Like so many 2020 couples, Marissa, a physical therapist and reiki master, and Rory, an accountant, ended up with a Jewish wedding very different from the one they’d originally planned. The NYC couple had originally opted for a jam-packed wedding weekend on the beach at a private club in Florida’s Palm Beaches. Everything was just about ready to go for their May 2020 date when the pandemic hit.
Despite all the work and dreams that went into planning their dream wedding, two changes of date later Marissa and Rory ultimately had to make the hard decision to cancel their original celebration and plan a micro wedding for ten in Marissa’s parents’ backyard from scratch. For the most part, the pair had to find new vendors, but two of the ones they’d originally booked were able to make the shift: first, there was Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Nava Shoham, Marissa and Rory’s rock star ketubah designer, who came through with not one, not two, but THREE versions of the couple’s gorgeous ketubah, to account for all of their changes of date. Second was Emily Harris Photography, who’s responsible for the couple’s exquisitely joyous pics.
In Marissa’s words, “The day and night was the most perfect imperfect celebration and ended up being so much more than we imagined. We do hope to get the big party eventually but the night will always be so incredibly memorable.” We’ll let her take it from here…
How we Met
Marissa, the bride: We met online 6 years ago
Venue and wedding plans
Our original wedding would have truly been a dream come true. Rory and I live in NYC (Rory born and raised in NYC, me Long Island) but we wanted a realistic destination type wedding that was not too difficult for people to get to. Palm trees, sunshine and the beach are 3 of our most favorite things.
The wedding was set for the Falls Club of the Palm Beaches. A beautiful private venue. We had so many amazing activities planned for the whole weekend. Rehearsal dinner and drinks and games Friday night and a big brunch on Sunday. We had guest bags made and filled with cards, sunscreens, sunglasses, his and her favorite candy filled bags, other treats and more. We currently have 200 plus flip flops sitting in my parents garage 🙁 Our original date was 5/2/20 and EVERYTHING was done. I didn’t even get to have my shower which was at an amazing taco bar in NYC and would have been the cutest little mexican fiesta. NOT a boring shower 🙁
We moved the wedding to 11/15/20 then 4/11/21 and ultimately had to cancel. Nava Shoham had to make us 3 NEW ketubahs. We ended up doing a very intimate wedding at my parents’ backyard in Boynton Beach, FL with just parents and siblings. We had to get new vendors (and we did not get money back).
We were able to use our original and incredible photographer Emily Harris Photography. Our huge lush palm tree and orchid filled chuppah no longer existed. We did simple and elegant things. We had hanging lights, a cascading orchid bouquet and that was that. We did sparklers for our first dance which was to All My Love by George Ezra. We had a fun horah and even got lifted in the chairs. The day and night was the most perfect imperfect celebration and ended up being so much more than we imagined. We do hope to get the big party eventually but the night will always be so incredibly memorable and another crazy story to add to OUR story.
Theme
Our original wedding had a lot more of a theme but we tried to stick with it. White and black, lots of greens, palm trees of all kinds and orchids. We had a big falling out with our original planner but my mom and I did all the leg work the first time, she was more of a “day of coordinator” and for the backyard wedding my mom and I did everything. I wish we ended up having a coordinator so things would have run more smoothly the day of but no regrets!
Hair + Make-up
Jess Bonilla was a dream come true and truly did such an incredible job! I neverrrrrr love my makeup and hair and she exceeded my expectations by a million. The pictures don’t lie!
An Amsale Dress
Amsale. Sweetheart A line, bright white and plain! there is a tiny bit of applique which resembled sunflowers which are my favorite flower. I never thought I’d find the “one” or have “that feeling”. I’m 5’9 very broad and a size 10 in street clothes. I was most nervous for dress shopping. Amsale in NYC made me feel SO comfortable and it really was like a scene out of a movie. We even ended the day with a champagne toast. When they showed me the dress I was not even going to put it on.. I had gone there to see 2 other dresses.. I went with my mom and I was feeling overwhelmed that I still had not had that “AHA” moment.. sure enough the dress I didn’t care for gave me that instant “OMG”. once the veil came on.. that was it…
Accessories
I wore my moms tennis bracelet for “something borrowed”. Flower diamond earrings that were a shower gift from my parents and then my cartier and van cleef bracelet. Kept it simple.
Shoes
I am already 5’9 so no crazy heels for me. I wore plain Steve Madden‘s 🙂 I was lucky to have kept them on for most of the night. I was supposed to switch into these custom converse that Rory had surprised me with but we forgot! (hence I wish we ended up re hiring a planner)
The handsome groom
Rory looked like a cute Jewish model. He was dressed in Ralph Lauren tuxedo and Gucci loafers.
Bridesmaids
wah wah wah. I have 7 bridesmaids that would have been dressed in gold/champagne/bronze. Any dress of their choice as long as it was long and in that color scheme. Sadly, no friends were there to celebrate with us.
Ceremony
We wrote our own vows, my uncle married us! (our original rabbi was not available anymore) so my uncle got ordained and led a whole jewish ceremony. It was SO beautiful having him do that. Really adds taht special touch. Oh and Rory and I both got married in our Dads gold wedding bands. After the ceremony we switched to the real ones we got each other.
Ketubah
Nava Shoham – 3x the charm. our ketubah is MY FAVORITE
Chuppah
Originally- PALM TREE and orchid everything!! I wanted a cool jungle vibe ( I would have been the first in my group of friends for a big florida wedding, mostly everyone had done temples or cool places in NYC so I really wanted to vibe off of that) once we knew we were doing the backyard..I played off the greenery in my parents back yard and a cacti and hanging lights. MINIMAL, CHIC and boho ish.
Our Music Choice
This was one of the harder things to swallow about not getting our original wedding. We were obsessed with our band, VINYL band from tropics entertainment. Obviously that didn’t work out. For the backyard wedding we had a DJ.
I walked down the aisle with my parents to their wedding song – ‘Can’t help falling in love’ by Elvis. Rory walked down the aisle with his parents to – ‘Here comes the sun’ by The Beatles. Our “walk” leaving the aisle (that didn’t really get to happen) was ‘Signed sealed delivered’ by Stevie Wonder.
If we had our original wedding- we would have had a grand entrance to – ‘All I do is win’ by DJ Khaled followed by ‘Count on me’ to Bruno Mars. (MUSIC WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO RORY AND I)
First dance was – ‘All my love’ by George Ezra. (you will love it too)
Father daughter dance – ‘The way you look tonight’ by Frank Sinatra
Groom-mom dance – ‘Forever young’ by Rod Stewart
Overall vibe- fun pump up! some oldie hits and of course rory loves to rap to notorious BIG!
Flowers
Palms trees ALL KINDS, white orchids. Basically kept that minus the palm tree stuff except what was already in my parents back yard which included great natural palm trees and a big cacti!! We had white orchids, white cascading orchid bouquets, white roses and white hydrangeas for tables.
Photographer
Emily Harris Photography – she is everything
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Everyone always says the day goes so fast, try and just enjoy it. well it’s absolutely true. even with a 10 person backyard wedding!! also lots of little things go wrong!! again even in a 10 person backyard wedding so many little hiccups happened but ultimately the day really is about you and the one you’re marrying!!! all the flowers in the world can’t take away the high you feel as you stand up there with your favorite person in the world!
MARISSA & RORY’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Emily Harris Photography
Ketubah – Nava Shoham {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Venue – private residence
Bride’s dress – Amsale
Bride’s shoes – Steve Madden
Groom’s attire – Ralph Lauren Gucci
Hair + Makeup – Jess Bonilla Beauty
Jewelry – Milner Diamonds
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.
