We see a lot of cool chuppahs around here, but the one Gaby, a life and career coach, and Michael, an investment advisor, dreamed up for their big day at Jacob’s Pillow in the picturesque Berkshires really takes the (wedding) cake. Filled with gorgeous flowers, centered on an otherwise empty stage overlooking the mountains surrounding the venue, it’s really, truly, 100% #chuppahgoals. We’re absolutely obsessed with the dreamy photos by Lauren Foley of 309 Productions, and we’re guessing you will be too.
Gaby and Michael had initially planned a 200-person wedding, but when the pandemic hit they had to scale their day down to just 20 guests. Luckily, the couple had incredible wedding planner Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tara Consolati on their team to redesign the day to perfectly fit their new, smaller event. Together, they came up with a unique “interactive” ceremony that included participation by 32 guests (including some of the 300 who attended virtually via Zoom)! Friends and family gave musical performances, mini speeches, and blessings, and lit memorial candles. What an incredibly special way to make guests really feel a part of things – especially those who are physically far away!
Another wonderful touch is that Gaby’s step-sister Rachel painted the most gorgeous border on the ketubah they purchased from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ketubah.com, incorporating lots of personal touches with special meaning to the couple.
There’s so much more we could say about this fab day (did we mention that Gaby found her dress by chance off the rack at Bloomingdales, for 1/10 of the price of the bridal gowns she’d been looking at?), but we’ll leave it to the bride to fill you in on the rest…
How we Met
Gaby, the bride and Michael, the groom: Gaby and Michael met on the dating app, Hinge, in the summer of 2018! After only a few messages back and forth they met for drinks at La Pecora Bianca in Midtown Manhattan. The night was perfect and was filled with many laughs, stories and glasses of wine. Even more fitting, Gaby went to her family home in the Berkshires the weekend afterward, a place that proved incredibly important to our relationship given we lived there for nearly 7 months during the pandemic.
A Berkshires Wedding
Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts
Gaby grew up going to the venue with her family every summer (they have a summer home in Monterey, Mass) and always dreamed of getting married there (her Mom remembers Gaby as a little girl saying that was the place that she wanted her wedding). Jacob’s Pillow embodies the Berkshires in so many ways as it is a historic venue for the arts, nestled in the mountains. Gaby and Michael are passionate about both the arts and outdoors, so it was incredibly special to be married at Jacob’s Pillow, where those two passions collide.
Jacob’s Pillow remains the only historic landmark dedicated to dance in the United States. Located in the picturesque Berkshires, Jacob’s Pillow was established in 1931 as a dance retreat center for the top performers across the world. The grounds themselves have an even more historical story, previously serving as a stop on the underground railroad in the mid-1800s, which serves as another meaningful connection for the couple, as they commit to anti-racism work.
The Perfect Planner
Gaby and Michael chose colors they are in love with (blush, gold and light blues). Flowers were incredibly important to their vision. Gaby and Michael worked with Tara Consolati who proved invaluable for her efforts and dedication to redesigning the couple’s wedding when COVID hit and their ~200 person event turned to 20 guests.
We actively decided that our most important foci were celebration of love, Jewish tradition, and celebration of the people in our lives. When it came to designing the overall event, we ensured that every decision came back to these aspects. They designed a unique “interactive” ceremony that included speeches (not during dinner!) and musical performances.
Invitations / stationery
Gaby and Michael had a close friend, Leah Klein (of Leah Klein Design) design their Save-The-Dates, invitations, day of programs, and all other paper needs. She was brilliant and was able to take their vision and bring it to life with hand drawn florals.
We had decided (even with the larger wedding plan) that we wanted to do digital invitations to save paper, money, and easily track RSVPs.
Hair + Make-up
Gaby and Michael had planned for a team from NYC but when COVID shifted plans, instead, opted for hair and makeup directly at Seven Salon in Stockbridge, Mass. Their team was incredible (especially Collette Viletto) and squeezed in Michael first thing the morning and took in Gaby later in the day with Michael’s sister.
A Department Store Dress
After a customary day of visiting bridal shops in NYC in February (including Kleinfelds and several other boutiques), Gaby, her mom, and her best friend (Becca) stopped into a Bloomingdales to focus on Becca’s bridesmaid’s dress. While walking around, the three of them in the same instance noticed a white dress hanging in the corner (note: Bloomingdales does not have a bridal section; this was with the normal dresses). Immediately, they knew this was it. Gaby found the most gorgeous dress, including lace and beautiful florals, that were so fitting and tied into the wedding themes perfectly. It was her perfect dress – and about 1/10 of the price!
Accessories
Flowers from the bouquets/chuppa (crafted by and delivered to the Salon by Florist, Daisy Stone Studio) were incorporated into Gaby’s hair.
Gaby wore earrings found at a local boutique in Great Barrington (Church Street Trading Company), handmade with stones (pink milky quartz which enhances communication and stimulates the mind) and a vintage aesthetic.
