Rachel and Matthew’s Wedding has been on my books for over a year! We exchanged several e-mails with each other but could never get a chance to meet face to face. It can be a little scary when you’re meeting someone for the first time and it’s your job to translate the story of their day in images. I was nervous, I won’t lie! lol… As soon as I walked in the door Rachel jumped out of her chair and ran and gave me a hug! She was SO excited! I felt comfortable right away and she reassured me that whatever I thought was best was fine with her! I am so thankful for brides that trust me! It is so important! She may have been a ball of nerves the days and weeks before her wedding day – but this day, the day of, she was nothing but smiles. Several times she said she just couldn’t stop smiling.
This was my first inter-faith Wedding! Rachel is Jewish and Matthew, Christian. I was surprised at how moved I was by so many elements of this day. By far the most powerful thing was the signing of the Ketubah. This is the wedding contract and the minute it is signed by the Rabi before the wedding, they are married. Rachel had a beautiful Ketubah made and on it were two columns. One column was their promise to each other in Hebrew. The other side, in English. One of her brides maids has lived in Jerusalem for a lot of her life and was able to read the Ketubah to us in Hebrew. I was a bawling mess. It was the most beautiful thing I have heard. So moving. Rachel was moved as well and she read their pormise to eachother for us in English.
Later at the reception they did the Horah where the bride and groom were lifted into the air in chairs! The energy was contagious.
There are a lot of reception images in this blog that I don’t usually do, but I felt this post would be incomplete with out them. These two, and their friends have such a camaraderie… They were so genuinely excited for them… The groomsmen prepared a song for the bride and serenaded her…and immediately after that, Matthew slid out to give his new wife a special dance to Michael Jackson. LOL…
If I had to pick one word to describe this wedding it would be Joy. Everyone present smiled the whole time. It filled everyone’s hearts and overflowed. I am beyond thankful that I was a part of this day. I feel like I wittnessed a little magic. Thank you Matthew and Rachel! Enjoy your Happily Ever After!! XOXO