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An Ines Di Santo Bride for a Bold Jewish Wedding Bringing Miami to New Jersey at Crystal Plaza, Livingston, New Jersey, USA

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Monica and Jonathan, Crystal Plaza, Livingston, New Jersey, USA

When New Yorkers Monica, a beauty publicist, and Jon, a data analyst, started planning their Jewish wedding, they dreamed of making things official in Miami, which has always felt like their second home. Ultimately, they realized it would be too challenging for their grandparents to travel, so instead they decided to bring Miami to New Jersey.

We’re obsessed with the modern, bold energy the pair brought to their special day at Crystal Plaza in Livingston, NJ. For the ceremony and cocktail hour, they focused on strong black details – most notably, a dramatic black acrylic chuppah – paired with white and green florals in sleek, structural arrangements. Then for the reception, the mood shifted to an explosion of color set against a striking black backdrop. And did we mention their dog, Chili, played a big part in the proceedings? Don’t miss all the fab details in the photos by Felix Feygin and video from My Wedding Way.

Read on for the full story from Monica – who looked so glam in her Ines De Santo gown…

How We Met

Monica, the bride: Jonathan and I met on Hinge in December 2021 and had our first date at Subject, a cocktail bar on the Lower East Side. From there, we realized we were starving and went to a nearby diner as most places were closing up their kitchens by that point. We realized we shared all of the same favorite foods – grilled cheese, buffalo chicken sandwich and a malted milkshake. What was meant to be a quick drink turned into hours of conversation, and we both knew right away there was something special.

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A Galia Lahav Bride for a Super Stylish Jewish Wedding Full of Modern Romance at 1 Hotel South Beach, Florida, USA

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Courtney & Jason, 1 Hotel, Miami, Florida, USA

We absolutely love seeing the choices Jewish wedding pros make for their own celebrations – and so naturally we were thrilled to be able to feature the luxe nuptials of Courtney, an NYC and FL-based fashion and wardrobe stylist with a focus on bridal styling, and Jason, a real estate broker.

Courtney curated the day impeccably, and every element reflected her taste and creative vision – from the modern, refined surroundings of their venue, the 1 Hotel in South Beach, to the clean, contemporary chuppah, set against the backdrop of the ocean and surrounded by lush white blooms from the ground up for a one-of-a-kind aesthetic – don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by PS Photography and trailer by Senderey.

And then there’s Courtney’s gown, by beloved Israeli designer and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav. As a longtime admirer of the designer’s artistry, Courtney was positively smitten from the moment she tried on the Horizon gown. In her words,

The craftsmanship was extraordinary—the silhouette, the structure, the detailing—every element felt elevated, sexy yet chic and original. It was everything I had hoped for and more—timeless, striking, and uniquely me. I felt like all layers of my life added onto a dress, from the dramatic drape, sexy sheer detailed bustier, delicate flower detail with pearl and shimmer.

It was such a perfect expression of Courtney’s style, and we just can’t get over how absolutely smashing she looked in it!

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

Courtney & Jason, 1 Hotel, Miami, Florida, USACourtney & Jason, 1 Hotel, Miami, Florida, USACourtney & Jason, 1 Hotel, Miami, Florida, USACourtney & Jason, 1 Hotel, Miami, Florida, USA

How We Met

Courtney, the bride: Jason grew up with my now brother-in-law and was also good friends with my sister. In 2020, the two teamed up to set me and Jason up on a date—and the rest is history. We hit it off immediately, began dating soon after, and in the spring of 2025, we tied the knot at the 1 Hotel in South Beach.

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An All-about-NOLA Jewish Wedding at Latrobe’s on Royal, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

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Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA

New York couple Danielle, a consumer insights associate manager at WeightWatchers, and Drew, a corporate attorney, met and fell in love as students at New Orleans’s Tulane University – so the city was a natural choice when it came time to choose a destination for their Jewish wedding.

And did they ever do a fantastic job of crafting a wedding that let their guests experience the magic of NOLA firsthand. Their venue was Latrobe’s on Royal, an old historical bank in the heart of the French Quarter, and they made the most of its romantic, moody vibes with lots of candles, moody lighting, and a very cool floating chuppah. Their menu showcased New Orleans cuisine at its finest, and they followed the ceremony with a traditional second line, a parade through the French Quarter. Don’t miss it all in the exquisite photos by Love is Rad and video by Shotgun.

We’re obsessed with Danielle and Drew’s fabulous ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tchotchke. In Danielle’s words,

The minute I saw it, I knew my search was over. It says ‘Love’ in Hebrew in large print at the top and the lions, to me, symbolize strength in this next chapter of life. It is the most meaningful piece of art we will ever own. And not to mention, working with Adam and the Tchotchke team was incredibly seamless. They were so responsive and you could tell they truly value their customers. They also shipped it in a way that made it seamless on wedding day to display. COULD NOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH (for ketubahs and the COOLEST Judaica).

