Could we pretty please order up some of the brilliant Australian sunshine on display in today’s super personal, super spiritual Jewish wedding? This winter thing is getting awfully old here in the Northern Hemisphere!
Bride Liron, a lawyer, and groom Jason, a writer and product manager at an international education company, believe that people should come away from your wedding “feeling like they just had a glimpse into your love,” and that’s exactly the effect their beautiful day had on us.
The couple infused their outdoor wedding at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne with so much of themselves, and you can really feel the love and intention they put into each step.
How awesome is it that Liron and Jason hand-built their own chuppah?! No mere DIY project, the couple viewed it as symbol of the home they are building together, and they took the time they spent constructing it as a chance to discuss the kind of family life they want together. Isn’t that so lovely? Not to mention that the simple white fabric canopy they chose was the very definition of simple elegance under the eucalyptus trees at their gorgeous outdoor garden ceremony.
Another way the artsy pair connected with each other and their guests on the day was to perform some of the music themselves! In addition to joining in on an acoustic set during the reception, the performed two songs for their guests—as if just getting married weren’t nerve-wracking enough for one day!
Liron looked like a bombshell in her elegant Pronovias gown, with vintage Hollywood waves to match. Photographer Free The Bird and videographer C2 Films really captured the authenticity and spirituality of the day. Now over to the bride…
How we met
Liron, the bride: we met at university (we both studied law). I was involved in the Jewish students’ club and on this particular day we had a stall at the orientation carnival, giving away challah and selling memberships. Jason came by to grab a piece of challah… he walked away with the phone number of his future wife.
A Garden Venue
We got married at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne.
Authentic and Uplifting
The main intention we had for the wedding was for it to feel authentic and spiritually uplifting. We thought about many aspects of the wedding and tried to make it us.
We planned the whole wedding ourselves. No wedding planner; we put love and thought into each element.
E-invitations
Together we created a website where guests could RSVP.
Hollywood Waves and Natural Makeup
Iris Wieselmann did my hair and makeup on the day. I chose her not only because she is phenomenal at what she does but because I loved her energy and knew I would be happy in her company on my special day.
A Pronovias Dress
My dress was Pronovias – Princia. I loved that it was just lace and tulle. Nothing fancy or glittery. I went for something fairly modest and simple, focusing on the purity of the day.
Pearls, Diamonds, Opals
I wore Jason’s mother’s pearl and diamond earrings. I also wore a small stud in my second piercing that just had a tiny opal in it. My late grandmother loved opals and it was a way for me to feel her close on the day.
The handsome groom
Jason wore a vest from Politix. The rest was from Roger David, nothing fancy but I swooned nevertheless.
Bridesmaids in Separates
My bridesmaids wore Revelry skirts in reddish purple and different white tops.
I gave each of my bridesmaids a crystal bracelet and a blessing on the morning of the wedding.
A Homemade Chuppah
Jason and I built the chuppah. It symbolized us putting in the time to build our home and in the process we had many conversations about what kind of home and family life we would like to create together.
A Spiritual Ceremony
We asked our dads, brothers, cousin, and grandfather (all the men in our family – yes, we’re a small family) to each read one of the Seven Blessings under the chuppah. We wanted everyone to be included. We also asked my two brothers, Jason’s brother, and his cousin to hold the chuppah poles.
The rabbi lead a meditation for the groom and his groomsmen before they went inside for the signing of the ketubah to keep them grounded, centered, and present.
Instrumental Music
We walked down the aisle to a magical instrumental song played on the hand pan and flute by our musician friends Archer and Tripp.
A Very Personal Ketubah
Our ketubah was painted by our friend who is an artist. We requested that the writing be inside the shape of a magen david made out of sticks. In one corner there was a moon and in the other, a hand pan (an instrument that Jason plays). The moon was to represent the divine feminine and the hand pan the divine masculine. She painted gardenias, lavender, and jasmine wrapped around the magen david. Those flowers grew in Jason’s parents garden and were in full bloom when we started dating. She also painted two figures in an intimate embrace, representing closeness and love.
Natural Florals
We had roses and dahlias for our flowers.
Dinner in a Tipi
No cake – we had dessert, but we are generally health freaks so we didn’t want to do a whole thing around the cake.
Dinner (vegetarian food from shared plates) was served in a tipi marquee where half of the seats were cushions beside low tables. We wanted our guests to feel like they were a part of one tribe, eating and celebrating as a family.
Music by the Bride and Groom
The reception began with us welcoming our guests with a song that we sang – Your Feet by Nahko and Medicine for the People. Later in the evening we also sang Two Step by Dave Matthews Band. It was a deeply personal and loving way for us to connect to each other and our guests.
We got engaged at a concert of a friend of ours, Husky. As his song Hunter came on, Jason spontaneously proposed to me, overwhelmed with the memory of falling in love to that song. We asked Husky to perform Hunter at our wedding. It was absolutely magic.
Horas – our rabbi actually has a jazz band so they played! We had an acoustic set during which we and our friends played music, and we also had a DJ – DJ Masters.
Speeches Full of Gratitude
My father is a true tzadik, a righteous person who goes out of his way to help people in the most generous and selfless ways. Like a true holy man, not many people know the extent of how incredible he is, only his family. Jason honored my dad in his speech, telling a few of the stories of how he has helped people, moving every guest to tears. Jason talked about each of my and his family members, thanking them and honoring them for their contribution in making us who we are. He mentioned his grandparents who are no longer with us and acknowledged that everything we have is thanks to their hard work and the values they instilled in us.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Think deeply about your intention for the day and let that guide you when deciding what to include, leave out, or alter from the traditional way. People should walk away feeling like they just had a glimpse into your love and feel inspired.
Liron & Jason’s little white book
Photography – Free The Bird
Videography – C2 Films
Venue and catering – Royal Botanical Gardens
Bride’s dress – Pronovias
Groom’s attire – Politix and Roger David
Bridesmaids – Revelry
Hair + Makeup – Iris Wieselmann
Flowers – I Heart Flowers
DJ – DJ Masters
Furniture – Dann Event Hire
Moroccan furniture – Kasbah Import
Sound and staging – YK Custom Studio
