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Well, here it is… our last real Jewish wedding of 2023! And we’re going out with a bang with the joyous, multicultural wedding of Nicole and Jordan at Long Island’s Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation.
Both bride and groom are very connected to their Judaism and cultural backgrounds – hers Persian and his Ashkenazi – and from the beginning they knew they wanted to incorporate elements of both traditions into their Jewish wedding. You’ve got to read on – and scroll through Amanda of Swiger Photography’s wonderful images – to see it all for yourself, but we’re especially in love with the couple’s Hana-Bandoon, or henna party, and their traditional Persian procession, which Nicole describes as “a giant family dance party,” complete with Nicole’s cousins serving as flower-men!
It was important to Nicole and Jordan to find a ketubah that honored both their backgrounds and their artistic vision, and they loved working with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Britt Yudell from Brit Colors, an incredible artist based out of Israel, on a custom piece. In Nicole’s words, “Britt is so talented, professional, artistic and dedicated to her craft. Britt worked patiently with us and listened to all of our ideas. From that, she created a stunning piece of unique art work that we will cherish forever!”
There’s so much more to say about this very special day – read on for the full story in Nicole’s own words…
How We Met
Nicole, the bride: Like so many couples of the 21st century, we met online. We met during the pandemic. At the time, Jordan, who was a data analyst, was working from home and had barely left his apartment in months while Nicole – who was an intern physician in New York- felt like she hadn’t left the hospital since the start of the pandemic. Each felt like the other was a breath of fresh air.
A Venue Fit for a Crowd
We got married at Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation, on Long Island, NY. The venue has a stunning outdoor area for our chuppa, some of the best glatt kosher catering in New York, and- most importantly- enough space to fit Nicole’s huge Persian family!
We were also fortunate that our wedding venue was very close to the Nassau County Museum of Art – the place where we went on our first date. We exchanged vows and took our wedding photos in the Nassau County Museum of Art’s sculpture garden, which felt like a beautiful full circle moment for us.
A Persian Jewish Wedding
It was so important to both Jordan and Nicole to make sure that the entire wedding had elements of Nicole’s traditional Persian culture. A major part of this was our Hana-Bandoon, or henna party, which took place the Thursday before our wedding. A Hana Bandoon is a Persian pre-wedding tradition that dates back several hundred years.
In addition to applying henna paste to the bride and groom’s hands, sweets and gold are paraded around the couple as symbols of luck and happiness for the newlyweds. We were so lucky to have many of our friends and family from Israel, Europe and around the United States join us for both our Henna and wedding.
A Matilda Ndrecka Dress
Nicole’s ceremony dress, veil, and chuppa cover were custom made by the amazing Matilda Ndrecka at NYC Glamour Couture. Matilda sells and makes the most incredible glam dresses and her staff makes you feel like an absolute queen. While known for her customized sparkly and stunning dresses, Matilda made a custom dress for Nicole that met Nicole’s dream of feeling like a classic bride, while still having that hint of sparkle with a gorgeous custom sparking slit design.
But of course, Matilda had to bring the bling so she custom made a stunning bejeweled hunter green masterpiece for Nicole’s mother as well.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We both have a deep reverence for our history and our Jewish traditions. We wanted our ceremony to reflect our connection to our Judaism, our homelands, and our cultural backgrounds.
The cup we used for our Sheva Brachot was the same Kiddush cup used at the wedding of Nicole’s grandparents in Iran in 1956 and at the wedding of Nicole’s parents in Israel in 1991. Our chuppah canopy was brought to us by family from Israel as well.
We also wanted to make sure to combine customs- unlike more traditionally austere processions, a Persian procession is a giant family dance party! It was incredible to have Jordan’s Ashkenazi family lean into that element and start our celebration with so much joy. And, of course, we had to finish off the procession with Nicole’s cousins as flower-men, which subsequently went semi-viral among the Persian community.
We were also so lucky to have the absolutely awe-inspiring Chazzan Dylan Homapour sing the blessings and some of our favorite Hebrew songs as part of our ceremony. Dylan’s incredible voice makes a wedding space transcendent.
Ketubah
Our ketubah and the whole process of making it was so special to us. Britt Yudell from Brit Colors is an incredible artist based out of Israel. She is so talented, professional, artistic and dedicated to her craft. When we couldn’t find a ketubah design that felt right for both of us, we met with Britt who created an unbelievable custom ketubah that exuded both of our styles, cultures, and artistic visions.
Britt worked patiently with us and listened to all of our ideas. From that, she created a stunning piece of unique art work that we will cherish forever!
Our music choice
Jordan wanted to make sure that we had live music that would keep the crowd dancing, but we also needed to also ensure that our musical choice could bring the energy with Persian and Israeli music. We decided to have Alex and Amir from Style Event for our wedding- a band/DJ combo that would meet all of our hopes as a Persian/American couple with broad and varied musical needs.
The band was spectacular, Amir was responsive to the crowd, and the mix of music styles and languages flowed seamlessly. We could not have asked for a more perfect night or more spectacular music.
Flowers
Besides Nicole, Jordan has two favorite things – music and color! Jordan loves bright colors and wanted to make sure that energy came through in all of our wedding elements from our henna party, our ketubah, our flowers, and more. When we look at photos of our wedding we still cannot believe what Adrian at Adrian B Event Design created.
From our entrance gate, to our chuppah, to the party space, Adrian constructed a dream that made it feel like we were walking in Gan Eden. Adrian is one of the sweetest, most genuine, most generous, and most hard working people we have ever met. He exceeded our every hope and dream for a beautiful, romantic and color-filled wedding day.
Photographer and videographer
We are pretty awkward in front of a camera and were desperate to find a photographer who could simultaneously made us feel comfortable while still being able to reign in Nicole’s… lets say boisterous family. Then we found Amanda of Swiger Photography. While Amanda is based out of Philadelphia, after meeting her and seeing her work we knew we had to have her for our New York based wedding.
Amanda and Jordan are a dream team who are inclusive, powerful, creative, flexible, and honestly, just so so fun to have around. They are a talented photo/video dream and hype-women combo that made our wedding week so much more joyous. Amanda was not only so flexible with us, she genuinely cared about getting to know us as couple.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
We could not have dreamed up a more spectacular, breathtaking, wondrous day. From beginning to end, our day- and entire weekend- was filled with non-stop laughter, love, elation, and, of course, dance.
If we can give any advice to those planning a wedding, it would be to make sure you feel comfortable and excited about your wedding vendors. You want to not only love their work, but also feel like they are invested in you as a couple. We are so lucky to have found the people we found. As we float on cloud nine and relive our wedding day again and again, we realize how indebted we are to these many many determined, creative, awe-inspiring people who worked tirelessly to exceed our wildest dreams.
NICOLE & JORDAN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Amanda – Swiger Photography
Ketubah – Brit Colors offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club
Venue – Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation
Bride’s dress – Matilda Ndrecka at NYC Glamour Couture
Hair + Makeup – BChic Hair Boutique
Flowers – Adrian B Event Design
DJ + Band – Style Event
Catering – Ram Caterers
Rabbi – Yamin Levy Chazan
Chazan – Dylan Homapour
Bridal Alternations – Meri Alterations
Dance – Ballroom Boutique
Smash The Glass Pouch – Smashing The Glass Etsy Shop or join Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club and get one for free!
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
