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A Groundbreaking Same-Sex Orthodox Jewish Wedding with Tons of Personal Touches at Rochdale Town Hall, UK

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Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK

We have a really special Jewish wedding to share with you today! London couple Jay, who runs a scientific consultancy business, and Michael, a chartered accountant working in risk management, were the first same-sex couple to be married by an Orthodox rabbi in the UK, and we are here for it!

It’s so exciting to see the rise of same-sex Orthodox Jewish weddings, and we loved hearing about how Jay and Michael crafted their entirely bespoke halachic ceremony. When the pair were planning their wedding, they joined our Brides Club (yes, guys can join too!), and we’re so thrilled to hear how much they valued our own Karen Cinnamon’s advice throughout the process.  

Jay and Michael’s wedding was absolutely chock full of wonderful personal touches. For starters, inspired by their shared love of musical theatre, Jay and Michael commissioned a wedding booklet designed to replicate the Playbill programs distributed in Broadway theatres, featuring illustrations of the couple in their wedding attire, a “cast list,” and a five-act synopsis of their love story. Don’t miss it in the wonderful documentary-style photos by David Stubbs!

And we love that Jay and Michael chose a ten-piece band (accompanied by a chuppah singer) from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Twentysomethings for their entertainment. The couple loved working with the band, and they couldn’t get enough of the Israeli dancing set. Also, how awesome is it that their first dance was to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis in Yiddish, sung by one of the pair’s best women, accompanied by the band?!

There are so many more wonderful details of this beautiful and meaningful day – read on for the full story in the grooms’ own words…

Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK

How We Met

We met thanks to the “shadchan of the 21st century”, the dating app Hinge.

Our early romance was complicated by geography, as Jay was dividing his time between London, Vienna and Jerusalem. Our first date took place at Tuk Tuk in London, but despite the initial spark, the practical challenges made us doubt that the relationship would develop further. An unexpected encounter at Hendon Central tube station set the relationship back on track and we both took this as a sign not to give up.

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An Interfaith Vietnamese-Jewish Wedding with Tons of Chemistry at the Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA

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Adam and Thien, Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA

We’re pretty obsessed with Adam and Thien’s fabulous Vietnamese-Jewish wedding in Dallas. This day has truly got it all: a heartfelt and meaningful fusion of two cultures, a fun theme (chemistry, in honor of the couple’s shared major that first brought them together in college), and absolutely loads of personality.

Adam and Thien crafted an interfaith ceremony blending elements from Jewish and Vietnamese culture – including a tea ceremony, a bamboo chuppah, and, of course, smashing the glass. Adam’s childhood rabbi officiated, and the couple wore Vietnamese áo dài’s for the ceremony before changing into complementary suits for the reception. The duo’s beautiful ketubah, designed by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Elena Berlo of Once Upon A Paper, featured a trilingual interfaith text reflecting Adam and Thien’s values and commitment to each other – in English, Hebrew, and Vietnamese. Don’t miss it in Julia Sharapova’s wonderful photos.

The chemistry-themed reception looks like a total blast, between color changing cocktails in beakers and flasks, passed hors d’oeuvres served in test tubes and pipettes, a Periodic Table seating chart with each table assigned a chemical element, and even a chemistry themed cake!

Adam and Thien, Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA Adam and Thien, Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA Adam and Thien, Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA Adam and Thien, Hall of State in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, USA

How We Met

We were both Chemistry majors in college, and we discovered that we had chemistry together from Day One! Little did we know that our first movie date would be watching the ever-so-romantic “Lab Safety Orientation” as we prepared to work in research labs on campus. Two years later, we officially started dating, and our bond only grew stronger as we explored Boston on the weekends and took summer trips around New England. We got engaged in 2021 and had our wedding on November 11, 2023.

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A Joyous Same-Sex Jewish Wedding at Shenley Cricket Club, Hertfordshire, UK

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Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK

The Jewish wedding of Benji, an agent for photographers and directors, and Chris, a creative director and writer, was  one for the books. Featuring an outdoor chuppah, soulful music by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Shir, an “Outdo the Grooms” dress code, and even a drag queen, this was truly an epic celebration.

The chuppah was incredibly moving, and between hearing the couple’s rabbi speak about the significance of performing his first-ever same sex chuppah to the very special Sheva Brachot, all read in English translation by dear friends of the grooms who are also all gay Jewish men, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.

