There’s something so special about a Jewish wedding in Israel, and the romantic springtime nuptials of Tel Aviv couple Alice and Jonathan are no exception. Alice hails from London, while Jonathan is Israeli, and blending both backgrounds was key to them as they planned their big day – as was showcasing their love for the home they’ve built together in Israel.
As nature lovers, the duo fell head over heels for their venue, Bayaar in the Hadera Forest. They loved the romantic indoor outdoor atmosphere and the relaxed, natural feel – which inspired their springtime wildflower color palette and free-flowing florals (including an absolute stunner of a floral chuppah – don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Tzahi Shemesh!).
The couple’s planer, Yana from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Craspedia Events, “was with us every step of the way before, during and after the wedding. Planning a wedding in Israel isn’t always straightforward, and there were times when we genuinely didn’t know whether our wedding would go ahead as planned. We experienced many cancellations from guests travelling from abroad and uncertainty due to the security situation, but throughout it all Yana was an incredible source of calm, kindness and support.”
The complications continued on the day itself, when, after weeks of quiet, alerts of incoming missile attacks came in just after the simcha dancing. The instructions were for everyone to move into the center of the hall, and despite the scariness of the moment (especially for overseas guests, any of whom hadn’t experienced the sirens before), the guests’ reaction was so incredibly heartwarming. In Alice’s words, “Spontaneously, our guests erupted in singing and dancing. People formed a circle around us, waving Israeli flags and singing songs, drowning out the sound of the siren. The band’s sound system had to be switched off, but the saxophonist stood in the middle of the crowd and continued playing acoustically, creating one of the most moving moments. Our guests danced even harder than before, determined to make sure we had the best wedding possible in the circumstances… It was such a show of incredible strength, resilience and joy that we have as a people.”
Read on for the full story of this very special day in Alice’s own words…
How We Met
Alice, the bride: We met through our shul in Tel Aviv. Alice had recently made aliyah from London, while Jonathan had moved to Tel Aviv from Kfar Saba. We quickly became close friends, with Alice looking to build a community and make more Israeli friends, and Jonathan being a self-confessed Anglophile.
After seven months of friendship (and Jonathan secretly harbouring feelings for quite a while!), he finally asked Alice out for a drink at a Lag BaOmer BBQ on the rocks overlooking the sea at Charles Clore Park, and the rest is history.
The challenges of living through the war in Israel brought us even closer, and after just six months together we got engaged and 6 months after that, married.
Venue
We got married at Bayaar in the Hadera Forest. We wanted a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of central Israel. Being outdoors and surrounded by nature has always been something we both love, so a venue nestled among the trees felt like the perfect setting.
The beautiful forest created exactly the romantic indoor outdoor atmosphere we had imagined and perfectly reflected the relaxed, natural feel we wanted for our wedding.
Theme
We wanted our wedding to feel as though it belonged in the forest, to fit in with the natural surroundings of the forest at spring. Our colour palette was inspired by springtime, and to reflect wild flowers that you may see growing naturally. Nothing was overly structured or uniform—we wanted the flowers to feel organic and relaxed, with foliage coming out and the colours being ununiform to create a laid back atmosphere. We chose green linens and shades of green for the bridesmaid dresses to create a romantic, spring time, forest feeling and helping create the romantic spring atmosphere we had envisioned.
Our designer was – Rachel Rosenbach.
Our wonderful planner, Yana from Craspedia Events, was with us every step of the way before, during and after the wedding. Planning a wedding in Israel isn’t always straightforward, and there were times when we genuinely didn’t know whether our wedding would go ahead as planned. We experienced many cancellations from guests travelling from abroad and uncertainty due to the security situation, but throughout it all Yana was an incredible source of calm, kindness and support.
Invitation/Stationery
We loved our custom benchers from BenchersByTikvah, we love the thought of them being used by friends and family on shabbat tables.
Hair + Makeup
Raquel of Raquelita Bridal Hair Design and Michal Jacobowitz were an absolute dream team. They worked seamlessly together to create a soft, natural and timeless look. They listened to everything I wanted, made me feel completely at ease throughout the morning. They also did my sisters and mum’s looks beautifully.
Dress
I found my dress at Halo & Wren in London, by New Zealand designer Trish Peng. It felt effortlessly elegant, the minimalist feel felt completely like me.
Because of the war, getting the dress to Israel was more complicated than we had anticipated. It only arrived four weeks before the wedding when my parents brought it with them on their own aliyah flight to Israel, making it feel even more special. My wonderful seamstress, Michaela Malá Schönbaum, then worked her magic, taking it in to fit me perfectly and adding a French bustle so I could dance with the train tucked in.
Ceremony & Chuppah
Blending backgrounds was one of the most important aspects of our ceremony. Everything was in both Hebrew and English so that every guest could feel included. We started with a Tisch which was full of energy, singing and dancing, and many l’chaims!
