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5 of our Favorite Same-Sex Jewish Weddings

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Adam and Curtis‘s DIY Gay Jewish Wedding | Photo by Libby Christensen 

Welcome back to “5 of Our Favorites,” our series where we highlight five breathtaking Jewish weddings, all centered around a unique theme. This week, we’re celebrating love with 5 of our favorite same-sex Jewish weddings.

Same-sex couples have long awaited the opportunity to celebrate their love in a way that honors both their commitment to each other and their Jewish traditions, and these weddings are a true testament to that beautiful fusion.

From intimate ceremonies to grand celebrations, each of these weddings is filled with meaningful rituals, love, and joy, showcasing how LGBTQ+ couples are weaving their own unique stories into the fabric of Jewish tradition. We’re so excited to share these incredible celebrations with you and highlight the power of love, inclusivity, and community.

Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA

Max and Zach‘s Pioneering Modern Orthodox Same-Sex Wedding | Photo by David Perlman 

Max and Zach’s Pioneering Modern Orthodox Same Sex Wedding at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York, USA

Same-sex Orthodox weddings are still in their early years, and we love that Max and Zach – along with their officiant, Rabbi Avram Mlotek – are at the forefront. The pair worked with their rabbi to craft a ceremony that aligned with their values as Modern Orthodox Jews AND as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA

Max and Zach‘s Pioneering Modern Orthodox Same-Sex Wedding | Photo by David Perlman 

While much of the ceremony looked like any traditional Jewish wedding, one difference is that instead of a traditional ketubah, Max and Zach opted to use a Shtar Shutafut, a Halachic Partnership Contract, to formalize their marriage. The couple worked with Rabbi Mlotek on the text. They also exchanged rings under the chuppah, and each smashed a glass before guests danced the night away to music by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Azamra DJ.

Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA

Max and Zach‘s Pioneering Modern Orthodox Same-Sex Wedding | Photo by David Perlman 

It’s so heartwarming to see how Max and Zach were able to craft the wedding of their dreams, without having to compromise on any aspect of their identities.

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Charlotte and Ellie‘s Same-Sex Jew-ish Wedding | Photo by Dale Weeks 

Charlotte and Ellie’s Same-Sex Jew-ish Industrial Vintage Wedding at St Pancras Renaissance, London

Charlotte and Ellie wanted a dramatic and industrial meets romantic, dark florals-vibe for their big day, and they found the perfect venue in the iconic St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London. 

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Charlotte and Ellie‘s Same-Sex Jew-ish Wedding | Photo by Dale Weeks 

We simply adore the moody aesthetic and jewel-toned theme; Charlotte and Ellie’s vintage-industrial look made their whole day so quirky and unique, but still so chic and stunning.

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Charlotte and Ellie‘s Same-Sex Jew-ish Wedding | Photo by Dale Weeks 

The attention to detail from artistic bride Ellie was simply phenomenal. Each item was carefully and lovingly picked with the theme in mind: the home-designed invitations, the rust-coloured chairs, the Victoriana table decorations and whole flower stems strewn down the aisle. The style extended to the brides’ outfits, which were simply beautiful and perfectly in keeping with the tone and theme of the wedding.

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A Country House Jewish Wedding in White at Sopwell House, St Albans, UK

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We love a country house Jewish wedding – and Natalie and Josh’s big day at Sopwell House in St Albans is really something special! Natalie and Josh loved the gorgeous grounds and the private, remote feel – all while being an easy trip from London.

We’re obsessed with the couple’s super cool Lucite chuppah, adorned with gypsophila and hanging white roses – don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by MIKI Studios.

To make sure everything ran to plan on the day, Natalie and Josh turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Toastmaster Jango. He made sure everything went smoothly so the bride and groom could relax and enjoy their day stress-free, and the couple give him lots of credit for making the day of their dreams a reality.

Now over to the bride, who’ll fill you in on all the details…

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How We Met

Natalie, the bride: We met on Hinge back in October 2020, when the covid lockdown curfew was 10pm!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Chana Marelus Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding Making Judaism Cool at Casa 1536, Cartagena, Colombia

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Today, we’re flying away to the picturesque Old City of Cartagena, Colombia! Americans Paula and Aaron knew they wanted a destination wedding, and since Paula’s mom is Colombian and she grew up spending time in the country, Cartagena, with its charming Spanish colonial style, was an obvious choice.

We love that Paula and Aaron’s goal for the big day was to “make Judaism cool” and show their guests just how awesome a Jewish wedding can be. They certainly set a stunning atmosphere, between their breathtaking floral chuppah and the hundreds of candles they had hanging from the ceiling in the ceremony room.

The couple’s chazzan, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Choni G, also had a lot to do with the magical atmosphere – Paula and Aaron can’t stop raving about his wonderful performance throughout the celebration, from Havdalah to the badeken to the chuppah to the hora, and finally bentching.

To cap things off, Paula and Aaron paraded through the Old City following the ceremony – don’t miss the incredible imagery from Las fotos de Vale!

Now over to Paula, who looked so elegant in her gown by Israeli designer Chana Marelus...

