• About
  • Find a Vendor
  • Submit
  • Advertise
  • Brides Club
  • Your Jewish Life
  • Contact

Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

  • Real Jewish Weddings
    • City Chic
    • Fashion Forward
    • Outdoor
    • Destination
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • France
      • Beach Weddings
    • Super Luxe
    • Budget
    • DIY
    • Same Sex
    • Covid Weddings
  • Jew-ish Weddings
    • Real Jew-ish Weddings
    • Jewish-Catholic Weddings
    • Jewish-Chinese Weddings
    • Jewish-Christian Weddings
    • Jewish-Greek Weddings
    • Jewish-Hindu Weddings
    • Jewish-Humanist Weddings
    • Jewish-Irish Weddings
    • Jewish Japanese Weddings
    • Jewish-Muslim Weddings
    • Same Sex Jew-ish Weddings
  • Inspiration + Guidance
    • Engaged? Start Here
    • Ceremony
      • Chuppah ideas
      • Jewish ceremony music
      • Jewish wedding ceremony 101
      • Jewish ceremony traditions
      • Ketubah Ideas
      • Jewish wedding legalities
      • Jew-ish ceremony ideas
    • Reception
      • Music
      • Speeches
      • Entertainment
      • Venues
    • Food & Drink
      • Kosher catering
      • Wedding cakes
      • Drinks
    • Decor
      • Decorations
      • Favours
      • Floristry
      • Guestbooks
      • Stationery
    • Style
      • Brides dresses
      • Shoes & accessories
      • Grooms
      • Bridesmaids
    • Advice
      • Converting to Judaism
      • Real blogging brides
      • Dear Karen…
    • Honeymoons
    • STG Live
    • Five Minutes With
    • Wedding Must-Haves
    • Wedding Consultancy
  • Jewish Brides Club
  • Find a Wedding Vendor
Home > A Last-Minute Jewish Micro Wedding in the Forest, Eshta’ol, Israel

A Last-Minute Jewish Micro Wedding in the Forest, Eshta’ol, Israel

08/03/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem   

Today’s gorgeous Jewish wedding took place right at the start of the pandemic last year (hard to believe it’s been a year, right?), when we were just starting to hear about micro wedding and minimonies. But Mayan, a student in dance and movement therapy, and Mola, an animation student, pulled off their intimate celebration so expertly you’d never guess they were COVID wedding pioneers.

The Israeli couple had initially planned a big wedding in Jerusalem for May 2020, but as the situation started getting more serious they realized their Plan A was unlikely to work. Instead of waiting it out, Mayan and Mola decided to bump their wedding up, so they could make things official before Israel’s first lockdown began.

With just a few days’ notice, the pair planned a whole new wedding for an intimate crowd of 18, set outdoors in a beautiful forest near Jerusalem. Since their surroundings were so naturally gorgeous, they didn’t need to do much – the groom set up a little décor the morning of, and the couple opted for a simple chuppah with white cloth atop wooden poles, held by Mola’s brothers and cousin. Luckily, the couple’s amazing photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jossef Si, was able to make it – and we are absolutely in love with his dreamy photos of the day.

Being such a last-minute affair, there were a few challenges along the way – the groom’s suit wasn’t ready in time, and the bride’s got an amazing only-in-Israel story about how she sourced her wedding shoes on short notice when most shops had already closed due to COVID. But in the end, Mayan and Mola say they wouldn’t have had their wedding any other way. In the bride’s words, “I am glad that our wedding ended up being very simple and modest. Sometimes the stress of planning a large event takes out the fun and excitement of just getting married!”

We’ll let her take it from here…

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
How We Met

Mayan, the bride: We were introduced to each other through a mutual friend who Mola met travelling in India and I met in a group with which I studied in “Nefesh Yehudi” in the campus of the Hebrew University. Gali and Adi who were in my group thought of the ‘Shiduch’ together, and that’s how we started dating.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
A COVID Wedding

We were supposed to get married in May in a big open venue in Jerusalem but when Covid-19 started we realized this was not possible. We decided to get married earlier than planned, before there would be a lockdown for an unknown amount of time, and before Passover.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
So with a couple of days’ notice, we got married in the beautiful forest near Eshta’ol, not far from Jerusalem. From an event of 500 invited, we had 18 guests including the rabbi. And looking back, I’m very glad it was just that. It was very intimate, meaningful, and simple. Purely a wedding.  

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Forest Vibes

In the planning for the original event, we simply chose the best vendors to our taste. A photographer, a video artist, a great D.J., catering, all were booked for May. After weeks of planning, I am glad that our wedding ended up being very simple and modest. Sometimes the stress of planning a large event takes out the fun and excitement of just getting married!

Mola came early in the morning with his brothers and brought a comfortable couch from our house so that I had a place to sit with my friends in the bride’s chair. He also decorated a spot in the forest for us and it was beautiful and touching.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Invitations

Our original invitations for May were beautiful and created by Tehila Friedman with a drawing a good friend of mine made especially for us.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Hair + Make-up

A very nice girl ended up doing my hair and makeup on quite a short notice and I was very pleased with her work!  

