How cool is Kaya and Dean’s Purim masquerade ball Jewish wedding?! This Israeli couple knew they wanted to do something different for their big day – something more like a party than a formal wedding – and we are in love with the concept they came up with!
Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor LBI Productions, helped them pull together the day of their dreams, filled with lots of red velvet, bold patterns, massive chandeliers, masks (for the bride and groom and all of the guests), capes, and feathers. Don’t miss the exquisite images by PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY. We’re also obsessed with Kaya’s uber-glam gown by beloved Israeli designer Berta.
Tragically, Kaya and Dean’s wedding day encompassed the beauty and sorrow that are flipsides of life in Israel: on the way to the wedding, three of Dean’s friends were injured in a terrorist attack just a few streets away from the venue, and one of them passed away two weeks later. The couple’s loved ones opted to hide the news from them until the morning after the wedding so they could fully enjoy their big day, and the horrific news made all the love and joy of the wedding all the more poignant.
Kaya beautifully recounts the rollercoaster of emotion she and Dean experienced as the happiest day of their lives came up against the horrific reality Israelis live with – do read on for her moving words…
How We Met
Kaya, the bride: We met through mutual friends. For a long time, there were various people who tried to introduce us, but we weren’t available at the time. Eventually, my best friend’s husband made the connection between us. My husband works in real estate entrepreneurship, and I work in marketing, creative, and production.
A Tel Aviv Wedding
We got married at a place called “The Colosseum,” which was formerly known as “The Pussicat.” We were looking for a venue in Tel Aviv that wasn’t a traditional event hall, but more like a cool party space. Since we had a masquerade ball, we wanted a venue that would resemble a grand ball, with stairs. We also took the space across from the Colosseum and transformed it into the area for the guest reception and the wedding ceremony. We created completely separate designs for each space.
Masquerade Ball
I really wanted to get married, but Dean didn’t want to at all. We had to come to a compromise and create a wedding that was different—more like a party and less of a formal ceremony with tons of guests. We wanted it to be intimate, just close friends and family, without inviting parents’ friends and a million guests—only the people who truly matter to us.
We searched for a cool concept, and in the end, Dean came up with the idea he had always dreamed of: to have a Purim party with the concept of a masquerade ball. We had specific dress code references and celebrated on a date when everyone in the country was dressing up. We designed the entire venue like a grand ball. We searched for references for a long time, and finally, we found the perfect ones, inspired by places in Paris: red velvet, burgundy, crazy patterns, huge chandeliers, masks, capes, feathers—everything to create the best masquerade party experience for our guests. Even the music at first was ball music.
We planned everything so that when people entered the venue, they would feel like they stepped into a masquerade. For the ceremony, everyone entered with masks, and they all received precise instructions in the invitation that masks were mandatory. Everyone put in so much effort!
Invitation
The “Save the Date” was designed by a friend, with a very precise reference to a ball invitation. The colors and fonts were chosen to create the perfect ball atmosphere. The actual invitation was designed by the graphic designer of my event producer. What was most important in the invitation was that each guest received a link to a folder I created on Pinterest, which included references for the dress code. That’s what we were most particular about.
Hair + Makeup
Hair – Shay Halaly Ziv who is a long-time friend. Make-up – Assaf Babo. I wanted to look like myself, with simple hair and natural make-up.
My husband hates make-up and hair styling, and he was worried I would look like every other bride who doesn’t look like herself on her wedding day. I’m also not someone who wears heavy make-up. It turned out perfect! I felt beautiful, and most importantly, I felt like myself.
A Berta Dress
In general, my taste leans towards flowing silk fabric—simple and precise, that’s really me! But I understood the concept, and with all the guests entering in masquerade ball style, I definitely couldn’t wear a small and simple dress. So, I searched and searched, and immediately realized that the perfect designer for me, the best in the world, was the bridal designer Berta, who, coincidentally, is also the mother of a very close friend of mine and my husband’s.
