We love it when a couple puts their own spin on their Jewish wedding ceremony – which is exactly what Yael, an enterprise relationship manager at LinkedIn, and Josh, a vice president at Alphasights, did when planning their big day at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey.
The couple’s Judaism was central to their day, and we adore the way they put their own spin on classic traditions. Working with their rabbi, Yael and Josh crafted a bespoke ceremony that was totally them – including circling each other 3.5 times each, having women involved in the ketubah reading and Sheva Brachot, and having Yael say a statement of betrothal to Josh.
Amy Sims Photography captured the day so beautifully, and the couple’s videographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kiss the Bride Films, caught all the love, emotion, and energy of the day in their unmissable trailer.
This wedding was full of so many special touches – from an ice sculpture shot tower to a 45-minute hora set to Yael’s ultra-elegant Anne Barge gown purchased at Kleinfeld – but we’ll turn you over to the bride for the rest of the details…
How We Met
Yael, the bride: The short answer is Hinge. The longer answer is that Yael saw Josh on Hinge and noticed he went to Vanderbilt, where her best friend Hannah went. Figuring Jews at Vanderbilt must know each other, Yael sent a screenshot of Josh’s profile to Hannah, who gave Yael a thumbs up and said “he’s one of the good guys.” We both work in Account Management.
Venue
Temple Emanu-El in Closter. We chose the venue because it had a beautiful mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, and the in-house catering team of Northern Valley Affairs run an amazing event! Their food is top notch and they are experts at running a fun wedding. They made all of our wishes possible, and came with ideas of their own (like the ice shot tower!). We cared a lot about picking a team that would make our day easy and it started with the Temple Emanu-El and Northern Valley teams!
Theme
We didn’t overthink our decor and theme too much. We stuck with very classic and understated colors and styles like black & white attire, white florals with greenery, and minimal decor throughout given the beauty of the Temple and grounds. This felt in line with our personalities and focused all of the energy on the people and spirit of the day!
An Anne Barge Dress
Yael wore an Anne Barge gown purchased at Kleinfeld. The dress, while simple, highlighted Yael’s desire to feel comfortable, a little sexy, and classic on her wedding day.
The handsome groom
Josh wore a custom Alan David tuxedo in a similarly classic style that fit him perfectly!
Ceremony & Chuppah
Judaism was central to our day and we loved incorporating classic traditions, and a few with our own twist. We wanted to highlight our merging of worlds and Jewish backgrounds in a traditional framework and worked closely with our rabbi to conduct a ceremony that was perfect for us – including circling each other 3.5 times each, having women involved in ketubah reading and Sheva Brachot, and having Yael say a statement of betrothal to Josh as well.
Our music choice
We also loved the fun elements of the Jewish tradition like bedeken and simcha dancing – our hora set lasted nearly 45 minutes! It was so special to celebrate in a way that felt so meaningful, inclusive, and uniquely us surrounded by our loved ones. Our band was Jeff Michaels Band.
Flowers
We had calla lilies and white roses by Mitch Kolby Events.
Photographer and videographer
Amy Sims Photography has played a key part in so many milestones close to our family and friends, that it was a no brainer! Amy first came into the Smolar’s lives when she photographed Yael’s sister and brother in law’s wedding in 2019. From there she was part of friends’ weddings and then photographed Yael’s nephew Leo when he was a newborn. All this context to say, working with Amy was a no brainer because of her connection to our family and community.
She captures all the small moments and her photos show the care and attention Amy has for us as a couple and our families. We will not only cherish our wedding photos forever, but also the experience of partnering with Amy! Our videographer was Kiss the Bride Films.
Extra Details
The ice sculpture shot tower! It set the tone for the kind of party we wanted everyone to have. And got plenty of use throughout the night! Our overall memories of the day are so positive and almost surprised at how much fun we had. Knowing of all the stress going into that day, and every detail that could go wrong, it could have been very easy to spend the day stressed, but we weren’t. Some favorite moments that stand out are the badeken – always Yael’s favorite part of a wedding and the insane energy on the dance floor being surrounded by the people we love most jumping up and down with us.
There was another element to the day that is extremely meaningful though not as joyous. Our wedding was the day after 6 Israeli hostages were found murdered. It was one of the toughest days for our community and everyone in attendance since October 7th. Coming into the day, many people were feeling completely distraught, but the day truly brought us what we needed – a celebration of love and Jewish life. We had always planned on singing Acheinu, a Hebrew song about brotherhood, under our chuppah to acknowledge the pain of our community and unity during this time.
Given the events of the day before, the song and the few moments spent singing it as a community, held a whole new meaning and brought an immense amount of emotion to the day. While it was extremely painful, it was also healing and is a moment of the day we will never forget.
Honeymoon
We did a quick trip to Sedona after the wedding to get away for a few days. It was a great combo of relaxing by the pool mixed with some hiking. We are in the midsts of planning an “official” honeymoon to Africa for safari this summer!
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
We prioritized our family and guests’ enjoyment above all else. We saw the day as an opportunity to celebrate with our people, and not just in front of them. We loved knowing everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves and seeing the packed dance floor, busy bar, and huge smiles all night were a testament to how much of an impact it made! To this day, people still remark how fun our wedding was and how much energy there was!
YAEL & JOSH’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Amy Sims Photography
Videography – Kiss the Bride Films
Venue – Temple Emanu-El
Planner – Melissa DiGeronimo
Bride’s dress – Anne Barge found at Kleinfeld
Bride’s shoes – Badgley Mischka
Groom’s attire – Alan David
Hair + Makeup – Bisous Beauty Bar
Flowers – Mitch Kolby Events
Band – Jeff Michaels Band
Catering – Northern Valley Affairs
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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