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Dress

I was lucky to have remodelled the dress from Ofri Wedding Dresses Studio in time to have it ready by March. I loved my dress. We took an original of hers and changed the sleeves to the ones I wanted.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Accessories

I wore gold earrings Mola bought for me especially for the wedding, which I love and wear on Shabbat and holidays.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Shoes

This is actually quite a funny story. Since the notice was so short and stores in Israel were closed at the time due to Covid-19, I posted on Facebook that I am looking to borrow shoes for my wedding and I was touched by how many women in Jerusalem wrote they would love to help.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
At least 50 women offered their shoes! I took a few beautiful pairs from a girl who also turned out to live just a block away from me. On the wedding day I chose the pair that looked the best and was also comfortable with a very small high- heel. It was a very light turquoise.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
The handsome groom

Mola didn’t have his suit ready like I did, so he ended up wearing what he had – which I loved!! It went well with our simple and authentic wedding! 

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Bridesmaids

All in all in the wedding we had 3 girlfriends of mine, and two friends of Mola’s who were also the witnesses, his 4 brothers and 1 cousin, my 2 sisters, and both of our parents. So my bridesmaids were my closest friends and it was perfect to have them there with me.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Ceremony

Our ceremony was very special to us. We were blessed to be married by Rabbi Yaacov Varshevsky from Jerusalem who we are very connected to. He is very unique and his ceremony is very special. He put himself and us into it and it was magical and very touching.  

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Chuppah

We were lucky to have Mola’s strong brothers and cousin holding our chuppah! It comprised of a white cloth with leaves embroidered, and wooden poles that my father carved holes into.

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Our Music Choice

We had a DJ we loved planned for the original event, so when we told her we were getting married in March, she made a playlist for us and it was great!

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Photographer

The photographer was Jossef Si, who we were very lucky to have and came on short notice also!

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding

We were supposed to have a big event because we have big families and many friends. But as much as we would’ve wanted everyone we love celebrating this day with us, we realize that it was magical, unique, and that we were lucky to get married. The important things are what count for us in the end. The intimacy made it all the more sacred. 

Mayan-and-Mola-Jerusalem
Mayan & Mola’s little white book

Photography – Jossef Si Photography {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Bride’s dress – Ofri Wedding Dresses Studio 
Hair and makeup – Bar Kohavi Makeup
DJ –Limornana
Rabbi – Rabbi Yaacov Varshevsky


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.


 

Share this post:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Real Jewish Weddings, Israeli Weddings, Outdoor, Jewish Corona Wedding Tagged With: Ofri, Israel, Jossef Si photography, coronavirus, Jerusalem wedding, BAME wedding, Bar Kohavi Makeup

You might also like...

  • A Mordehai Avraham Bride for a Last-Minute Jewish Wedding at Ohel Moed, Tel Aviv, IsraelA Mordehai Avraham Bride for a Last-Minute Jewish Wedding at Ohel Moed, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • A Liron Partouche Bride for a Jewish Pandemic Wedding Inspired by China at Yama, Herzliya, IsraelA Liron Partouche Bride for a Jewish Pandemic Wedding Inspired by China at Yama, Herzliya, Israel
  • An Asaf Dadush Bride for an Ultra-Personal Summer Jewish Wedding at Luca, IsraelAn Asaf Dadush Bride for an Ultra-Personal Summer Jewish Wedding at Luca, Israel
  • A Heartfelt Jewish Wedding filled with Emotion at Psagot Winery, IsraelA Heartfelt Jewish Wedding filled with Emotion at Psagot Winery, Israel
  • A Dorit Izbizki Bride for a Pandemic Jewish Wedding at Xanadu, Petach Tikva, IsraelA Dorit Izbizki Bride for a Pandemic Jewish Wedding at Xanadu, Petach Tikva, Israel
  • An Alexandra Grecco Bride for a Super Chic Design-Conscious Jewish Wedding at The Lawrence, Jaffa, IsraelAn Alexandra Grecco Bride for a Super Chic Design-Conscious Jewish Wedding at The Lawrence, Jaffa, Israel

Jewish Weddings by Country

Vendors We Love

Weddings by Colour


Jewish Wedding Gift List


Awesome Jewish Gifts

Vendors We Love

Get posts directly into your inbox

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Mr And Mrs Smith Honeymoons
Kate Spade UK Limited
Biscuiteers Baking Company
Monica Vinader
Liberty London

Today’s Top Posts

  • A Jewish Wedding Full of Personal Touches at Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Colorado, USA
    A Jewish Wedding Full of Personal Touches at Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Colorado, USA
  • A guide to the Jewish Wedding Ceremony and Order of Service under the chuppah
    A guide to the Jewish Wedding Ceremony and Order of Service under the chuppah
  • Dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to avoid for a Jewish wedding plus a 12 Month Wedding Planning Monthly Checklist
    Dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to avoid for a Jewish wedding plus a 12 Month Wedding Planning Monthly Checklist
  • Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Romantic Getaway at the Glamorous Kimpton Fitzroy London
    Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Romantic Getaway at the Glamorous Kimpton Fitzroy London
  • Breaking The Glass – Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained #7
    Breaking The Glass – Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained #7

Subscribe by Email

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Connect

Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Twitter
Advertise
Mailing List
Email Karen

Receive Smashing The Glass posts via Email

Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

closeClick Here To Get The Ultimate Jewish Wedding Checklist

All content © Smashing The Glass 2023