We’re obsessed with today’s ultra-chic Jewish wedding weekend in Cyprus! Bride Noa, a clinical psychologist, and groom Idan, a graphic designer and video editor, wanted a destination wedding where they could celebrate with their nearest and dearest for an entire weekend, and they found the perfect venue in Columbia Beach Resort.
As a graphic designer, it was important to Idan that the wedding had a unique and cohesive visual identity, and every detail was designed to feel like it belonged to the same story. The couple balanced their two styles – Noa’s more timeless and classic; Ida’s bolder and more eye-catching – and worked with Noam Salach of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kai Wedding Planners to create something that felt like both of them.
As a designer, Idan wanted every detail to feel intentional and personal, and he contributed so many personal touches to the wedding, from creating a custom mobile wedding website to designing personalized swag for guests (including custom tote bags, branded ouzo bottles, and parasols for the Cyprus sun) to editing the couple’s wedding video using the stunning raw cinematography captured by Kreative Films. Catch all the wonderful details in the elegant, effortless imagery from Anna Gomeniuk.
Read on for the full story in Idan’s own words…
How We Met
Idan, the groom: We met through a mutual friend back when I was working as a bartender and Noa was still studying psychology. Our mutual friend invited me over to her apartment one day, and that’s where we met for the first time. Neither of us knew it then, but that casual introduction would turn into the greatest love story of our lives.
Venue
We got married at Columbia Beach Resort in Pissouri, Cyprus. From the moment we visited, we knew it was the perfect place for us. We wanted a destination wedding that would feel like an unforgettable weekend getaway rather than just a single evening, and the venue had everything we were looking for—beautiful sea views, an intimate atmosphere, and the perfect balance between elegance and a relaxed Mediterranean vibe.
Having all of our family and friends together for an entire weekend made the celebration so much more meaningful. Instead of just a few hours, we got to create memories with the people we love over several days, and that’s exactly what we had dreamed of.
Theme
As a graphic designer, it was really important to me that our wedding had a unique and cohesive visual identity. Every detail—from the invitations and wedding website to the signage and printed materials—was designed to feel like it belonged to the same story.
The fun challenge was finding the perfect balance between our two styles. Noa was drawn to a timeless “old money” aesthetic with a clean, elegant, and classic feel, while I naturally gravitated toward something bolder, more unique, with brighter colors and more eye-catching typography.
In the end, we created something that felt like both of us: sophisticated and timeless, but with enough personality and creative touches to make it truly our own. We worked with Noam Salach of Kai Wedding Planners, an Israeli wedding planner with experience in Cyprus who handled the logistics, allowing us to focus on the creative vision and fully enjoy the celebration.
Invitation/Stationery
We had a website instead, I designed and built it myself.
Dress
My wedding dresses were designed by Lihi Hod, and from the very beginning, I knew she was the designer I wanted to work with. I’ve always loved her timeless, elegant aesthetic—her gowns are beautifully crafted, classic, and incredibly refined. She is also deeply involved throughout the entire process, making the experience feel personal from start to finish.
The very first dress I tried on ended up being my wedding dress. The moment I put it on, I knew it was the one—it felt completely like me. For the party later in the evening, I changed into a second Lihi Hod dress that was just as elegant but perfectly suited for celebrating and dancing the night away.
Accessories
I wore a long veil with delicate lace detailing by Lihi Hod, which beautifully complemented my gown and added a timeless, romantic touch.
Idan wore his great grandfather watch which he had fixed especially.
Shoes
For my shoes, I wore my dream pair of Manolo Blahnik heels, which I had purchased in Paris just a few weeks before the wedding. They felt incredibly special to wear and were the perfect finishing touch to my bridal look.
Bridesmaids
Yes, I had bridesmaids, and I asked them to wear dresses in soft pastel tones. I wanted their looks to feel elegant, romantic, and cohesive while still allowing each of them to choose a style that suited them best. The pastel palette tied in beautifully with the overall aesthetic of the wedding and complemented our floral design perfectly.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We wanted our ceremony to feel intimate and emotional, so we kept it simple and let the setting speak for itself. One of the most meaningful parts was having one of our closest friends officiate the ceremony. He knows us both so well, and he made the ceremony feel incredibly personal with stories, humor, and moments that reflected our relationship.
Our favorite moment was seeing each other under the chuppah, surrounded by all of our family and friends who had traveled to Cyprus to celebrate with us. It was one of those rare moments where everything else disappeared.