We were married by a Rabbi Joe Wolfson, who knows us as a couple, and is a big part of our community in Tel Aviv. He made the ceremony feel warm and personal.
Our siblings, who were the groomsmen and bridesmaids walked down the aisle and my nephews were the flower boys, scattering petals.
Close family members recited Sheva Brachot, and our parents and us shared personal words.
We had a prayer for the IDF which Elior sang which was deeply meaningful to us and our guests.
Our chuppah felt incredibly special, and the love surrounding us was palpable. As soon as Jonathan smashed the glass, our family and friends rushed forward to join us, and the simcha dancing began right there under the chuppah. It was such a joyful way to begin the celebration.
Ketubah
Jonathan’s grandfather became an incredibly talented artist after retirement, and at the age of 90 he hand-painted our ketubah for us.
Inspired by the forest setting of our wedding, he created a beautiful piece of artwork that is completely unique to us. Every time we look at it, we’re transported back to the place where we stood under the chuppah.
Our music choice
Music was incredibly important to us, and our aim throughout the wedding was to bring together both sides of our backgrounds. We wanted a seamless blend of Israeli and English music, including timeless classics, contemporary songs and traditional Jewish music for the simcha dancing.
Our chuppah singer, Elior Itzkovitz Coehn, was incredible. He sang Bo’i Kallah as Alice walked down the aisle, set to the melody of Hallelujah, a song we both love. As Jonathan walked to the chuppah, Elior performed Mi’Ma’amakim by Idan Raichel, a beautiful love song that has always been particularly meaningful to Jonathan. Elior was accompanied by musicians led by Shai Barak and the Extaza band, which made the ceremony feel even more emotional and atmospheric.
Shai Barak and Xtaza then performed during the simcha dancing and the first live music set. Their energy was amazing and immediately brought everyone onto the dance floor. They were able to move effortlessly between traditional Jewish music, Israeli favourites and English songs, which perfectly reflected the atmosphere we wanted to create. They completely understood the atmosphere we wanted to create. They really listened to our vision and delivered it perfectly. Throughout everything that happened, they never stopped bringing incredible energy, helping to keep the celebration alive and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for us and our guests.
Later in the evening, our DJ, Nadav Zigelman, took over. He really listened to what we wanted and completely understood our vision. Having worked at many Israeli-Anglo weddings, he knew exactly how to balance the different musical styles and cultures.. We wanted all ages to be on the dance floor, not just young people, and he was able to play music that appealed to all age groups and demographics. Nadav played music that brought together different ages, backgrounds and nationalities.
To play alongside with the DJ we had Guy Wittenberg play the saxophone, he was simply incredible and carried on our electric energy until the very end of the night. He ensured that, despite everything, we still had an amazing party, he was so fun and kind, and got everyone staying on the dance floor!
Flowers
Our designer, Racheli (Rachel Rosenbach), completely understood our vision from the very beginning. We wanted the flowers to feel as though they belonged in the forest, with a natural, organic look inspired by wildflowers growing in spring. Nothing was overly structured or symmetrical, we loved the relaxed and colourful feel of the arrangements, with lots of foliage and an abundance of seasonal blooms and an array of colours that blended beautifully with the woodland setting.
Our favourite floral feature was the chuppah. Racheli created a gorgeous design, perfectly capturing the romantic forest atmosphere we had imagined.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer, Tzahi Shemesh, is incredibly talented and captured our day so beautifully. He created stunning candid photographs of us, our family and our friends, preserving all the genuine emotions and special moments of the day.
We also asked him to bring his film camera, as we love the timeless, nostalgic feel that film photography creates.
We are so excited to see how our amazing videographer Ronen Abayev captured the day. He blended in seamlessly so that we didn’t get too camera shy.
We also had Arkadi Abramov taking photos for magnets and the photo booth, which was like having a second photographer. Our guests loved taking home magnets and photo strips, and we loved receiving so many larger magnets ourselves. Wedding magnets are a much loved Israeli tradition, with every home displaying simchas on their fridges to remember special and happy times.
Wedding List/Registry
We knew we wanted to receive some special Judaica and other items to help us build our future home together and used the registry La’Bayit Gifts which was easy to use and payments can be made internationally.
Extra Details
We had an artist capture our guests with live drawings and she then later painted us standing under the chuppah, everyone loved this detail and it gave something different for people to take home.
Now for our crazy story:
Just after our simcha dancing, we received alerts of incoming missile attacks in northern Israel. Like many wedding venues in Israel, Bayaar doesn’t have a shelter, and after weeks of quiet we hadn’t expected any sirens that evening.
The instructions were for everyone to move into the centre of the hall. It was the last thing we imagined happening on our wedding day, and understandably it was overwhelming and stressful, we were not prepared.
What happened next is something we’ll never forget.
Spontaneously, our guests erupted in singing and dancing. People formed a circle around us, waving Israeli flags and singing songs, drowning out the sound of the siren. The band’s sound system had to be switched off, but the saxophonist stood in the middle of the crowd and continued playing acoustically, creating one of the most moving moments.