Shoes
Gaby wore crystal studded sneakers from Kate Spade. They were comfortable and so cute.
The handsome groom
Michael wore a custom blue tuxedo from Suit Supply. He wore this with a blush bowtie which tied in the wedding’s colors perfectly.
Bridesmaids
Gaby had 7 bridesmaids, but due to wedding size limitations, only had 4 attend in person. They wore blush dresses (similar in color but all different styles).
Ceremony
As a result of COVID limitations, only ~20 friends/ family members were able to attend in person. As a quick pivot, the couple was able to host nearly 300 additional guests on Zoom, some of which played key roles in the ceremony.
Michael and Gaby hired a professional videography team, Summer Wind Productions, to take pre-recorded segments of the ceremony (Hebrew blessings, speeches, and the Ketubah reading) and interweave into the Ceremony so guests were able to watch live on TV and others on Zoom.
As noted above, it was of high importance that the ceremony was intentionally and uniquely designed. The went with a longer ceremony for a meaningful, robust ceremony (which turned out to be the totally right decision since the majority of guests only got to participate in the ceremony). In addition to the Rabbi and the couple, 32 people had roles. Some aspects included: lighting of memorial candle; musical performances by friends; mini-speeches from friends and family; parents’ prayer.
Ketubah
Gaby’s Step-Sister, Rachel Somerville, painted the Ketubah. She is an incredibly talented artist and was able to incorporate many touches that are so fitting to Gaby + Michael. The ketubah was signed by two close friends of the couple: Elliot Chaiken and Ben Varon (who was also the officiant). The ketubah was read during the ceremony in both Hebrew and English by Gaby’s friends: David Korenthal and Avi Scher.
Chuppah
Susie Hanna of Daisy Stone Studio designed the Chuppah. It was filled with beautiful flowers handpicked, designed by Susie and her team. Many regarded it as the most beautiful Chuppah they had even seen. Centered on an otherwise empty stage (with mountains in the background), it was a dramatic picture. The top of the chuppa was covered by the prayer shawls of our grandfathers: Leslie Schulgasser; Frank Mervis; Owen Bernstein.
Our Music Choice
Given the shift in plans, Gaby and Michael were not able to have their 9 piece brass band (Sound Society) at the event (they will instead by playing at the Couple’s 2 Year Anniversary Party in 2022!). Michael and Gaby were able to craft the playlist with their help of their close friend, David Korenthal (who stayed with the couple up until the wedding). David took on the role of “DJ” during the event and was instrumental in keeping the wedding alive/ fun.
Gaby walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of ‘Seasons of Love’ from Rent, which is her favorite musical.
Lincoln’s Nigun/Yamin U’smol (Kabbalat Shabbat)’ by Joey Weisenberg and The Hadar Ensemble played while Gaby circled Michael. This was a beautiful version of the prayer sung by Deborah Sacks Mintz, whom Gaby knows. She first heard it as the processional song at her friend Dani’s and Max’ wedding and fell in love with it.
After Michael broke the glass, ‘You Make My Dreams Come True’ by Hall & Oates played. Michael’s college friends love Hall & Oates and we felt it was a fun song to dance us out.
First dance was ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ by Chris Stapleton. A favorite song of the couple. Mother/son and Father/daughter dance was to ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)’ by James Taylor, another nod to the Berkshires.
Flowers
Gaby and Michael worked with Daisy Stone Studio in crafting the table arrangements. Susie from Daisy Stone took charge (with the help of Tara Consolati) in redesigning the wedding and preserving the original aesthetic. The wedding initially was supposed to be indoors inside one of the Pillow’s performance spaces and the design included floral chandeliers and gold lanterns on each table. When the plan shifted and the reception moved outside, Susie and Tara went to work.
Each table was adorned with striped table runners, 2 tone (black and silver) tableware and floral arrangements including white and blush tones. Rentals were from Classical Tents and Vinty and Posh.
Photographer and videographer
Gaby and Michael hired Lauren Foley of 309 Productions of Boston to shoot the event. Lauren is a close friend and former colleague of Gaby’s college friend (Billie Weiss who is the Head of Photography for the Red Sox). She brought a colleague and shot spectacular pictures of the ceremony, reception and outdoor space.
Michael and Gaby also hired Michael Murray of Summer Wind Productions to help film/ stream the ceremony. He and team took incredible care in capturing the event (which even included drone imagery of the Berkshire Mountains).
Food and Cake
Initially Michael and Gaby hired a Kosher caterer (Catering by Meital) . As a result of the redesign, Gaby and Michael partnered with their favorite restaurant in the Berkshires, Cantina 229 in New Marlborough, Mass. They worked with the restaurant’s owner to put together a menu of items that were able to be pre-packaged and delivered warm to the event (directly from the restaurant’s kitchen). The food was spectacular and blew everyone away.