As soon as I finalized the concept (I think even before I secured the venue), I went to see dresses with her. And I found “the one”—a corset dress with a train and lace gloves, simply the dress of my dreams. The second dress was from Israeli designer Daniella Heged, where I came in with a very specific reference— I wanted a dress for a real party, something sparkly, with huge feathers and small, delicate gloves. For each dress, I also had a custom mask made.
For the first wedding dress, I ordered a mask from a woman in Toronto, whom I met through Etsy. She makes amazing masks, and this one was beaded with feathers and a stick. The second mask was made by jewelry designer Keren Wolf. I wanted the whole party to still revolve around the mask, so I decided on a net mask with stones set on a headband. Everything turned out even more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed.
Accessories + Shoes
I bought my shoes at Valentino – high platform shoes in lacquered leather, which I wore with both of my dresses. Jewelry: A close friend of ours manages marketing for the prestigious and well-known jewelry store, Fendi. He lent me a stunning diamond necklace and diamond stud earrings for my wedding day.
Veil: It was designed by Berta. Masks: As I mentioned earlier, I had two custom-designed masks, carefully crafted and unique to the theme.
Bridesmaids
In Israel, it’s less common to refer to them as bridesmaids, but they were definitely my bridesmaids. They were with me from the moment I woke up until the moment I went to sleep. They all dressed even more beautifully than I could have imagined, and they were the most perfect bridesmaids I could have asked for. They are my best friends, like sisters to me, since I’m an only child. I truly felt like a princess, and so much of that was thanks to them.
Ceremony & Chuppah
To be honest, the chuppah part was the one we went with the flow the most. We decided to spend most of our budget on the party and venue design. We wanted the chuppah to be light and at eye level, something that would bring us together rather than with the family. For the reception area, we wanted it to be clean with a subtle nod to the masquerade ball.
We created a large “knight’s table” with ball-inspired tableware and lots of candles. We also wanted flowers, but in a delicate way, with touches of red (a hint to the color scheme of the party and ball). And, of course, everything was draped with curtains.
I’m not a religious person, and the “religious” aspect of the event wasn’t that important to me. So, everything surrounding the wedding and the halacha was done simply, and we didn’t really focus on it too much.
Our music choice
Music and design were the most important things to us. We sat down with all the DJs and gave them precise instructions. First, we brought a DJ for the reception and entrance to the party hall, and the music was amazing, it transported us into a dreamlike world. After that, we played some old mainstream and Middle Eastern music.
Next, my dad, who was once one of the most well-known DJs in Israel and even internationally, took over. He played techno-disco, exactly the kind of music we love. After him, we brought a DJ from abroad who played joyful disco music. Finally, one of our best friends, who is also a DJ, took the stage and threw the best party for our guests. The wedding started at 8 PM and ended at 7 AM in the morning, with daylight.
Flowers
The focus at the wedding wasn’t on flowers. In fact, every time the designers showed us floral arrangements, we tried to minimize them as much as possible. The design was about many elements beyond just the flowers, but the colors of the flowers were in shades of red and white. The designers of the entire wedding were DNA, and they truly made our dream come true. Everything turned out even more beautiful than we could have imagined. They are a pair of incredibly talented women who simply did the best job I’ve ever seen.
Photographer
Our photographers were PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY – Elad and Tom, the best wedding photographers in Israel. They’re also kind of friends, and their vibes are just perfect. From the very first moment, we knew they were our photographers, and I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else in my life. They’re incredibly talented with the best vibes for a couple getting married. For me, the video and photos were incredibly important.
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Unfortunately, the story surrounding our wedding is one of an amazing dress with great sorrow. The guests were invited for 8:00 PM, and at 8:30 PM, there was a terrorist attack just a few streets away from the party. We almost had our wedding canceled without knowing. The entire city was on high alert. But we have the most amazing guests and loved ones in the world, who managed to hide it from us.
