Get ready to see a wedding unlike any other… an epic Jewish & military multicultural wedding with a 1920’s Paris theme!

Carly and Sam are two of the coolest cats in Austin, Texas. They love vintage nostalgia, which they brought to their special day while honoring their cultural traditions. The result was one of most unique weddings I’ve ever photographed!

Getting Ready

I met Sam at his house, where he was getting ready with the boys. Sam and Carly’s sons looked absolutely precious in their little black suits, while Sam proudly wore his military suit and shiny medals.

Meanwhile, Carly got her hair and makeup done with her ladies and met me at the wedding venue to get into her dress. The little details in her look were very chic and her smile was radiating. It’s such a treat to have beautiful clients!

The Venue

The wedding took place in one of Austin’s hidden gems, Justine’s Secret House, a super cute venue with old school charm.

This Victorian style house with its New Orleans style courtyard is the perfect setting for timeless weddings. The atmosphere truly made it feel like being transported to a different era. The best part was the delicious French food and signature cocktails catered by Justine’s.

Ketubah

Jewish weddings are rich with symbolic traditions. One of the best aspects of my photography career is to learn about and experience these culturally significant practices. The first ritual was signing the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract that outlines a husband’s responsibilities to his wife. The ketubah is also signed by two witnesses (who are not family members) and the Rabbi, a Jewish wedding officiant. This legal document is then displayed to the public at the ceremony.

The Ceremony

At this point, the sun had set and the moon was out. Wedding guests mingled in the courtyard while being serenaded by a Yiddish music ensemble.

The candle-lit ceremony took place outside under a huppah, a cloth wedding canopy symbolizing the creation of a Jewish home. Carly and Sam were each escorted by their parents, followed by an hour of fascinating rituals.

The first was the hakafot, a tradition where the bride circles around the groom three times to create a “wall of protection” which Sam also did around her. They were both covered with a tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl, as a symbol of unity and love. They invited their children under the huppah to drink wine from the same glass while the Rabbi recited blessings. They shared vows, exchanged rings, and concluded the ceremony with another Jewish wedding tradition - breaking a glass wrapped in a napkin. They then had their first kiss as man and wife and walked under a saber arch to honor Sam’s military background.

Mazel Tov (congratulations) to Carly and Sam and their families!

The Reception

Out of all the important traditions of Jewish weddings, it would not be complete without the hora!

This is when the bride and groom are raised in the air (typically on chairs) while their families and friends form circles and dance around them. This high energy and super fun reception dance is, for me, the highlight of Jewish weddings.

The rest of the night continued being a really good party.

After speeches from their fathers, cutting their cake with a saber, and dazzling their guests with their first dance, Carly and Sam continued loving and dancing the night away together…