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An Oscar de la Renta Bride for a Timelessly Romantic Jewish Wedding at The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

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Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

Gorgeous wedding alert! Laurel and Jack’s Long Island Jewish wedding at The Muttontown Club, once a private Gilded Age estate, is truly a knockout. They wanted the day to feel warm, whimsical, ethereal, and romantic – and did they ever, incorporating tons of candles, lush florals, and a soft, classic color palette.

From the start, Laurel and Jack knew they wanted a hand-calligraphed and painted ketubah, and they found the perfect artist to bring their dreams to life in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Elena Berlo of Once Upon a Paper. Elena worked with the couple to create a unique piece of art that they proudly hang in their living room as a reminder of their special day and their commitment to each other. Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos from Jonathan Scott!

This day was full of so many wonderful details, but we’ll leave it to Laurel – who looked radiant in her halter-top lace gown from Oscar de la Renta – to tell you the rest…

Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

How We Met

Laurel, the bride: Connected by mutual friends, our first date took place on a blustery summer night in August 2019. The thought of venturing into a rainstorm was made far more palatable by the anticipation of finally meeting – but little did we know that the company would prove far more enchanting than we could have imagined. Three hours flew by in what felt like minutes, leaving each of us eager to know more. From childhood memories in New York to college experiences and beyond, we discovered we had always been moving within each other’s orbit, unbeknownst to us.

The sense of familiarity was uncanny, also magnetic. Sharing stories about family and friends only deepened the desire to learn more about this wonderful new person that came into our lives. The night ended with a moonlit walk along the East River, watching the din of a summer night’s traffic scurry by. Little did we know in that moment on a night in the City That Never Sleeps, this would be the start of a beautiful, enduring relationship.

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A Book-Themed Jewish Wedding with a Very Special Ketubah and 100 Plastic Ducks at the Astorian, Houston, Texas, USA

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Rachel and Cody, The Astorian, Houston, Texas, USA

Today’s real Jewish wedding is just SO much fun! First off, we love that Rachel, the Community Associate at WeWork, and Cody, a data scientist at Rice University, went for a book theme for their big day – and they really went all in!

From invitations that looked like a book to a seating chart made of calligraphied book pages to a cake made to look like a stack of books (complete with titles of volumes the duo have read together), all of the little touches came together so nicely. Rachel and Cody’s kiddush cup, gifted by the groom’s parents, was even Harry Potter-themed! Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Sophia from Sophia Margaret Photography and video by Caleb from Reverent Films.

Then there’s the ketubah, which the couple created with Elena Berlo from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Once Upon a Paper. Finding most ready-made ketubah text options either too cheesy or too dryly focused on Jewish law, Rachel opted to write the text herself, all about the couple’s intentions for their life together as a married couple – Rachel shares the whole thing below, and it’s really very special.

And finally, we come to the plastic ducks. A few months after Cody and Rachel started dating, Rachel began hiding little plastic ducks all around Cody’s apartment, and she kept it up when they moved in together. Come the big day, Rachel secretly slipped a little plastic duck into Cody’s breast pocket during the first look. During her vows, she said, “I vow to keep hiding ducks all over our house. Actually… you should look in your front pocket.” Cody fished out a duck, absolutely astounded. At the reception, Cody and Rachel filled their pockets with 100 little plastic ducks and hid them in people’s pockets and purses while greeting guests. People kept finding ducks in their belongings weeks after the wedding, keeping the joy alive. How fun is that?!

Read on for all the wonderful details of this very special day in Rachel’s own words…

Rachel and Cody, The Astorian, Houston, Texas, USARachel and Cody, The Astorian, Houston, Texas, USARachel and Cody, The Astorian, Houston, Texas, USARachel and Cody, The Astorian, Houston, Texas, USA

How We Met

Rachel, the bride: We met on a dating app, but had drastically different experiences. I found Cody’s profile after three weeks, and Cody, ever the data scientist, spent an entire year going on a date every week, with standardized first and second dates. He had just finished his 52nd date and was going on to delete the app when he saw my message and thought, “Okay, one more, then I’m done.” The rest is history!

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A BHLDN Bride for a DIY Jewish Wedding Weekend at River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA

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Shoshana and Mark, River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA

We love a DIY Jewish wedding, and Shoshana and Mark’s is SO packed with wonderful personal touches. The couple planned every detail of their glamping wedding weekend getaway at River Mountain themselves, from the invitations to the music playlists for every event.

