Jackie + Dave
What was the one moment on your wedding day that is most memorable?
Dave: Standing together under the Chuppah.
Jackie: Seeing Dave for the first time. I was so calm all day until we left the hotel room and headed downstairs. I was immediately flooded with emotions and could not stop shaking. It was such a special moment when he turned around and we finally saw each other. I will never forget the look of happiness and excitement on his face.
Stacey’s most memorable moment: The sweet and touching toast by Dave to his beautiful bride.
Brandon’s most memorable moment: Jackie & Dave’s first look, they were both so excited to see each other.
Did you decide to do a “first look”?
Dave and I knew from the beginning that we wanted to do a first look. Doing this would allow us to take most of our pictures before the wedding so we were then able to enjoy the evening with our family and friends. It was one of the best decisions while planning that we made.
What details or traditions did you include in your celebration?
The most important detail was putting a picture of my father and I on my bouquet so that he could be part of the wedding.
Dave and I had a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. We started with the bedeken, which translates as “veiling,” is the groom’s veiling of his bride immediately before the ceremony. The custom is said to be based upon the story in the Torah in which Jacob, intending to marry Rachel, accidentally marries her older sister Leah, who wore a veil. In addition to having the groom verify that he is marrying the right woman the bedeken indicates that the groom is not only marrying this woman for her external beauty but for her inner qualities as well. Once under the Chuppah I circled Dave seven times representing the 7 days of creation. Our Rabbi read our Ketubah aloud in English and the original Aramaic text. The Ketubah is a two thousand year old Aramaic marital contract which Dave signed before the ceremony. We then invited some attendees up to read the Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) and at the end Dave broke the glass, symbolizing that even in the midst of our great joy we remember the destruction of the HolyTemple in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago.
Did you have something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new?
My maid and matron of honor designed a garter w/all of the items. Something borrowed-My mom gave a gold charm that belonged to my grandmother. Something new-My mother in law gave a hamsa charm. Something borrowed: My step mom gave a button from one of my dad’s shirts. Something blue- My (now) husband gave a blue ribbon.
They were all sewn on the garter and it was really special to me that they were able to get everyone involved.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding?
Enjoy your special day!!! You spend so much time planning and it goes by so fast. Don’t sweat the small stuff. In the end, everything falls in to place 🙂
Getting ready: Intercontinental Miami – Ceremony/Reception: Temple Emanu-EL – Florist: State of the Art Flowers – Cake: Gallery of Cakes – Band: J&R Productions – DOC: Solea Events Design