It doesn’t get any better than that! Read on for the rest of the story in Danielle’s own words…

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USADanielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USADanielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USADanielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA

How We Met

Danielle, the bride: Drew and I met our second semester junior year at Tulane University. More specifically, we met at an Aephi sorority party and by the end of that semester, we were dating.

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A Same-Sex Summer Camp Jewish Wedding at Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown, New York, USA

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Eliana and Baylee, Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown NY, USA

How fun is it that today’s couple, Baylee, the founder and CEO of an AI company, and Eliana, who works in HR strategy in the financial industry, opted to hold their Jewish wedding at a summer camp?!

The couple wanted more than just a few hours to spend with their guests, so they invited their loved ones to the spend the weekend with them at Forest Lake Camp! Instead of a formal rehearsal dinner, Baylee and Eliana held a welcome barbecue for all of their guests – and pre-wedding, everyone loved the range of activities available onsite, from swimming to hiking to tennis. 

We also love that the duo opted to write their own ketubah text, and read it aloud to each other as their vows during the ceremony – plus the fact that on their way down from the chuppah, guests lined the path and threw flowers at Baylee and Eliana for a colorful recessional! Don’t miss the wonderful photos by Kristen Tomkowid of Little But Fierce Photography.

Read on for all the details in the brides’ own words…

Eliana and Baylee, Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown NY, USAEliana and Baylee, Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown NY, USAEliana and Baylee, Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown NY, USAEliana and Baylee, Forest Lake Camp, Chestertown NY, USA

How We Met

Eliana & Baylee, the brides: We met in 2017 at a University of Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ alumni event.

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A Sareh Nouri Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, NYC, New York, USA

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Emily and Max, The Lighthouse, NYC, USA

Because we could all use some extra Jewish joy today, we’re bringing you the truly fabulous NYC Jewish wedding of Emily and Max at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers! The New York couple loves their home city, and their venue’s perfect mix of city vibe with gorgeous views, plenty of space, and full-service facilities ticked all their boxes.

Featuring a color palette of warm, summery sunset colors, a stunner of a floral chuppah, and a gorgeous laser-cut ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com, this wedding was really something special. Photographer Joseph Lin portrayed the day in his signature easygoing, natural style, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kiss The Bride Films captured all the joy and magic of this wonderful wedding on video.

We also love all the personal details Emily and Max worked in to make their day one-of-a-kind – from luggage tag escort cards embossed with the New York City skyline and the couple’s names and wedding date to fun welcome bags stuffed with some of the duo’s local favorites.

We’ll let Emily, who looked so glam in her Sareh Nouri gown, take it from here…

 

Emily and Max, The Lighthouse, NYC, USAEmily and Max, The Lighthouse, NYC, USAEmily and Max, The Lighthouse, NYC, USAEmily and Max, The Lighthouse, NYC, USA

How We Met

Emily, the bride: I met Max on Bumble in the summer of 2020 during a brief Covid lull!

Here is our full story from our wedding website:

Emily and Max met on Bumble in the summer of 2020, a match made in pandemic heaven. Their connection was instant, despite the limitations of virtual dating. They spent hours texting, getting to know each other like old friends.

Their first date was a spontaneous adventure in Fort Greene Park, where Max showed up with a bag of beer and Emily arrived in workout clothes after crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. Despite being woefully unprepared for a first date, they hit it off immediately, chatting late into the night like they’d known each other for years.

As the pandemic intensified, they became each other’s “pod,” inseparable quarantine companions. Max quickly realized Emily had seen every episode of Law and Order (and could recite it all), and Emily shockingly found herself slowly becoming a Yankees fan.

Emily’s remote teaching gig led Max to offer his parents’ NYC apartment as her home office, a gesture that cemented their bond. They were practically living together, albeit in different boroughs, and their love grew stronger with each passing day.

Once restrictions were lifted, they embarked on international adventures, traveling to Greece and St. Lucia, renewing their shared love for exploration. They attended weddings and got to know each other’s families, their relationship blossoming in the face of new experiences.

In 2022, they took the plunge, moving into Max’s apartment together. They settled into a rhythm – Emily cooking, Max cleaning dishes, Emily baking, Max cleaning the Kitchen-aid (the pattern is clear, right?). Between hosting Halloween parties and birthday festivities for friends and family, they began to make Max’s house their home.

And then in June of 2023, amidst a summer of travel, Max popped the question in the middle of Vanderbilt’s campus in Nashville. For the first time ever, Emily was without words (but not without tears) as she joyfully accepted Max’s beautiful proposal.

They celebrated with champagne, more happy tears (mostly from Emily) and full hearts as the thrill of spending their lives together set in. While the last few months of being fiancées have flown by, Max and Emily cannot wait to celebrate their love with their closest friends and family in NYC.

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