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How We Met

Paula, the bride: It’s interesting – our paths crossed many times, but it was never the right time until Hashem said it was the right time. We both went to University of Florida and had many mutual friends. We both separately moved to Washington, DC (I moved for a job in tech consulting and Aaron moved for law school) and my roommate at the time knew Aaron and invited him over for a party they were having. They had a great conversation and most importantly, Aaron hit it off with Milo (my dog). Aaron eventually asked me out on a date and we started dating. After dating for 3 years, we embarked on our religious journey and became religious together. This culminated in our wedding in June 2023.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

5 of Our Favorite Themed Jewish Weddings

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Rita and Tal‘s Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Yarin Taranos 

Welcome back to “5 of Our Favorites,” where we bring you a curated selection of beautiful Jewish weddings. This week, in honor of Purim,  we’re bringing you 5 of our favorite themed Jewish weddings!

These weddings take personalization to a whole new level, with couples choosing fun, bold, and unique themes to make their big day truly unforgettable. From a colorful carnival extravaganza to epic Marvel superhero celebrations, Star Wars-inspired galas, globetrotting travel themes, and literary-inspired events, each wedding in this collection brings its theme to life in the most joyful and meaningful way.

We can’t wait to share these imaginative, one-of-a-kind weddings with you, and hopefully spark some fun ideas for your own themed celebration!

Talia and Danny‘s Carnival-themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Shimmy Lautman

Talia and Danny’s DIY Carnival Backyard Jewish Wedding in Los Angeles, California, USA

Plenty of couples choose themes, and pull them off beautifully, but the level of dedication this couple put into their carnival Jewish wedding is just off the charts. We’re not just talking about a wedding that hints at a fair aesthetic; Talia and Danny actually set up a full-on carnival in the bride’s parents’ backyard. We’re talking a Ferris wheel, games (complete with life-sized stuffed animal prizes!), photo booths, claw machines, a balloon artist and a stilt walker… and that’s just the beginning!

Talia and Danny‘s Carnival-themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Shimmy Lautman

Even more impressive is how much of the work the couple — along with Talia’s family — put in themselves, from artistic details to heavy-duty stuff like wiring. With the help of their multitalented florist, Dawn of Tularosa Flowers — who did so much more than just florals — the pair made their dream into a reality, with everything from the big stuff (that Ferris wheel!) to the smallest details (the floral centerpieces were inside popcorn containers — genius).

Talia and Danny‘s Carnival-themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Shimmy Lautman

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Rita and Tal‘s Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Yarin Taranos 

Rita and Tal’s Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding during Hanukkah, Grace, Rishon LeZion, Israel

Rita and Tal adore the Marvel Universe. How much, exactly? So much that they chose to theme their wedding around their love of superheroes!

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Rita and Tal‘s Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Yarin Taranos 

And they really went all out! Their invitations featured a custom drawing of the pair as superheroes, the rest of their stationery cleverly carried on the theme, and at their reception they had all kinds of superhero props, from masks to balloons to Captain America armor!

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Rita and Tal‘s Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding | Photo by Yarin Taranos 

As if that weren’t fun enough, Rita and Tal also had a balloon artist making glow-in-the-dark balloon sculptures and hats for their guests on the dancefloor! Plus, they made their two dogs (decked out in little bride and groom costumes!) part of the action. 

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An Amsale Bride for a Sunset Jewish Wedding with a Stunning Floral Chuppah at Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, New York, USA

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We are totally and completely obsessed with today’s breathtaking sunset chuppah! New Yorkers Sydney and Adam, who both work in the media industry, timed their ceremony so the sun would set at the exact moment they exchanged vows – and are the results ever stunning!

Lyndhurst Mansion, a historic estate overlooking the Hudson River in Westchester, was the perfect spot for the couple’s outdoor ceremony and tented reception – close to both bride and groom’s families, and featuring a beautiful landscape and garden. And Sydney and Adam’s exquisite floral chuppah fit the backdrop so perfectly!

When it came time to choose their photographer, the duo always knew Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Alex Knight and his team were the ones for them. Sydney had been a bridesmaid in a wedding Alex photographed and loved working with him – and that enthusiasm continued through to Sydney and Adam’s engagement shoot and the big day itself:

On a 95-degree day in September, Alex was energetic, patient, and creative — exactly what Sydney remembered, and flawlessly captured the easy love we have for each other, even while sweaty traversing through Brooklyn and Manhattan. Our wedding day was no different: the photo and video teams were so kind, and we had so much fun with our shoots around the grounds and throughout the day.

Sydney and Adam also used Alex Knight’s photo booth offering, InstaLux, which guests took full advantage of, and made a guest book where people could leave copies of their pictures along with messages for the couple. In that book, the photo team on-site also snuck in Polaroids of the bride and groom from the whole day, which was such a meaningful and heartwarming surprise for them.

We’ll let the bride fill you in on the rest of the details of this very special day…

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Sydney, the bride: We met through Bumble and worked at the same advertising agency without realizing we were only a few desk rows away. When I swiped right and saw the same company on Adam’s profile, my message to him was, “It’s a good thing we’re not on the same team, or this would be awkward.”

We met for coffee for our first date during a work day in June, and after learning more about our very similar backgrounds and love of being silly together, it was clear that we were something special. Four years later, Adam proposed in Brooklyn — close to our first home together — with his late maternal grandmother’s engagement ring.Continue ReadingContinue Reading