Jenna will be marrying Mat in November 2021 at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. Click here to read all Jenna’s planning posts to date.
THREE FACTS: (1) Jenna + Mat have known each other all their lives – they met when they were both one-year-old at a baby class! (2) Their relationship began at the University of Arizona in March 2012 (3) Mat proposed at Jenna’s parents house in December 2018
Things have been quite crazy these past few weeks! We packed up our apartment in Brooklyn & started a cross-country drive to move back home to Tucson, AZ. So thankful for pods-style moving services that let you pack up, then they ship the moving pods, & deliver when you’re ready!
We already have our hands full driving with a cat, I’m glad we don’t have to be driving a Uhaul. Can’t wait to be fully moved into our large, less expensive than our one-bedroom-NYC-apartment house! Our drive will have taken us through 12 states total & with 2 stops along the way to see people: one with a friend from college & a 2nd stop with my brother, sister-in-law, & nephews, just in time for Purim!
This move couldn’t have come at a better time. We recently postponed our wedding, again. We are now on date #3! Hopefully by November everything will be better & everyone will have had an opportunity to get their vaccine. I just couldn’t imagine our wedding without all our loved ones there to witness our marriage & dance the night away.
Interestingly, changing the date again has made me think about the importance of our past dates. We only picked our initial wedding date due to the long weekend. With a Sunday wedding, it’s just nice to have Monday off! Our 2nd wedding date was also randomly picked based on venue & vendor availability. We then saw meaning in the new date, June 13, with #mitzvahwedding (6/13 is reminiscent of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah).
But I’ve honestly never felt connected to a date – a date is a date & we will celebrate the anniversary of our marriage on whatever date that happens to be. But with postponing a 2nd time, it turns out our, again, very random 3rd date has a real importance. My great aunt in Jerusalem, upon receiving the newest change the date postcard, contacted my mom to let her know that our new wedding date is the birthday of my other great aunt, her older sister, who passed from Covid in 2019 just before Passover.
She said “it’s a day of simcha!” And I really couldn’t agree more. What better way to honor my great aunt than having the family together for a big simcha! I really hope the 3rd time’s the charm & this time, we can finally be married on a date that actually matters to us.
Click here to read all Jenna’s planning posts to date.
Jenna & Mat’s Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Photography – Shelley Welander of She.We Studios
Videography – Tad of TS Cinema
Wedding venue – The Lodge at Ventana Canyon
Cake: Ambrosia Cakes
Hair: Sharon Walton (family friend & hairdresser)
Makeup: Amanda Nolan (freelance)
DJ: Fantastic Five Entertainment
Rabbi: Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz
Invitations: purchased, but not yet completed from Minted
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Suits: The Black Tux
Florist: SavOn Flowers (not yet booked officially)
Ketubah: Susie Lubell on Etsy (shop name: SusieLubell)
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club for step-by-step guides, handpicked wedding vendor discounts, Jewish wedding action plans, a free smash glass pouch, Jewish wedding checklists and templates, and SO much more!
Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for brides that minimizes wedstress and overwhelm and maximises your budget. Join our Brides Club here.