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A Pronovias Bride for a Romantic Outdoor Jewish Wedding Filled with Personal Touches at McCormick Home Ranch in Camarillo, California, USA

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We love it when a couple plans a Jewish wedding that’s totally, 100% THEM – and that’s exactly what today’s duo did. Juliet, who works in human resources at a technology company, and Michael, who runs his financial planning company, combined a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony with so many wonderful personal touches, and we are her for it!

One thing we adore is the way Juliet and Michael worked elements not part of a traditional Jewish ceremony into their day, both before and after the chuppah. During their first look pre-chuppah, the pair exchanged private vows, and then after the yichud room they did a private ring exchange.

During the chuppah itself, we love the way Juliet and Michael incorporated friends and family, by asking loved ones to do everything from covering them in Michael’s tallit to reading the signed Ketubah to saying the seven blessings, and more.

When it came time to choose a ketubah, the couple naturally wanted something that both kept to Jewish tradition while at the same time embodied their relationship. The found the perfect design on Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com, where they fell in love with “Sky Over Aquamarine Seas” by Hadass Gerson. Juliet and Michael included both Aramaic and English text and worked with Ketubah.com to get everything exactly how they envisioned. Don’t miss it in the beautiful photos by Jenny Smith and Co.!

There’s so much more to say about this fabulous wedding – we haven’t even touched on the exquisite floral chuppah, or Juliet’s ever-so-chic gown by Pronovias – but we’ll let the bride herself fill you in on the rest…


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How we Met

Juliet, the bride: We met as babies and grew up together as family friends all thanks to a lifelong friendship that our dads shared.

Our dads grew up together in Israel and after not seeing each other for years they reconnected after moving to Los Angeles, CA. It was as if no time had passed. Our families were inseparable with trips to the snow, backyard pool parties, and summer BBQs.

Our families happened to lose touch just as we were heading into our high school years. After not seeing each other for over 10 years, Michael recognized me at a local bar in Sherman Oaks, CA and the rest is history. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Pioneering Modern Orthodox Same Sex Wedding at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York, USA

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Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA

We are so in love with today’s stunning same sex Jewish wedding! New Yorkers Max, Director of Startup Ecosystem Development at SAP, and Zach, Director of Artist Relations + Partnerships at Great Bowery’s Trunk Archive, crafted a day that perfectly blended Jewish tradition with impeccable contemporary style.

Same sex Orthodox weddings are still in their early years, and we love that Max and Zach – along with their officiant, Rabbi Avram Mlotek – are at the forefront. The pair worked with their rabbi to craft a ceremony that aligned with their values as Modern Orthodox Jews AND as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

While much of the ceremony looked like any traditional Jewish wedding, one difference is that instead of a traditional ketubah, Max and Zach opted to use a Shtar Shutafut, a Halachic Partnership Contract, to formalize their marriage. The couple worked with Rabbi Mlotek on the text. They also exchanged rings under the chuppah, and each smashed a glass.

It’s so heartwarming to see how Max and Zach were able to craft the wedding of their dreams, without having to compromise on any aspect of their identities – and you can really see the joy in each and every shot by photographer David Perlman.

There’s so much more to say – like how much we love that the duo named their signature cocktail the Goldie Spritz, after their rescue dog! – but we’ll turn you over to the grooms for the rest…

Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA Max & Zach, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York, USA
How we Met

Max and Zach, the grooms: We first matched in November 2018 when we were both home visiting our families on Long Island, NY for Thanksgiving. We instantly clicked on our first date in December 2018, which coincided with the second night of Chanukah. We were engaged on March 13, 2022 and the rest is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Sachin and Babi Bride for a Beachy Jewish Wedding Weekend at Guemes Island Resort, Washington State, USA

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There’s something so special about bringing all your nearest and dearest together to celebrate your nuptials not just for a few hours but for a full-fledged wedding weekend – which is exactly what today’s couple, Lucia and Jared, did.

The pair rented out Guemes Island Resort in Washington State from Friday-Monday so their guests could enjoy a whole weekend together with them – and what a place to do it! The venue was RIGHT on the water with majestic views of the San Juan Islands in the background, which inspired the décor for the day.

How special is it that Jared’s dad and cousin built the couple a chuppah, using driftwood from the beach?! Even the couple’s ketubah by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Brit Colors was totally on theme. Lucia and Jared loved Brit’s unique designs and personal touches, and they picked her Sea Glass Ketubah design for its beachy feel and calming colors. They loved the process of working with Brit, and are even planning to meet up with her when they next travel to Israel! Don’t miss it in the beautiful photos by Mio.

