Israeli couple Michal and Sam, both of whom work for hi-tech start-up companies, first met in Chinese class at university. They got engaged at the end of a year spent living and studying the language together in Shanghai. So it was only natural that when it came to planning their Jewish wedding, they turned to their shared love of the language as inspiration for their Jewish wedding – along with the best of their home country, of course!
The pair made table numbers out of Chinese characters they wrote themselves and used the character 囍 (which symbolizes wedding in Chinese, meaning double happiness) on each napkin and on the wedding invitations. They even had the Chinese character for love embroidered on their chuppah canopy!
Michal and Sam dreamed of getting married by the sea at sunset – what better way to showcase Israel’s natural splendor? – and though COVID forced them to postpone twice (and change venues), in the end they were still able to have the wedding of their dreams at a gorgeous seaside venue in Herzliya (albeit with fewer guests than originally planned, and further-flung loved ones tuning in via livestream).
As always, we’re absolutely in love with the luminous photography by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jossef Si – an incredible talent Michal had had her eye on since before getting engaged.
Now over to the bride for all the details…
How we Met
Michal, the bride: We met in my first Chinese class of my first year at university. It was so coincidental because it’s not Sam’s major (he was taking the class as an enrichment class) and I switched my major to Chinese at the last minute. We became friends and after a year of friendship we began to date.
A Wedding by the Sea
We had a fantasy to get married by the sea at sunset, we felt it would express our vibe in the best way. Plus, we felt that the beach at sunset would be Israel’s ultimate venue. Our wedding was cancelled twice at a venue in Caesariya near the ruins on the beach. The second time was 3 days before the wedding, which was very painful and disappointing. Luckily for us, it made our third try the best one. We got married in a smaller venue just like we always wanted with the sea right next to us in a venue/restaurant called Yama Herzliya in Herzliya with less than 100 guests.
Ode to China
My story with Sam began in Chinese class and it was always our mutual hobby. The hobby led to flying to Shanghai to live together for 1 year studying Chinese, what was incredible was that it was only after 6 months of dating. The year was our greatest adventure of our lives, mainly because we did it together. The year ended in the most perfect way when Sam proposed to me 2 days before our flight back home. The story made Chinese become our wedding theme.
We made table numbers out of Chinese characters we wrote ourselves, the wedding had the character 囍 (which symbolizes wedding in Chinese, meaning double happiness) on each napkin, and on the wedding invitations. Our wedding designer, Ramit Kariv, embroided the word love in Chinese on top of our Chuppah. She also wrote our Chinese names on one of the venue’s walls.
Invitations / stationery
I designed the invitations. The theme of the invitations was the sun setting over the sea in abstract water colors. We also added again the Chinese character on the top of the invitation.
Hair + Make-up
Hair and make up was done by Lilach Nachmani. I wanted to feel myself but with bridal glam. As a person who normally wears makeup every day, I wanted to feel natural but impressive. I had trouble deciding whether to keep my hair up or down, but postponing the wedding twice till the end of August next to sea (the height of Israel humidity) left me no choice but to have it up and look more elegant.
A Liron Partouche Dress
I always wanted a princess style wedding dress and Liron Partouche’s studio was only the third place I visited. My mum found the dress and asked me to try it on. It wasn’t what I would have chosen myself as it was in slim cut and not white. The dress was in nude color and covered in flowers.
It was beautiful but something was missing. Then the dress designer added a puff tulle skirt which completed the look and allowed me to have two separate looks at the wedding. Once I had the dress on with the additional skirt, everyone in the room shed a tear.
Accessories
My mother in law gave me a hair pin and I had earings I had bought.
Shoes
It was really important to me to be as comfortable as possible at the wedding but still feel like a princess. So I ordered shoes from Lady Comfort in rose gold. I bought my favorite type of sneakers – Keds, and my mum attached small white flowers which were taken from my wedding dress.
The handsome groom
Sam wore a white grey suit that matched the season. He also had a black and grey chequered vest which reminded us of his British roots. He also had on a grey bowtie.
Bridesmaids
I had three bridesmaids who were my best friends. They spent the day with me leading up to the wedding.
Ceremony
Our ceremony was a reform wedding. It was completely gender equal. We both recited the ring blessing and shared personal vows. We walked down the aisle to a special version of ‘Can’t help falling in love’ – Elvis Presley was singing while Sam walked down the aisle with his parents, and Kina Grannis sang the second verse of the song while Michal walked down the aisle with her parents.
Ketubah
I designed the ketubah in the same theme as the invitations. The text was a reform personalized text that we chose without traditional Jewish unequal context.
Chuppah
My wedding designer had the vision. (with the Chinese symbol mentioned earlier)
Our Music Choice
Our walking down the aisle song I have mentioned above. We thought a lot about the first dance song, we like classics so we tried all the obvious choices, but then the song chosen was ‘Something’ by The Beatles, which was the song Sam hired a guy in China to play when he proposed to me.
Flowers
My wedding designer chose all the flowers, according to the wedding theme.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer Jossef Si was our first wedding supplier I know I wanted before I got engaged and we booked him first, 10 months before the first wedding date. Luckily for us we could keep him as a photographer till our 3rd try. Regarding video, we were less interested in a whole wedding video, but only the Chuppah and a highlights video. Eventually we added a zoom live streaming service for all of our guests around the world who couldn’t make it. We had guests from USA, England, Ukraine, China and Hong Kong.
Food and Cake
Our venue did the catering with a chef from Tel Aviv.
Entertainment
We were lucky enough to have 3 videos made for us that we projected to the audience midway through the wedding. First one was our parents, they did a cheesy but sweet slideshow of our pictures growing up till the time we met. The second video was all of our friends singing a song they made up for us, and the third one was a surprise Sam did for me– recorded himself singing a song to me with my best friend who’s a music producer. The song was based on our favourite Chinese song, with modified words Sam wrote for me.
Extra details
They say everything happens for a reason, our difficult path to our special day really made us appreciate the happiness on that day. It made us get married exactly 1 year after we got engaged and made us stress free for the day. I am a quite a stressful person, and I was afraid it would prevent me from enjoying my day, I was lucky enough to be simply happy, and be the easy-going bride I always wanted to be.
Honeymoon
After our wedding we went straight to the airport and flew to a mini-moon in Varna, Bulgaria for a few days. Currently we are preparing to go to our honeymoon in the Seychelles, which was chosen for us as it is the almost the only green country that accepts Israeli tourists.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Because of Covid-19 it is quite a difficult time for weddings, it is considered even a luxury to get married, and have you celebrate your happy day. However, I believe it can help you focus on what’s important on the day, which is getting married with the love of your life, nothing else matters. The happiness and love you will receive on that day is worth it all. And I promise you its greater in times like these.
MICHAL & SAM’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Jossef Si {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Wedding planner – Ramit Kariv
Venue – Yama Herzliya
Bride’s dress – Liron Partouche
Bride’s shoes – Lady Comfort, Keds
Groom’s attire – Salina Fashion
Hair + Makeup – Lilach Nachmani
DJ – DJ Elkana Paz
Rabbi – Reform Rabbi Amir Wind
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.
