Sometimes I get a submission from a bride who was an avid reader of Oh Lovely Day, and sometimes that bride’s wedding is an absolute perfect representation of what this blog is all about. Today is one of those weddings. When Giliah, the bride, sent me her wedding she also said something that made my whole week:
“I was really in love with your blog before I even got engaged and used to look at it and fantasize all day long. Once we got engaged it was so helpful in the planning process and it really warms my heart that our wedding is going to be a part of it.”
So I’m honored and thrilled to share Giliah’s unique & personal DIY wedding with you today. I hope it helps some of you to fantasize about your own “someday” wedding.
Don’t let people tell you that something can’t be done. Even if something seems impossible or too expensive or too extravagant, get creative, use your friends and family as resources, brainstorm, and make it happen! Those personalized elements that are truly *you* are what will make your wedding uniquely yours.
{musical choices}
processional: sleeping at last – umbrellas
recessional: edward sharpe + the magnetic zeros – home
first dance: journey – faithfully
father-daughter dance: kermit the frog – rainbow connection
When the processional music started playing and the wedding party began walking, Erez and I shared a look, one last glance, one last smile before we were to become husband and wife. He was lined up in front of me with his parents and I was with mine. Walking down the aisle after him, and seeing him waiting for me gave me a butterflies I’ve never experienced before! It was the most emotional moment of my entire life.
More from the bride, Giliah:
Our wedding took place in Jerusalem, Israel. We met in Amsterdam 6 years ago and 1 year later the I moved to Israel to be with Erez. Having our wedding in Jerusalem meant we had a semi-destination wedding atmosphere, as half of my husband’s family is also from Switzerland. We had around 50 guests come in from the US and Switzerland and our wedding was surrounded by two weeks full of travel, dinners, touring and so much warmth and love.
Israeli weddings and American weddings are very different, but we really wanted to include a lot of DIY elements and creative touches to show our guests our personal style. This involved my parents lugging suitcases full of etsy orders
along for visits a couple of times before the wedding and lots of creative searching for items here in Israel. It was not easy! We went through lots of DJs, florists, cake designers, etc before we found the ones who were willing to push boundaries, think outside of the box and create a wedding that was very much not traditional Israeli.
I love this wedding so much, both for the fantastic inspiration you see in the photos, but also for the advice the bride gives and the example the she sets for planning couples: have the wedding you want and a wedding that is YOU. I also love how she was able to do that, despite traditions and geographical limitations.
This wedding reminds me that I’ve always loved the Jewish tradition of having both the bride and the groom walk down the aisle with both parents. I’ve always loved that. I’d love to hear about other traditions that aren’t necessarily “common” to all weddings that you particularly love – you may just inspire a feature on Oh Lovely Day!
Thanks so much again to Giliah for her sweet words and for allowing Oh Lovely Day to share her wedding. Congrats on a gorgeous day and on your marriage!
{vendors} Photography: Ella Uzan + Ori Sadeh (We absolutely fell in love with two different photographers, that is why our pictures of getting ready and location shots with the wedding party are a bit of a different style, they were shot by Israeli fashion photographer Ella Uzan. The pictures of our venue, the ceremony and the reception were shot by wedding photographer Ori Sadeh, who has a more clean and polished look. Both equally stunning photographers – we wanted both!) / Cinematography: Yuval Yefet of Cinewed / Venue: Achuza / Catering: Ta’am Vatzeva / Wedding gown: custom dress by Mirit Cohen / hairpiece: Doloris Petunia / shoes: BHLDN / bridesmaid dresses: pastel vintage dresses handpicked by the bridesmaids / hair + makeup: hair by Diana Frankel, makeup by Suzy Ariel / groom suit: Pigal / invitations: design by Sara Berks, letterpress printing by Aerialist Press / florals: Sod Yarok / cakes: Anat of ArtCake / event design: the bride / music: Ofri Gofer
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m in NYC for Bridal Market this weekend (follow along on instagram for peeks at Spring bridal collections and NYC fun). And today I’ve got a treat for you – a sneak peek of Ann Taylor Wedding & Events Spring Collection. In celebration of spring and wedding season Lover.ly produced a shoot with one of our favorite brands, Ann Taylor to showcase one of this seasons hottest colors, blush. This shoot took place in the streets of NYC and shows a fun + flirty approach to accessorizing your bridesmaid looks.
Don’t you LOVE the romantic blush dresses paired with the delicate head pieces? And the jewelry is fab too. Be sure to check out the gallery for even more of this lovely shoot from Lover.ly captured so gorgeously by Trent Bailey.
