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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 Elegant Jewish Wedding with Unforgettable Music at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort, Scotland, UK

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Sam-and-Sophie-Mar-Hall-Golf-Spa-Resort-Scotland

Sophie and Sam’s Jewish wedding at Mar Hall, outside Glasgow, was the most perfectly elegant celebration, featuring a stunning indoor/outdoor venue, a moving ceremony (complete with gorgeous floral chuppah), and unforgettable music from start to finish.

Sophie and Sam knew from the get-go that music was a high priority, and they chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Twentysomethings to create the perfect atmosphere throughout the day. The couple worked closely with the band to craft their setlist, including personalized wedding procession songs. From the emotional chuppah performance by The Twentysomethings Duo and their Israeli vocalist through to the 9-piece band that kept guests on the dancefloor all evening long, it’s safe to say The Twentysomethings totally rocked it.

Take one look at the photos by Ashley Coombes and you can see what a fabulous time was had by all. Now over to the couple for all the details…

Sam-and-Sophie-Mar-Hall-Golf-Spa-Resort-Scotland Sam-and-Sophie-Mar-Hall-Golf-Spa-Resort-Scotland
A Classic Venue

Sophie, the bride and Sam, the groom: We had multiple run throughs and visits with the venue, Mar Hall, and Nicola from the events team who were always willing to accommodate our plans and needs.  She helped ensure specific family were placed in accessible rooms where needed.  The beautiful grounds of the hotel and stunning visual of the hall itself made for some amazing photos. Our pre-ceremony / drinks were held within the hall itself, our ceremony took place in Morton House (Part of the estate next to the main Hall) and dinner / dancing took place in the Garden Pavilion.Continue ReadingContinue Reading