury Gown by Watters

Sue Wong Organza Petal Sheath Dress from Nordstrom

8154 by Watters

Lela Rose Brocade Sheath Dress from Neiman Marcus

{Real Jewish Weddings} Houston, TX

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Unlike couples who envisioned every detail of their wedding before ever becoming engaged, Jackelyn and Zachary were more free-spirited when it came to planning their big day. They knew only that they wanted a fun and different event that was meaningful and special to them. They enlisted professional planners and designers to interpret their many unique preferences into one cohesive look that matched their unique personalities.

Jackelyn’s favorite memory of her wedding day was the first look before the ceremony. She and Zachary met in a private room overlooking a garden. She walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Both cried and laughed together for a few private minutes. The time together before walking down the aisle was truly special.

Jackelyn also loved getting ready at the synagogue with her family. Her mother, sister, cousins, sisters-in-law-to-be and mother-in-law-to-be prepared in the bride’s room throughout the day. Jackelyn was surprisingly calm and enjoyed her time with “the girls”. Her relaxed demeanor surprised her as it was very different than she thought she’d feel.

The couple’s favorite detail was the giant mirror that displayed their table seating assignments. Jackelyn recommends that future brides take time to take in the little details like that, and to take mental pictures of every moment, no matter how small it may seem at the time. The day goes by too fast. And remember that the most important thing about your wedding won’t be the minutiae, rather, it will be the memory of having all of your loved ones in one room, celebrating the beginning of your new lives together!

Mazel tov, Jackelyn and Zachary!

Photographer: chipgillespie photographer
Event Planner: Something to Celebrate
Floral Designer: Darryl & Co.
Cake Designer: Alphorn Bakery
Hair Stylist: Blush & Co
Cinema and Video: Evoke Videography
Makeup Artist for Bride, MOB, and MOH: Blush & Co
Caterer: Rice Epicurean Catering
Musicians: Sauce The Band

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

6 Steps To Easy Shoe Shopping That’s A Shoe-in!

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Shoes! They are like the fun sidekick to our other best friends: diamonds. We gals love our shoes, and shopping for wedding shoes can be fun, but because they’re WEDDING shoes, they carry a little more significance and also require a new set of requirements.

Jason Kaczorowski Photography

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s worn a super hot pair of shoes and then hobbled around halfway through the event cursing my feet and hearing them buzz with throbbing pangs at the end of the night. Every time this happens, we say “never again!” and yet, there we are, partying at another event, with leather digging in, or heels tingling with numbness, or toes getting shmushed by straps. Why do we torture ourselves? It’s bad enough we have to hold our pee all night because we have to wear Spanx! (Ok, well I do.).

I’m all about cute shoes, but pain is not a welcome guest on your wedding day.

The last thing you want is distraction from aching sore feet as you enjoy your ceremony and reception. And there’s nothing glamorous about a bride who winces and limps across the dance floor. And simply removing your shoes can be dangerous because your dress will suddenly get longer and you’ll take a trip before your honeymoon even begins.

You want stylish and comfortable? It’s possible! Start your wedding day off on the right (and left) foot: wear the right shoes!

Mi Belle Photography

If you’ve never worn heels before, this is not the time to start. You’ll lose more than Cinderella’s glass slipper at midnight. You’ll lose your balance. And from there, your dignity. And from there… Ok, I will stop. Your wedding day is not the time to play dress up. If you haven’t had practice in any kind of height, you’ll only experience lows.
Think about your dress. Make sure your doo-dads aren’t fighting. If your dress is enhanced with pearly details, you’ll probably want to stay away from shoes that have lots of bling. They just won’t go. If your dress is ivory and your shoes are white, ehhh, they may not work well together. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to complement your dress with your shoes! A fun pop of color! Lots of blingy shoes for a simple unembellished dress! A cool pattern!
Think about your groom’s height. If you two are the same height already, you’ll gain some inches on him once you don the heels. Make sure he’s cool with whatever height you become so that you’ll like how your pairing looks in pictures. If you’re already taller than your groom, then this is a non-issue and you go rock those legs, girlfriend!
If money is an issue, don’t spend a lot or any at all. Shoes aren’t really the focal point of your wedding ensemble. If you’d rather put the cash toward your photographer, you can save a lot by shopping at stores with a large variety or with heavy discounts (try Macy’s, Payless, Aldo Shoes , Shoes.com, Zappos). If shoes are not really that important to you, you could also borrow a pair of shoes from a friend or family member. And there you go, you have our “something borrowed!”
Be a two-shoe gal! You can always bring a comfy pair of shoes to wear for your reception or when your feet start to kill you. Just make sure they still fit with your dress, taking into consideration the style and the length of your dress. If you must have those hotsy totsy pair of amazing designer shoes for your photos, then I say go for it! Then, when you’re done with them, ~~send them to me~~ slap on another pair that may be a bit more comfy for your tootsies. Maybe just wait until after the Horah so everyone can see your cute shoes popping out from your dress when you two go up in the chairs.
If you end up wearing heels, break them in! Before your wedding day, get to know your shoes. Become one with your shoes. Make your shoes your biatch. Basically, your feet should be like, “Ohhhh heeeey! Nice to feel you again! Welcome back! Get on here, you ol whippersnapper, you!” Seriously, if your shoes don’t talk to you, you have bigger problems.