Many of our overseas friends and family had made the decision not to travel because of the situation in Israel. For those who did come, it was the first siren some of them had ever experienced. Watching everyone show such resilience, love and support in those circumstances is something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. It reminds us exactly why we chose to build our lives together in Israel.
Nearly an hour later, after the sirens and warnings were over, the band played Don’t Stop Me Now, which couldn’t have been a more fitting song. Our celebration wasn’t going to be stopped. Our guests danced even harder than before, determined to make sure we had the best wedding possible in the circumstances. They could not stop our celebration of love, everyone partied harder for us, and the love in the room was palpable.
It wasn’t the easiest situation for us but it was such a show of incredible strength, resilience and joy that we have as a people.
We were also incredibly grateful to all of our vendors and the staff at Bayaar. Despite everything, they did everything they could to keep the celebration going, creating an amazing atmosphere throughout the evening.
Below is the speech Alice read under the chuppah because, in light of everything that happened, it feels even more poignant. It unexpectedly echoed the events that unfolded later that evening.
Jonathan, love of my life, El amore di me Vida, yonossh sheli,
Two years ago I had a deep feeling that I needed to be here, that this is where I belong, and standing under this chuppah here today I know I’ve found my home, אתה הבית שלי.
Just over a year ago, באמת רק לפני שנה, sitting by the ocean at Charles Clore Park, at Lag BaOmer, you finally asked me out.
Holding each other in מקלט אחרי מקלט, I realised there isn’t anyone I’d rather be with in those moments. I knew then that you’re the person I want to spend all of life’s moments with — בטוב, ברע ובמשוגע.
Jonathan, I fell so in love with you and continue to do so every day, the understanding, kindness and סבלנות you show me is more than I could have ever wished for.
I thank God every day that you’re in my life and that I get to marry my best friend, החבר הכי טוב שלי.
I want to make you one important promise.
אני מבטיחה ללמוד עברית בזמן עתיד, כי כשאני מסתכלת עליך אני רואה את כל העתיד שלי לפניי.
When I moved here it felt like such a dark time for Am Yisrael, but I can’t think of a better response than standing here today under our chuppah. I can’t wait to build our family together, בעזרת השם, in this beautiful, crazy country, הבית שלנו.
אני אוהבת אותך כל כך.
Honeymoon
We spent 2 relaxing nights at The Dan Accadia in Herzliya, even though we spent much of the first night in the hotel’s shelter (an interesting way to spend our wedding night!) we loved our stay there and were able to have a well deserved rest.
Next week, we’re heading to India for a month. After the year we’ve had, and the emotions that it has brought, we’re excited to immerse ourselves in a completely different culture and have real adventure together. We’ll be exploring Rajasthan before heading into the Himalayas for a mountain trek.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
If there’s one thing our wedding taught us, it’s to remember the real reason and meaning behind what the day is really about.
Because of everything that happened during our wedding, we came away realising that while the flowers, food, music and décor are all wonderful, they are ultimately just lovely extras. The true reason everyone has gathered together is to celebrate two people choosing to spend their lives together.
Planning a wedding can make it very easy to get caught up in small details, but try not to lose sight of the bigger picture. At the end of the day, if you’re married to the love of your life, you’ve had a successful and beautiful wedding.
Because of what happened at our wedding, in hindsight we try to focus on what’s important and why there is even a wedding in the first place, because we have been lucky enough to find love and to be able to marry the love of our life.
Try not to lose sight of that bigger picture of why you are getting married, it’s easy to get stuck in the fine details of planning and forget the why.
If you’re planning a wedding in Israel, one of the hardest things to accept is that, because of the situation, some friends and family may decide not to come. It’s incredibly disappointing, and can feel heart breaking, but try to come to terms with it early in the planning process. Unfortunately this is the reality of getting married in Israel at the moment. Focus on the people who will be there to celebrate with you, and see everyone else who is able to make it as an added blessing rather than taking the cancellations to heart. We had a small list of people from abroad who were non negotiables, if they could not come we would postpone including my parents, siblings and nephews, everyone else was an added bonus if they chose to come.
ALICE & JONATHAN LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Tzahi Shemesh
Videography – Ronen Abayev
Magnets & photo booth photography – Arkadi Abramov
Venue – Bayaar
Planner – Craspedia Events
Bride’s dress – Trish Peng found at Halo & Wren
Seamstress – Michaela Malá Schönbaum
Hair – Raquelita Bridal Hair Design
Makeup – Michal Jacobowitz
Flowers & decor – Rachel Rosenbach
DJ – Shai Barak, Xtaza, Nadav Zigelman and Guy Wittenberg
Chuppah signer – Elior Itzkovitz Cohen
Stationery/Invitation – BenchersByTikvah
Wedding List/Registry – La’Bayit Gifts
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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