As another ode to the Berkshires, Michael and Gaby had ice cream from local favorite, SoCo Creamery delivered in single serve containers. Finally Michael and Gaby worked with the Jacob’s Pillow staff to build a fire pit to allow for s’mores as the sun went down.
Entertainment
Outside of music on the speakers, much of the activity was focused on eating, dancing and drinking! We did have a customized (to match our invitation) cornhole game. We loved this touch, but unfortunately, it was too dark to play by the time we were partying.
Favors
Gaby and Michael decided to build gift bags for each of the guests in attendance, focusing on items from well-known Berkshires purveyors. These customized bags included cookies from Berkshire Mountain Bakery, jam from Berkshire Berries, Hand Sanitizer from Berkshire Mountain Distillery, and postcard from The Friendly Goats.
In addition to the bags, upon arrival, guests received a program, customized mask, and customized kippah (Zion Judaica). All custom items (besides the kippot) were made by iPROMOTEu in Wayland, Mass. (CEO is a good friend of Gaby’s).
Extra Details
It was very important to the couple to make all guests in attendance feel special and included. Gaby and Michael incorporated opportunities for friends and family to offer little vignettes/ stories about the couple (this included 7 of the couple’s closest friends and family members). The couple also had family members not in attendance pre-record their Sheva Brachot and other prayers so these could be played during the ceremony.
While we so wish we had all our loved ones at our larger-style wedding, there was something so special about the small group. We were able to really spend time with our guests and create memories. The entire event felt incredibly intimate. Once we moved to Zoom, we were not limited by size. It made us so happy that we could include our entire B and C lists of people we love and ended up having about 300 guests on Zoom watching the wedding and videos.
There was a funny moment during the ring ceremony when we realized we were holding the wrong rings to put on each other. Gaby put her ring on Michael and vice versa. Slyly, while looking like they were holding hands, they switched rings during the ceremony.
The weekend of events were really special too. We planned a “friends day” the day before with a hike, lunch at one of our favorite restaurants (Xicohtencatl), exploring Great Barrington, and spending time at the town beach in Monterey. That night, we did a special dinner with immediate family with pizza from another favorite restaurant (Baba Louie’s) and a cake – gluten free of course for Michael.
The couple decided that they wanted to share their vows privately and did so in the “yichud room” after the ceremony. In true fashion, Michael wrote his 2 months before…Gaby wrote hers that morning at the salon.
Our officiant was a good friend of the couple, Ben Varon, who is in his fourth year of rabbinical school. We were his first wedding ever and it added yet another special touch to be doing this with him. The couple and Ben met many times and asked each other questions, oftentimes with Ben needing to consult his Rabbi mentors, and viewed the process as a “journey together.” He did such an incredible job and we are honored that we will always be remembered as the first.
Did we mention Michael is a triplet!?
Honeymoon
The couple had planned to travel abroad on a 3 week dream honeymoon including a stop in Mauritius, a Safari in South Africa and several days each in Israel, Italy, and Spain. Once COVID hit, this shifted materially. Though the Couple still hopes to travel to South Africa and Mauritius in December of 2021, they couldn’t do so in 2020. Instead they opted for an unbelievable 4 night stay at Wellness Resort, Miraval in Lenox, Mass. There, the couple was pampered with massages, facial treatments, beekeeping, kayaking and delicious food and drink.
They would recommend this destination to anyone looking for a luxurious escape and relaxation in the Northeast. The staff took such great care of the couple and made them feel so special throughout the stay.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Work together with your spouse! Do not take on all of the work. Work with a talented wedding coordinator! Gaby and Michael had initially done much of the planning but once plans shifted, their coordinator took over and was AMAZING! If you have to change plans, stay true to your vision and dreams. For Michael and Gaby, this was getting married on September 6th at Jacob’s Pillow. Even if the couple could not have 200 guests, they were still able to put on the most amazing 20 person wedding!
Gaby & Michael’s Little White Book
Photography – 309 Productions
Wedding planner – Tara Consolati {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videography – Summer Wind Productions
Venue – Jacobs Pillow
Bride’s dress – Bloomingdales
Bride’s shoes – Kate Spade
Groom’s attire – Suit Supply
Groom’s shoes- Meermin
Groom’s watch- IWC
Hair + Makeup – Seven Salon Spa
Flowers – Daisy Stone Studio
Catering – Cantina 229
Ice Cream – SoCo Creamery
Ketubah – ketubah.com painted by Rachel Somerville Art
Stationery/Invitation – Leah Klein Design
Rentals – Classical Tents
Liquor – Domaney’s
Lighting – Rob Alberti
Alterations – Five Cents a Dance
Swag – IPromoteU
Insurance – Charles River Insurance
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.
I am so happy to see that Gaby and Michael took the time to find a wedding location with an intimate feel. It is always good when couples can get the wedding of their dreams, even if they have to change it up a bit. I love how they were able to work with Tara Consolati from Smashing The Glass for this event!
These photos are amazing! Love the floral arch – looks so gorgeous!