The chuppah design was entirely Noa’s vision. For years, she had dreamed of standing beneath a beautiful floral arch, so that became the centerpiece of our ceremony. We kept the rest of the design clean and understated, allowing the flowers, the sea, and the stunning Cyprus scenery to create the perfect backdrop for one of the most meaningful moments of our lives.
Our music choice
Music was such an important part of our wedding weekend because we wanted each event to have its own unique atmosphere.
For our welcome taverna night, we wanted our guests to experience an authentic taste of Cyprus, so we hired a bouzouki player, Agalos, to create a true Greek taverna vibe. It made the evening feel incredibly local and full of energy.
For the wedding ceremony, I walked down the aisle to “Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn because I wanted to surprise our guests and set a fun, upbeat disco mood from the very beginning. Noa walked down the aisle to an instrumental violin version of “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, which created a beautiful, intimate, and emotional contrast.
For the party, we asked our good friend and DJ, Omer Gavish, to take over. He is well known for his disco parties, so we knew he was the perfect person to create the atmosphere we had always imagined. Our dream was to throw an old-school disco party filled with timeless classics, and he absolutely delivered. The dance floor stayed packed all night, exactly as we had hoped.
Flowers
For my bouquet, I chose classic white calla lilies. I wanted something timeless, elegant, and understated that would complement the overall aesthetic of the wedding.
The table centerpieces featured a carefully curated mix of white blooms with subtle touches of greenery. I was very particular about the types of flowers and the overall look, and our florist, More Than Decor, brought every detail to life exactly as I had envisioned. Walking into the venue felt like seeing my dream Pinterest board come to life, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result.
Photographer and videographer
Choosing our photographer and videographer was one of the most important decisions we made. Since I work as both a graphic designer and a videographer, I knew exactly how much the final photos and film would mean to us years from now.
We weren’t just looking for beautiful images—we wanted artists who could tell our story naturally and capture real emotions without making us feel like we were constantly posing.
Anna Gomeniuk‘s work immediately stood out to us because of the way she captures light, emotion, and all the in-between moments. Her photography felt timeless, elegant, and effortless—exactly the feeling we wanted to preserve from our wedding.
Choosing our videographer was an even more personal decision for me. As a videographer myself, I had very high standards for who would document our wedding. I was looking for someone whose style I truly admired, but also someone who would give me the creative freedom to work with the raw footage afterward. Kreative Films was the perfect fit. Their cinematic approach and attention to genuine emotion aligned perfectly with what I had envisioned.
In the end, I edited our wedding film myself using the original footage they captured. It allowed me to tell our story through my own eyes while building on the incredible moments they documented, making the final film even more meaningful to us.
Extra Details
As a designer, I wanted every detail to feel intentional and personal rather than simply decorative.
One of our favorite touches was creating a custom mobile wedding website with the full weekend itinerary, interactive maps, dress codes, and a digital seating chart, making everything easy and accessible for our guests.
We also surprised everyone with a funny airline-style safety video before the flight, introducing the weekend in a lighthearted way. It quickly became one of everyone’s favorite moments.
To make the destination wedding even more memorable, we designed a variety of personalized details for our guests, including custom tote bags, branded ouzo bottles, and parasols for the Cyprus sun. We also placed disposable film cameras throughout the reception so guests could capture the celebration from their own perspective, creating memories we’ll treasure forever.
Looking back, it wasn’t one big gesture that made the wedding special—it was all the thoughtful little details that reflected who we are and made our guests feel part of the experience.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Our biggest piece of advice is to figure out what truly matters to you as a couple—and what doesn’t.
Every wedding comes with endless opinions, traditions, and expectations, but not everything has to be done just because “that’s how it’s always been.” We found it really helpful to separate the essentials from the nice-to-haves, and to invest our energy only in the things that genuinely meant something to us.
The same was true for our ceremony. We didn’t feel like we had to embrace every part of a traditional Jewish wedding as one complete package. Instead, we chose the customs that resonated with us and created a ceremony that felt authentic to who we are.
Another piece of advice is to be intentional about the people you choose to surround you on your wedding day. Whether it’s your planner, photographer, officiant, or the friends and family standing beside you, these are the people who will shape your experience. Choose people who make you feel calm, supported, and completely yourselves.
When it comes to the things that truly matter to you—don’t compromise. Those are the details you’ll remember long after the day is over.
NOA & IDAN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Anna Gomeniuk
Videography – Kreative Films
Planner – Kai Wedding Planners
Venue – Columbia Beach Resort
Bride’s dress & veil – Lihi Hod
Bride’s shoes – Manolo Blahnik
Flowers – More Than Decor
DJ – Omer Gavish (DJ Gavish)
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.
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