We’ll turn you over to Lucia, who looked so elegant in her Sachin and Babi dress from BHLDN, for all the rest of the details of this very special day…

 

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How we Met

Lucia, the bride: Jared and I met through mutual friends at Stagecoach music festival in Indio, California. After teaching me a country dance in the honky tonk tent, we were inseparable all day. A few days later Jared went to Las Vegas for a work trip and offered to fly me out for the weekend. After “thinking about it” for a few days, aka consulting my girlfriends, I agreed to go. It was such a fun weekend, and we have been inseparable ever since! He proposed in 2019 in Kauai, Hawaii at Hanakapiai Falls, a beautiful and secluded waterfall.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Alexandra Grecco Bride for a Super Chic Design-Conscious Jewish Wedding at The Lawrence, Jaffa, Israel

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Bride @gorvitron Groom @ohadrotem Photography @benkelmer #STGVendor Videography @TomerFuchsPhotographer Venue @thelawrence_gallery Dress designer @alexandragrecco Planner & Florist @yahavgreen Make-up @melbuenomakeup Hair @carlylandauhair DJ @dj_moshik

Sometimes we encounter a wedding so jawdroppingly stylish it just blow us away. And that’s exactly what happened when we first set our eyes on the fabulous Jewish wedding of Tel Aviv couple Olivia, is director of partnerships at an AI startup, and Ohad, who runs a global e-commerce company.

Their wedding was full on Israeli chic in the best way possible, with every element – from the artful, unposed photos by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ben Kelmer (who the couple found right here on STG) to the epic design spearheaded by Yahav Green and beyond.

Olivia’s an American who made aliyah a few years back, and since many of the couple’s guests were visiting Israel for their first time, the pair wanted to pull out all the stops to showcase the magic of their home city of Tel Aviv. And between welcome drinks at a rooftop bar in the heart of Shuk HaCarmel, a food tour of the market, and a rehearsal Shabbat dinner catered by Israeli chef Eyal Shani, we’re pretty sure all attendees came away 100% smitten. Even the couple’s venue, The Lawrence in Jaffa, was picked in part for its uniquely Middle Eastern vibes.

As a design aficionado, it’s no surprise Olivia looked exquisitely chic in her simple, classic gown by Alexandra Grecco… read on to hear of the story from her!

Olivia & Ohad, The Lawrence, Jaffa, Israel Bride @gorvitron Groom @ohadrotem Photography @benkelmer #STGVendor Videography @TomerFuchsPhotographer Venue @thelawrence_gallery Dress designer @alexandragrecco Planner & Florist @yahavgreen Make-up @melbuenomakeup Hair @carlylandauhair DJ @dj_moshik
How we Met

Olivia, the bride: We are actually a pandemic love story! Olivia made Aliyah to Israel 4 years ago and during the first Covid wave in spring 2020, she befriended a few other Americans in her Tel Aviv apartment building. One of her neighbours, Josh, invited a few people over one night and even though Olivia was a bit hesitant because everyone was just coming out of lockdown, she stopped out (after all, the apartment was one floor below hers).

Ohad was there but truthfully, Olivia doesn’t remember meeting him (or anyone else). A few weeks later, Josh called Olivia and asked if he could set her up with his “very Israeli friend with a huge heart.” Olivia didn’t even ask for a photo (very unlike her) and she met Ohad a few days later. Olivia was immediately charmed by his warmth, wit, and generosity (and it was their first time being inside a restaurant in months, thanks to COVID). Turns out, Ohad had been nagging Josh for Olivia’s number ever since they met at Josh’s house.

Our relationship was on fast forward thanks to a series of intense lockdowns in Israel that we spent together (and even one camped out at Ohad’s parents house in the south of Israel). Olivia is 35 and Ohad is 38 so we knew we wanted to lock it up fast – and we did! We got engaged 10 months after we met, on the eve of Pesach 2021.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Casablanca Bride for a Pandemic Jewish Wedding at Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA

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Rachel & Ben, Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA

Like so many couples over the past few years, Rachel and Ben’s plans for their Jewish wedding were upended by the pandemic. Rachel, who works in the Senate, and Ben, who runs a tech startup, ended up with a celebration – or rather, two celebrations – that looked a lot different than what they’d initially planned.

But both their March 2021 family-only micro ceremony and their October 2021 reception for a larger crowd were SO full of love and joy, we can’t imagine anything better. We’re in love with the photos by Berit Bizjak (March) and Phillip Van Nostrand (October). And how amazing is it that all eight grandparents were present to witness Rachel and Ben’s marriage?!

And of course we’re totally obsessed with the pair’s beautiful hand papercut ketubah by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Noa Attias! Rachel and Ben are thrilled to have such a gorgeous and meaningful piece of art to commemorate their bond, and they loved working with Noa, who was super flexible with their constantly changing wedding date! The duo have become such fans of Noa that they’ve purchased more of her fabulous art since their big day.

Now over to the bride…

Rachel & Ben, Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA Rachel & Ben, Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA Rachel & Ben, Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA Rachel & Ben, Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA
How we Met

Rachel, the bride: We met as undergraduate students in NYC when Rachel was set up with Ben to accompany him to a dance in the spring of 2013, and we started dating that fall. The rest is history!Continue ReadingContinue Reading