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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra On Postponing her Wedding

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian in May 2021 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

In a turn of events that will surprise no one due to what the last month has looked like under quarantine, we had to postpone our wedding that was to be on 5-10-20. It was the perfect date but it was not meant to be. Everything was ready to go. We just had to do a few more small things like write our wedding vows, buy gifts for the parents and the bridesmaids, get my wedding dress fitted, and accessorize Ian’s tuxedo.

While it’s very disappointing to have to pull the brakes, we have been trying to focus on the bright sides. What’s nice about being so far along in the process is that we are way ahead of the game for next year. It also gives us time to think of new fun details to add to the wedding. 

  

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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra About Getting Married In The Time Of Coronavirus

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

Planning a wedding is always stressful. You never know what is going to happen between when you put down the deposit and the actual event. Sometimes there are unexpected pandemics in the country where your wedding is being held.

When I first heard about COVID-19 or as it is colloquially known Corona Virus, I was concerned like most people, but I never thought it would affect our wedding. We had already received all of our wedding clothing which seemed to be an issue that most people were encountering, with many dresses being manufactured in China.

We never thought that where we were getting married would cause any issues. As I have admitted multiple times in this process: I was wrong. When the first reported case of COVID-19 was reported in Italy, we and some of our guests got a bit nervous.

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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra Talks About Couples Counseling For A Successful Marriage

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!


Couples counseling before the wedding

Early on in Ian’s and my engagement, an older friend gave me advice for a successful marriage: go to couples counseling before the wedding. At first, it seemed a bit extreme, but he does have a great marriage and two bomb kids so I listened on.

He said that wedding planning brings up a lot of things you didn’t even think of before you were married, even if you are cohabitating.

We did not immediately jump on this advice because life got in the way. When we finally decided that it was time, we struggled to find a couple’s counselor that we could afford that also reflected our values.


Image by STG Recommended Vendor Jossef Si from Julie and Guillermo’s wedding
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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra’s Search for an Unorthodox Rabbi

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

My fiance and I are pretty up on the major Jewish holidays. When we scheduled our wedding on May 10th, 2020 in Ostuni, Italy, we thought it would be the perfect time to find an officiant; we were wrong. Most rabbis in Italy are Orthodox and we are getting married during the counting of the Omer when weddings aren’t conducted.

If you are like me, you may not know what the forty-nine day period that constitutes the counting of the Omer is all about. It begins on Passover and ends on Shavuot and we are getting married in the middle of it. The idea of counting each day between the two holidays represents spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

It is considered a time of semi-mourning. During this period, Orthodox Jews are forbidden from getting haircuts, shaving, listening to instrumental music, or conducting weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing.


Image by Maloman Studios  from Lindsey and Corey’s wedding

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2020 Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Alexandra + Ian: How They Met To The Present Day…

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Today on the blog we’re introducing our 2nd gorgeous bride from our crop of 2020 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Alexandra, who will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

How we met

Ian and I met when I was a junior at Sarah Lawrence College. Our first date went horribly… I was two hours late because I was babysitting. I still invited him to the opening of an art fair with me a few days later.

The event ended up being right under his work, like I didn’t know, so he agreed to go. I failed to mention that it was a formal event so he showed up in cut off shorts. Shockingly the date went amazing and we shared our first kiss on the High Line that night.

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