The next morning, when we woke up, we discovered through Instagram that the three people who were injured in the attack were three of Dean’s closest friends, who were on their way to our wedding, disguised and ready to celebrate with us. One was critically injured, one was severely injured, and one was moderately injured.
Two weeks after the wedding, Or Ashkar, who was critically injured, passed away from his injuries. This is what I wrote in a post a few days after the wedding: 9.3.23 A rollercoaster of emotions A glimpse into the horrific reality we live in day by day. The war between life and death, between love and hate, between joy and sorrow, between a united people and a divided people. 9.3.23 was the happiest day of my life (at least I thought so). You know what? Yes, it really was!
The day I had been waiting for my whole life… to marry the love of my life. I wanted to post this and filter out all the surroundings… to remember only the sweetest and most innocent thing the universe has to offer—a couple in love, deeply in love… on their way to the chuppah, on their way to the celebration of their life. But how can you ignore it? When it’s so close to you? Yes, 9.3 was also the day when our friends, Or, Miki, and Minsano were on their way to celebrate with us, to make us happy, to rejoice with us, and instead, the worst possible thing happened… The worst movie didn’t prepare us for this. The day when a terrorist decided to take one of our lives. Our friend, Dean’s brother.
And instead of waking up with happiness in our hearts, we woke up with a hole in our hearts. Instead of cheering in joy, we cried in pain. Instead of celebrating love, we mourned because of acts of hate. The day when our light went out, and we woke up to darkness. The day that put the closest people to us, our brothers, in a life-or-death battle. The battle between celebrating the bride and groom and fighting for life in a hospital. The battle between life and death. My beloved ones, pure souls who lifted us on their shoulders and were eaten up inside, just to make sure we wouldn’t know or hear. They were so happy for us and so pained for them. Even the production was put to the test like never before. The workers, the guests… everyone wore masks (literally) and behaved as though nothing had happened. Everyone put their own feelings aside and joined us on a time-traveling journey, to a dreamy, imaginary ball, into a world where everything was happy, everything was beautiful, where there was only love and good energy, and nothing would stop us.
Dear guests, rare guests, people who are family, and an unbelievable production. You were the 200 best supporters in the world. You made us feel like we were the only ones in the world. You, and because of you, the wedding was as it was. So yes, 9.3 was the happiest day of my life. The morning after was the darkest day of my life. And I embrace both moments together with me. Together and alone. Forever. This post is for you, Or, or as the friends say, “L’Chaim Ashkarrrrr!” I wish it was you there, lifting us on your shoulders. I wish this post was just a short line summarizing another wedding.
I wish you could have shown off your suit. You were light for Dean, light for your friends, light for the world. We promise you that this light will be remembered forever, for all eternity. You have an army of people who will forever celebrate your life and who you were. An army of pure souls who, since that night, will never be whole again. 9.3.23—a date we will remember and never forget. Just to say thank you, for what we have and what we had… after all, I got to marry the best thing this world has to offer. Forever remembered, and we already miss you
Honeymoon
Originally, we planned to go on a honeymoon right after the wedding, but due to what happened, it wasn’t possible, so we postponed the honeymoon to October. We planned to go to Japan, but in August, I found out I was pregnant, so in the end, we didn’t go on a honeymoon.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
I think in the end, what makes a wedding special is the energy and the people. It doesn’t matter how good the food was or how much it cost, whether the decor was red or black – it’s the people, the energy, and the music that make the event unforgettable.
And most importantly, enjoy it because it doesn’t come back. From the moment you arrive at the venue, understand that nothing is going to change and that you’ve done your best. From that point on, close your eyes, because nothing matters except being in the moment and enjoying it as much as possible.
KAYA & DEAN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Production – LBI Productions {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Event & Floral Designer – DNA House of Design
Bride’s dress – Berta
Second dress – Daniella Heged
Bride’s shoes – Valentino
Bride’s accessories – Keren Wolf, Fendi, Padani Official
Masks – Siren Masquerades, Keren Wolf
DJs – Sean Doron DJ Choopie Lato DJ Chen Soco
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