Happy shoe shopping! May your two soles/souls fall in love!

Jessika Feltz Photography

Pingback: 6 Shoe Shopping Tips for the Bride | My Own Bridal Show

Tales From The Veil: Chuppah Style

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Alison in Featured, Jewish Traditions, Tales from the Veil

Excited to share Stefanie Syat’s wedding chuppah today as described by Miriam, blogger extraordinaire on the blog, Pre-Dame: A Beauty Guide for the Everyday Girl. Pre-Dame explores the beauty industry through the life of Stefanie Syat, Pre-Dame owner and professional makeup artist. Stefanie and Miriam answer beauty questions and provide solutions for blunders. Whether it’s through photos, videos, or in-depth explanations, Stefanie and Miriam teach you all you need to know to put your best face forward! And since Stefanie is now a recent bride, she has the wedding background to back up the bridal beauty analysis. Check out the Pre-Dame Facebook page for regular news and updates! Miriam narrates Stefanie’s vision for her chuppah in an excerpt from Pre-Dame below.

The hebrew word for “covering” is chuppah, and today we’re featuring the one-of-a-kind chuppah Stefanie and Jacob were married under. On its most basic level, a chuppah symbolizes the home the couple will build together. Different customs call for different protocol. Some couples don’t wear any kinds of knots or bows at the ceremony because at that moment they’re tying the ultimate knot and it’s said that there shouldn’t be anything else binding them. Others have a custom not to wear any jewelry beneath the chuppah so that they can truly and honestly assess the value they’ve found in each other. If you notice, the sides of Chupah are open and that symbolizes a commitment from the bride and groom to always have a home that’s open to guests.

It’s beautiful, all the thought and care that goes into this special day. I’ve learned that on the day of the wedding all of the blessings that the couple will merit in their lifetime sit on top of the chuppah during the ceremony. I mentioned this to Stefanie a little while back and sat down more recently to hear what the chuppah meant to her and Jacob.

“I think of the chuppah as the centerpiece to the whole ceremony,” Stefanie said, “It’s what houses us as we make our commitment to spend the rest of our lives together and transition from an engaged couple to a married couple.

I wanted the chuppah to represent our style, not only for the wedding day, but in life too. We love nature, hence the reason we got married in the middle of Vermont on a mountain top, and we love the grand feeling of being surrounded by trees and nature in general. When you’re on the top of a mountain, you feel humbled by all of the gorgeous surroundings and realize what life is all about. We live in NYC with the constant hustle and lack of nature so getting out of the city to relax and take in the fresh air is key in our happiness. To us, the chuppah represented our new “home” together. We told the florist to make it as “tree-focused as possible with little to no flowers,” and he did it beautifully!

The tallis represents past generations of those married under the Jewish law. That is a family tradition of mine that we wanted to continue. The photos represent all of our ancestors who lived lives that allowed us to be there on that special day. They helped shape our families and the people we are today and we look to them as witnesses to the new family that we will create together.”

I’ve also learned that on the day of the wedding a G-dly light shines from the faces of the couple. Kabbalah says that the family members of the couple that have passed away have a presence, too. For Stefanie and Jacob, the photos they included made sure of that.

Photographer: Jami Saunders
Florist & Chuppah: Jasper & Prudence Floral