We’re obsessed with Shoshana and Mark’s gorgeous outdoor ceremony, officiated by a humanistic rabbi and attended by no fewer than four family dogs! The bespoke ceremony blended Shoshana’s Jewish upbringing and Mark’s non-religious background and featured a blessing over wine and another over beer, egalitarian circling, and humanistic versions of the seven blessings. And how fun is it that the duo included a crossword puzzle on details and traditions from the ceremony in their wedding program?! Don’t miss all the special details in the wonderful photography by Mariah Fisher!

Shoshana and Mark went for a beautiful custom  ketubah designed and hand-painted by Elena Berlo of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Once Upon a Paper. The art captures the pair’s love of nature, with two trees intertwined and two golden birds sitting amid colored circles representing the changing seasons.

There’s so much more to say about this ultra-personal wedding, but we’ll hand you over to Shoshana for the rest…

Shoshana and Mark, River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA Shoshana and Mark, River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA Shoshana and Mark, River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA Shoshana and Mark, River Mountain, Everett, Pennsylvania, USA

How We Met

Shoshana, the bride: We met by chance at a beer garden in Washington, DC, while out and about for Halloween celebrations. We were engaged nearly 5 years later and married the following June.

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A Mira Zwillinger Bride for a Rustically Elegant Jewish Wedding at Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA

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Laura and Danny, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA

Talk about a Jewish wedding with a view – we’re totally and completely obsessed with Laura and Danny’s dreamy day at Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm in Santa Barbara! With an outdoor chuppah on a meadowed bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a reception in the farm’s stunning glass greenhouse, and tons of greenery and wildflowers all around, this was one gorgeous celebration.

Laura and Danny made the wise decision to let the beauty of their location take the lead, opting for a natural and understated aesthetic featuring shades of wheat, beige and nude hues coupled with greens, as well as organic design elements like natural colored linens and textiles, exposed wood, burnished metal, and ceramic. Elena Berlo of Smashing The Glass Recommended vendor Once Upon a Paper designed the couple’s custom ketubah, translating our vision into a truly beautiful and meaningful piece.Don’t miss it all in the wonderful photos by Tara Johansen and video by Thomas Tikos-Kadji.

Now over to Laura, who looked so elegant in her gown by beloved Israeli designer Mira Zwillinger…

 

Laura and Danny, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA Laura and Danny, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA Laura and Danny, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA Laura and Danny, Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, USA

How We Met

Laura, the bride: Danny and I were set up through a mutual friend. Our first date was at a bar in Los Angeles, CA and what was supposed to be just drinks turned into dinner and over three hours of talking and laughing. We had an instant connection and both shared a love for Documentary films. Once the physical date ended, we continued texting for another four hours that evening.

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A Claire Pettibone Bride for a Jewish Wedding Centered on Family at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

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Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

We love that Jennifer, a clinical social worker, and Michael, who owns an  engineering and construction Firm, made their Jewish wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa all about family.

The couple’s kids – Jennifer and Michael have six boys between them – were with them under the chuppah, and the cantor who officiated is one of the duo’s best friends and crafted an ultra-personal ceremony – including a moment for a family hug! Jennifer’s four boys walked her down the aisle, and all six of the couple’s sons gave speeches – which were followed by a family dance! Don’t miss the ultra-emotional photos by Heidi Green.

Shortly after Jennifer and Michael met, they hired an Israeli tattoo artist named Gabriel Wolff to design an infinity sign with their names in Hebrew. They never ended up getting the tattoos, but they did use the design as the basis for their beautiful bespoke ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Once Upon A Paper, who brought their vison to life.

Read on for the full story in Jennifer’s own words…

Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

How We Met

Jennifer, the bride: We met on Match.com. We were both divorced and I was dating a lot. Michael says he knew when he saw my photo on the site. I hadn’t even dated anyone from Match and was seeing two other Michaels when we met. I didn’t really pay him much attention.

I’m a big sports fan and he wanted to take me to see the Rangers, the Yankees and was offering great seats. I kept saying no. But he was persistent! I finally said ok to just meet for a drink. Well we met at a restaurant near me. I was sitting at the bar and he walked in the door and walked up the length of the bar and I thought. Oh shit. I’m done. We had a drink that turned into dinner and we never went a single day since then without each other.

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