We love it when a couple makes their Jewish wedding totally, 100% them – and that’s exactly what Marina and Alex did, keeping their big day at Glen Cove, New York’s The Mansion focused on personal touches with special meaning. From working with Marina’s sister, the mega-talented Yelena Mirchevskaya of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Studio Yarden, on their ketubah and invitations, to incorporating elements of their Russian-Jewish heritage in the cocktail hour, to crafting a ceremony filled with Jewish customs that were meaningful to the couple, this was truly a very special wedding.
One of the highlights of the day was the collab with Studio Yarden: Marina and Alex’s invitations, featuring a custom illustration of the duo, set the tone for the entire wedding, and guests couldn’t stop commenting on how unique and beautiful they were. The couple’s ketubah, also created by Yelena, was equally meaningful. Yelena brought Marina and Alex’s vision of a modern design featuring pomegranates and eucalyptus to life, hand-painting every detail and even adding gold leaf to create a truly stunning piece of art.
Equally stunning was Marina’s gown by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav. The beloved Israeli designer is known for her luxe, romantic stylings, and Marina’s flowy cream-blush number was sheer perfection. Don’t miss it all in the wonderful photos by Inbal Sivan and trailer by Studio 27!
Now over to Marina…
How We Met
Marina, the bride: My husband and I met at work. I was working as a Creative Director at a tech company when he joined as a Cybersecurity Consultant. We were friends for almost two years before we started dating. At the time I was in a relationship, but almost as soon as it ended, he asked me out.
Venue
We got married at The Mansion at Glen Cove. This venue had amazing catering, offered convenience for our families (it doubled as a hotel, and gorgeous outdoor and indoor spaces).
Personal Touches
We didn’t have a wedding planner, but we made our day personal with special touches. My sister, a talented artist, designed our ketubah and wedding invitations. During cocktail hour we incorporated elements of our Russian/Jewish heritage, and our ceremony featured meaningful Jewish customs that felt very special to both of us.
Invitation/Stationery
Our invitations were designed by my sister, Yelena Mirchevskaya with Studio Yarden, and they were nothing short of extraordinary. She created a fully custom illustration of us that immediately set the tone for the entire wedding. It was a piece of art that reflected our personalities and love story. Every guest commented on how unique and memorable it was, and many told us it was one of the most beautiful invitations they had ever received.
Hair + Makeup
Makeup was Yelena Tsygankova. Yelena made me look like the best version of myself, enhancing my natural look. I absolutely loved my makeup and it lasted through all the tears, sweat, and dancing!
Hair was Eda Beauty. Eda was wonderful to work with and gave me seamless extensions and the exact romantic style I envisioned.
A Galia Lahav Dress
My dress was by Galia Lahav from Bridal Reflections. It was unique, flowy, and romantic. The cream-blush tone perfectly complemented my complexion. After multiple shopping trips with my mom and sisters where nothing felt right, I stopped by on my own, spotted this dress on the rack (it was a sample!), and fell in love the moment I tried it on.
Ceremony & Chuppah
Our ceremony was short and sweet, and it felt like we were in our own world holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes. Our chuppah was made out of birch and beautifully draped in flowers and greenery. One of the most meaningful details was using a kiddush cup that belonged to my husband’s grandparents.
Ketubah
Our ketubah was one of the most meaningful parts of our wedding because it was created by my sister, Yelena Mirchevskaya with Studio Yarden, who is an incredibly gifted ketubah artist. I envisioned a modern design featuring pomegranates and eucalyptus, and she brought it to life and turned it into something far more beautiful than I could have imagined. Yelena hand-painted every detail and added gold leaf, which made it feel even more special. The print quality was amazing, and the final piece is a stunning work of art. For couples considering a custom ketubah, I cannot recommend her enough. Working with her was such a special experience, and the final piece perfectly reflected us and our story.
Our music choice
We had Douglas James Entertainment, and they were fantastic. They provided a string quartet for the ceremony and a full band with an MC for the reception. Our guests were on the dance floor all night. It was nonstop fun!
Flowers
Our florist was Cress Floral Decorators, and Lori brought my vision to life. My bouquet featured creamy and blush roses, champagne roses, ranunculus, and lots of lush eucalyptus. The chuppah was a birch structure covered in cream and white florals with lots of greenery. Absolutely gorgeous.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer was Inbal Sivan. Working with her was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. She’s truly a master of her craft and she captured all the beautiful, candid moments perfectly. Every photo felt authentic, artistic and elevated. She was especially incredible at capturing the energy of the reception. She played with light in such a creative way that gave the images a magical, almost cinematic quality. She was a joy to work with and made us feel so comfortable during the entire day. Highly, highly recommend her for any special event!
For our videographer, we used Studio 27. They were a pleasure to work with and did a fantastic job capturing all the special moments.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
My biggest piece of advice is to remember that your wedding day will fly by, so focus on being present and soaking in every moment. Don’t sweat the small details…guests won’t notice if a flower arrangement is slightly off, but they will remember the joy and love you share. Surround yourself with vendors you trust so you can relax and let go on the day. If possible, sneak away with your partner for a few quiet minutes to just breathe and take it all in.
MARINA & ALEX’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Inbal Sivan
Videography – Studio 27
Ketubah & Stationery – Studio Yarden
Venue – The Mansion at Glen Cove
Bride’s dress – Galia Lahav from Bridal Reflections
Hair – Eda Beauty
Makeup – Yelena Tsygankova
Flowers – Cress Floral Decorators
DJ – Douglas James Entertainment
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.
