Today’s Jewish real wedding vibe could only have been pulled of in the divine olive groves of Israel, with that typical Israeli-cool attitude we adore! Emma and Ofer’s celebration of love took the form of a festival-vibe Greek party with a family-style Friday night dinner and a dreamy late-night bonfire under the stars. Swoon!
We’re getting a different perspective today as the fabulous writeup was provided by none other than much-loved Recommended Vendor, the one and only Gev Rotem from Bebke Productions. Gev worked with Emma and Ofer to really get to know them, their values and their tastes, before designing an incredible multi-area production with a boho-beautiful aesthetic and potted plants aplenty.
The outdoor venue was transformed into a hippie-style ballroom, with teepee tents, a wicker statue, flea market furniture, a dream catcher seating plan, a flamenco singer and an abundance of cacti.
If that wasn’t enough, the food sounded divine, with casserole dishes, kafneh and brewed black coffee, served under stunning and romantic string lights.
In case you don’t already have massive FOMO (I mean, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to be invited??), the whole story of the day is illustrated with such expertise by phenomenal photographer, the inimitable Liron Erel, who we simply love!
We’ll pass you over to Gev for the full story on how Emma and Ofer’s big day came together – please be warned that you may find yourself changing your own wedding plans to a destination wedding in Israel!
A bohemian festival vibe
Gev Rotem from Bebke Productions, the wedding planner: When Emma And Ofer contacted us, we tried to understand what is the experience they are looking for. They were looking for a venue surrounded by nature, which would create the atmosphere of a special local bohemian festival, filled with joy and love.
We found them a special venue in the country, an olive grove that belongs to a family of farmers. We chose a different area for each stage of the wedding. A canopy area, a Greek party complex, a family dining area and of course a special area for the party. For example, we used a car park and turned it into the dining area.
The place was suitable because each part of the wedding received a separate space that suited the unique atmosphere. It was a pure, natural, isolated and far from any settlement what gave us a sense of freedom and only 20 minutes from Tel Aviv.
A Greek party and a Friday night family meal
Emma is Canadian, and Ofer is Israeli, they connect through their liberated and creative personalities, bringing together different elements of freedom, Jewish roots, wild nature, and especially their love for celebration.
They chose us because they were looking for someone who could interpret the desires into a professional and creative production that would create the unique experience of a great love festival.
In the many meetings that we had, we truly got to know them. We learned what was important to them and exactly how they wanted to celebrate their special day. We interpreted their values into a festival that flows between experiences. From a Greek party to a traditional Friday night family meal. The nature of the bohemian design elements were complementary to the festival. We created small corners of teepee tents with seating and accessories that felt like cozy rooms scattered around.
The Jewish spiritual world blended wonderfully with the festival space and connected all the guests to the strong experience of the couple. The interesting combinations made the wedding an amazing and one-of-a-kind experience for the guests. Clamped structures were placed in various places, for example, a six-meter-high structure with a huge wicker hoop that was a special decoration and even got a stunning color wash during the party.
Themed invitations
The invitations were a clue to the event’s atmosphere, using illustrations of cacti on recycled paper and clean fonts.
A vintage, knee-length dress
Emma’s dress was vintage. She combined a knee-length dress with some stunning fringes on it to match the atmosphere.
A laid-back groom
Ofer wore a T-shirt, pants and a vest – a real rock star!
A beautifully wild chuppah
The chuppah was held under a shed built specifically for the wedding and decorated with olive branches grown in the grove. T
he combination of the white cloth and the green branches gave the canopy a pleasant, wild look, which tied in with the overall feel of the place.
Creative use of plants
The chosen wedding design tied many interesting specifications that expressed the aesthetic story of the wedding.
We built a collection of plants that suited the atmosphere. We used a lot of greenery and pots, we planted some cicolants and cacti in pots.
Brown glass bottles were scattered on the dining tables filled with a greenery and touches of white flowers. The plants of the grove gave a sense of a green and natural botany connected to the venue and nature. A clean line design that preserves the natural.
Our fabulous photographer…
We chose the one and only Liron Erel.
A Greek celebration and a late-night bonfire
Since the event was a kind of wild celebration of joy, the musical segments also had a meaning. The evening was accompanied by the DJ Eduard El Camino. After the wedding ceremony, Avihu’s Band of Rhythm preformed, bringing Mediterranean sounds of Jaffa with Greek and Italian essences.
The performance was held at the end of the wedding ceremony, which was completely designed as a Greek scene with Greek alcohol and street food. The band brought all the guests into a whirlwind and brought joy and sense of liberty.
After dinner, the dance party had R&B music and light beats. At the end of it, we lit a bonfire and the guests gathered around it and enjoyed the sounds of guitar and flamenco. An exciting and intimate late-night atmosphere under a starry sky.
The design was based entirely on Indian bohemian style, which combines elements of old furniture, teepee tents made out of swings, signs, print craft paper, ceramic and colored glassware, ceramics, brown bottles, green plants and cacti, fabrics and pillows.
Plant favors
The party favors were small cicolants we wrapped in craft paper, to which we attached a thank you note. In addition, the plants that decorated the wedding were distributed to the guests when they left.
Essence of the wedding
The whole wedding was planned in a special way; each part was held in an area of its own with meaning to each area. The entire venue had details that tied the design and created a special and authentic wedding.
The couple incorporated accessories from their stores. Their friends prepared various accessories that were added to the design and enhanced the experience. In the venue, we built entrance gate, teepee tents in different sizes, and a tower with a huge wicker hoop.
Vintage furniture was brought from the flea market, that we arranged as open-air ballroom and carefully selected utensils and various accessories. The seating plan was dangling from dream catchers attached to the gate.
We held a traditional Israeli family dinner, where 450 guests sat around long tables, held a traditional kiddush ceremony for the Sabbath, and shared a meal with homey delicacies, spicy fish stew, casserole dishes, fresh salads, challah and dips, wine and a refreshing cold tea. All seating was under romantic garlands lights.
Emma & Ofer’s little white book
Wedding planner, production and design – Bebke Productions
Photography and videography – Liron Erel
Catering – Maasia
Band – Avihu’s Band of Rhythm
DJ – Eduard El Camino
Light and sound – Hakol
Furniture – Craft And Bloom
Karen amazing post,
Thanks for sharing our love for creating unique weddings!
Love,
The Bebke Productions team