This is one special Jewish wedding! NYC couple Camila, from Argentina, and Ben, from the US, first met while travelling to Cape Town in 2019, and as soon as they got engaged they knew they wanted to make things official in the magical place where they first met.
The couple dreamed of a chuppah in front of the same ocean where their love story began, and from the moment they set eyes on Tintswalo Atlantic, they knew it was the venue for them – don’t miss the stunning images and video of the mountainside chuppah from Nikki van Diermen and Gustav Franke, respectively.
When it came time to outfit herself for the wedding, beautiful bride Camila turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav. She chose not one but two stunning dresses from the beloved Israeli bridal designer. For the pre-wedding Shabbat celebration, Camila went for an elegantly minimal soft crepe halter-neck gown, and for the wedding day itself she chose a tulle A-line masterpiece inspired by the graceful movement of petals in slow motion.
Read on for the rest of the story in Camila’s own words…
How We Met
Camila, the bride: We met in Cape Town in 2019, on the beach. I was there for a modeling job, and Ben was visiting on vacation. From that moment on, we started exploring the city together and having the best time, which made the last weeks of our trip even more exciting.
We dated long-distance for four years, me in Argentina and Ben in the U.S. Eventually, we decided to take the next step and move in together in New York City, where we now live. A year later, Ben proposed to me in Mendoza, Argentina.
A Cape Town Wedding
We both agreed that we wanted our wedding to take place in the magical place where we first met, so from the very beginning, Cape Town was the obvious choice.
We connected with an incredible wedding planner, Nicola Jane, who guided us through many stunning venues in the Cape Town wine region. After visiting several beautiful locations, we arrived at Tintswalo Atlantic. Our dream had always been to say “I do” in front of the same ocean where our story began, and the moment we saw the breathtaking views at Tintswalo—surrounded by mountains and the sea—we completely fell in love with this one-of-a-kind venue.
Planned to Perfection
As I mentioned, we had the best wedding planner. Nicola Jane supported us every step of the way and helped bring all of our ideas to life. We hosted a five-day wedding celebration that beautifully blended three cultures—Argentinian, African, and Jewish.
Our friends and family traveled from all over the world, and we wanted to keep it intimate so we could truly spend quality time with the people we love most. Even though it was a small wedding, the energy everyone brought made it feel absolutely grand.
For us, it was all about celebrating life with the most important people in our lives, sharing the beauty of Cape Town—the place where our love story began—and making the experience unforgettable for each guest who traveled so far to be with us.
Two Galia Lahav Dresses
I chose two stunning dresses from Galia Lahav. For our Shabbat celebration, held at the beautiful Cavalli Estate in the wine region, we hosted a white party. Amy, one of the attendants, introduced me to a soft crepe halter-neck gown—elegant in its simplicity. Designed in a fit-to-flare silhouette with an open back and high neckline, it was the perfect blend of minimal and glamorous. It turned out to be the ideal choice for the Shabbat dinner.
For the wedding day, I wore the most breathtaking gown from Galia Lahav. Inspired by the graceful movement of petals in slow motion, it was a tulle A-line masterpiece—flowing from a corset bodice into a high-slit skirt and a dramatic long train. Embellished with sparkling appliqués that added a touch of ethereal beauty, the dress felt like a dream. It looked absolutely magical against the natural backdrop and soft lighting of our chuppah ceremony.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We placed our chuppah on the mountainside, overlooking the ocean—an unforgettable setting that brought our vision to life. The color palette was inspired by the sea, with soft whites and shades of blue woven throughout the ceremony. Even the bridesmaids wore gowns in a beautiful range of ocean blues, perfectly complementing the natural surroundings.
The lighting was absolutely magical. As we exchanged vows, the sky lit up with the most breathtaking sunset, casting a golden glow over the ceremony. We had live musicians and a singer performing throughout, adding a romantic, emotional atmosphere that made the moment even more meaningful and unforgettable.
Ketubah
Our ketubah by Annie Aqua is incredibly special—it’s truly a piece of art. Handcrafted by a talented designer, every detail was made with care and intention. It’s not only meaningful to us spiritually, but it also looks stunning in our home—a beautiful reminder of our wedding day and the vows we made to each other.
Our music choice
We knew from the start that we wanted live music to be a big part of our celebration. Music brings so much emotion, and we wanted to feel that energy throughout the day. We had different singers for each special moment—Lance Herman performed live as we walked down the aisle, creating such a powerful and heartfelt atmosphere.
For our first dance and the main party, The Black Ties band brought incredible energy and soul. Later, we transitioned into a lively after-party with a DJ to keep the celebration going late into the night. It was the perfect mix of romance and fun.
We also had Kirya Kuti Project, Man With Music, and IThemba Youth Choir.
Flowers
All the floral designs were an incredible masterpiece created by the talented team at Sitting Pretty Bespoke Event Designs. Their artistry truly brought our vision to life and added breathtaking beauty to every detail of our wedding.
Photographer and videographer
Their work was truly exceptional. Nikki van Diermen and Gustav Franke perfectly captured all the spontaneous moments exactly as we hoped. They made everything feel like a beautiful movie, and we couldn’t be happier with the photos and video—they’re memories we’ll cherish forever.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Stress is definitely part of the process—we all want the day to be perfect! For me, the day felt perfect because I let go of trying to control everything. Instead, I focused on being present, spending as much time as possible with my husband, and truly enjoying every moment with our loved ones.
I reminded myself to feel like a guest at my own wedding and let things unfold naturally. Trusting the amazing people we hired made all the difference, allowing everything to flow smoothly. My main focus was simply having the best time with Ben and our guests—I didn’t worry too much about anything else.
CAMILA & BENJAMIN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Nikki van Diermen
Videography – Gustav Franke
Ketubah – Annie Aqua
Venue – Tintswalo Atlantic
Planner – Nicola Jane
Bride’s dress – Galia Lahav
Flowers – Sitting Pretty Bespoke Event Designs
DJ – Lance Herman, The Black Ties, Kirya Kuti Project, Man With Music, IThemba Youth Choir
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.