As a photography agent, Benji knew only the best of the best would do when it came to capturing the big day – and he and Chris ended up choosing Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Liam Smith for his candid shots and unique eye.

Read on for the full story in the grooms’ own words…

Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UKChris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UKChris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK
How We Met

Chris and Benji, the grooms: We met on JSwipe! After Chris made the move from Cape Town, South Africa, to London in December 2020, he immediately opened JSwipe once his plane landed at Heathrow. Who was the very first Nice Jewish Boy in his feed that superliked him (You get one superlike free on JSwipe I think a year?)? Benji!

Chris swiped right and they began chatting while Chris waited out his isolation period (Covid romances… *sigh*). Their first date was during lockdown, so they walked around Little Venice in London and (24 000 steps later, according to Chris’ Apple Watch, in the early-January snow) the rest is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Summery, Rustic Same-Sex Jewish Wedding on the River Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, UK

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Londoners Joshua, a journalist, and Lewis, a financial controller, love their city – and when it came time to plan their Jewish wedding, they wanted to show it off in all its splendor to their out-of-town guests.

Trinity Buoy Wharf, a rustic venue with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and plenty of history, located right on the River Thames, hit all the right notes for the couple’s relaxed, rustic big day. The grooms’ silver birch chuppah, adorned with sunflowers, white delphiniums, and mixed grasses, was pure perfection, and we love that when Joshua and Lewis smashed the glass together, they used the moment to honor other LGBTQ+ couples around the world who can’t celebrate their love as freely.

When it came to entertainment, the pair chose a seven-piece DJ live band from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The White Keys. In the grooms’ words, “The band was incredibly interactive, filling the dance floor throughout the night. The saxophonist and electric violinist often engaged with guests on the dance floor, adding to the lively atmosphere. We couldn’t recommend The White Keys enough for their energy and ability to keep everyone dancing all night.”

Scott Garfitt, an editorial photographer best known for his work capturing images of celebrities like Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Lady Gaga, photographed the day in all its glory – you can really feel the love and emotion coming out of each and every shot.

Now over to the grooms…

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A London Wedding 

Joshua and Lewis, the grooms: We got married at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. With many guests coming from abroad, we wanted a venue that felt quintessentially London, and its location on the River Thames made it perfect. The venue’s rustic charm, featuring exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and numerous historic elements, matched the vibe we were aiming for. It felt spacious and airy, with beautiful spots for guests to take photographs and explore.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Same-Sex Jewish Wedding Celebration Extravaganza at Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El, Plantation, Florida, USA

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Sam-and-Mark-Temple-Kol-Ami-Emanu-El-Plantation-Florida-USA

This wedding is just chock full of Jewish joy – and we are here for it! It was a no-brainer for Sam, an attorney and the Vice President of Instruction and Online Education for BARBRI, and Mark, the Cantor and Co-Senior Clergy at Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in Plantation, Florida, to marry at their home congregation – where Mark just celebrated his 30th anniversary as Cantor!

Sam and Mark worked with Beverly Diane of Beverly Diane Party Consultants to plan the day – or rather, multi-day wedding celebration extravaganza – of their dreams, and in the grooms’ words, “She understood the assignment and really wanted to capture “us” authentically when designing and planning.”

The wedding weekend started with a Shabbat service and dinner, followed by a day of togetherness with loves ones from near and far a the couple’s home.  Sunday was the big day, with a morning ceremony followed by a brunch for all the guests. In the evening, the duo wrapped things up with a 5-course dinner party for their closest loved ones, featuring toasts and roasts from guests and an impromptu musical welcome speech from the grooms. The whole day was filled with so much love and laughter, beautifully captured on photo and video by Bells and Whistles Studios.

Read on for all the details in Sam and Mark’s own words…

Sam-and-Mark-Temple-Kol-Ami-Emanu-El-Plantation-Florida-USA Sam-and-Mark-Temple-Kol-Ami-Emanu-El-Plantation-Florida-USASam-and-Mark-Temple-Kol-Ami-Emanu-El-Plantation-Florida-USA Sam-and-Mark-Temple-Kol-Ami-Emanu-El-Plantation-Florida-USA
How We Met

Sam, and Mark, the grooms: We first met in 2009 at a guest house in Key West while both in other relationships. In 2020, Sam reached out to Mark out of the blue (both were single by then). After catching up, we discovered that, by pure coincidence, we had both made reservations at the same guest house in Key West where we originally met, a few weeks apart. The rest is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading