When today’s couple started planning their Jewish wedding in Israel, they knew they wanted something different than the norm. Lin, who sets up sales centers, and Matt, who manages a video crew, knew they wanted a cozy, old-world vibe for their big day – and though they weren’t sure how to bring their wedding dreams to life, they found the absolute perfect partners in making their vision a reality.
Lin and Matt’s planner, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Bebke, was key to crafting a truly unforgettable wedding with tons of atmosphere and the European hotel feel the couple craved. Inbar and Gev of Bebke went all out transforming the pair’s venue, Noor Gallery in Jaffa, into the chicest hideaway that would’ve blended right in in Paris, London, or Rome. Inbar took charge of design, while Gev oversaw logistics – and everything ran smoothly down to the very last detail.
And we do mean the VERY last detail. In Lin’s words, “I didn’t recognize the venue when we arrived on the day of the wedding. Inbar changed the floor and added black and white ‘tiles’ for the European hotel style that we wanted, and it was wild. We didn’t have the budget for it, but Inbar found people to do it for a price that we could afford. We’ve never met people like Inbar and Gev.”
There’s so much to love about this anything-but-standard Israeli wedding – do have a scroll through the wonderful photos by Matan to see all the fab details for yourself…
VENUE
Lin, the bride and Matt, the groom: We got married at Noor Gallery in Jaffa. We wanted something that had a classy old-world vibe similar to that of an upscale European hotel. We had only about 60 guests and we wanted something intimate. The Noor Gallery is an ancient building with lots of history and this venue met all of our demands.
Planned to Perfection
Bebke helped us make it our own. We spent hours on the phone with Inbar who really listened to what we had to stay and understood what we wanted. We didn’t know how to make it our own, but Inbar was there and she got us and ran with it. She has a great imagination and just seems to know what to how to bring ideas to life.
As I mentioned, the idea was to create a cozy European hotel like style event with great food and alcohol and we also gave out cigars. We didn’t want the standard Israeli wedding.
INVITATION
The invite was pretty simple. We wanted to leave the “wow” for the event.
An Eisen Stein Dress
I actually chose a dress but then decided it wasn’t me. I paid for it but when I returned for the fitting, I realized that it was too open and just not me. The second dress that I chose from Eisen Stein in Jaffa was classy and elegant, shimmery but not too much. Both Matt and I went on our own and chose our clothes for the wedding. We didn’t need for anyone to join us.
ACCESSORIES
I wore my hair down and while not a person who wears jewelry, I “just had to” wear tiny pearl earring that I have from Tiffany.
SHOES
For the first 30 minutes I wore heels, but then changed over to Nike sneakers
HAIR & MAKEUP
My look was very natural. The first make up artist that I tried had a thing for shimmer and refused to work without it. I then switched make up artists to a woman by the name of Sharon who really saw and understood me. She was very relaxed which was what I needed because I’m so emotional.
THE handsome groom
Matt wore a black suit with a white shirt and black bow tie from Kikar Hamedina. He chose the style and a tailor made it. Matt has a lot of style and likes simple yet expensive clothes with an emphasis on the fabric. Matt wore white sneakers to complete the outfit.
CEREMONY
My sister and best friend as well as Matt’s brother and best friend held the chuppah. A reform rabbi lead the service (the rabbi from ‘Wedding at First Sight”) as Matt isn’t Jewish. The service was short and right on point. The rabbi spoke about Judaism but in a way that spoke to us. The chuppah was very simple and because Matt isn’t Jewish, we couldn’t use a kosher one.
FLOWERS
I love plants and flowers and Inbar did a great job with the flowers The arrangements were simply gorgeous and in abundance with a wonderful smell. There were lots of roses, red and black flowers and the leaves were spray painted in gold.
OUR MUSIC CHOICE
Lin says that choosing music is less her thing, so Matt was in charge of that. There was lots of jazz, old American songs and of course Mizrachi which always makes people happy and gets them on the dance floor.
PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m very choosy about pictures and I wanted natural ones as opposed to photographs where people are posing. Matt found the photographer, Matan, as he used to work in photography and knew him from before. Regarding the video, Lin and Matt are editing on their own as they want it done in a particular way.
CAKE
We had a Russian style cake as I’m Russian and Matt is Ukrainian, and we wanted to do it for our parents. It was a Napolean/Kremshnit kind of cake with lots of butter and cream.
ENTERTAINMENT
We had a flower stand with a person making crowns for the women and flowers for the men’s jacket pockets. At the end of the event, the leftover flowers were given to the guests to take home.
EXTRA DETAILS
Bebke did just an outstanding job. Inbar knows how to do magic. We spoke openly for hours and then I gave her the go ahead to run with the idea and surprise us. I didn’t recognize the venue when we arrived on the day of the wedding. Inbar changed the floor and added black and white “tiles” for the European hotel style that we wanted, and it was wild. We didn’t have the budget for it, but Inbar found people to do it for a price that we could afford. We’ve never met people like Inbar and Gev.
Inbar is a great designer with an amazing imagination and Gev oversees all the logistics. He also builds things, and he designed a wheel with flowers that was in back of the chuppah. Inbar ran around Jaffa looking for special items to suit our venue. Everything ran smoothly down to the very last detail and each and the suppliers couldn’t have been nicer and more accommodating. I wasn’t sure that she could pull of what she promised but she totally did.
ADVICE TO OTHER COUPLES PLANNING THEIR WEDDING
My advice is to breathe. If you choose professionals, trust them and let them run with it. Brides aren’t experienced to do their own. Just let go.
LIN & MATT’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Matan Katz Photography
Wedding planner – Bebke {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Venue – Noor Gallery
Caterer – Cottura
DJ – Tom Rer
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.
