Passover is just around the corner, and if you are planning to register for wedding gifts, consider registering for a Seder plate!  There are some really unique Seder plates out there – from classic to funky.  Seder plates are not only useful during the Passover holiday, but they truly embody the meaning of “functional art.” I’ve rounded up some of my personal favorites with details on where you can register or purchase:

1. Moon Crater Seder Plate
This Seder plate design is inspired by the craters on the moon’s surface and is crafted out of polished aluminum by designer Laura Cowan.  Handmade in Israel. $199 at ModernTribe.com

2. Folding Seder Plate
This beautifully hand-painted design by Isreali Artist Yair Emanuel folds up in to a cube for compact storage or travel.  Each item is hand painted with acrylic colors and lacquered with several layers. $134.95 at Judaism.com

3. Celestial Bronze Seder Plate
Like thousands of stars sparkling in the sky, this golden bronze, fused flat plate is fashioned of copper and glass, with six clear dishes that rest atop a black metal stand.  It is designed by artist Sara Beames and handmade. There is also a matching matzah plate! $148 at Judaism.com

4. The Jewish Museum Vienna Seder Plate
This is a beautiful reproduction of a Seder plate from Vienna, c. 1900. Extremely popular at the time– porcelain exported by the Chinese inspired both the blue and white color scheme as well as the decorative elements. Vines, blossoms and birds perch on branches surround a center Star of David, with six heart-shaped indentations that hold the symbolic Seder foods. Made in England for The Jewish Museum of New York. $175 at Judaism.com

5. Red Pomegranate Seder Plate
Glossy red ceramic Seder plate is hand made by Dani Goren in Israel. The Seder plate has six little pomegranate dishes for your Seder foods. There is also a matching matzah plate! $118 at ModernTribe.com

6. Tall Vertical Seder Plate
Copper, gold, brass, fused glass, and other metals combine in this modern Seder plate design by Artist Gary Rosenthal. Like a stairway to heaven, the Seder dishes spiral gently upwards, with the names of the Seder foods silk screened in gold on the fused glass.   $300 at Judaism.com

In November 2007 I received the following email from a friend who had recently moved away (the subject line read “Blind Date?”):

Hi Elisheva,

 How are you?  So nice to see you last month.   Question: are you interested in being fixed up? My good friend’s brother is a 40 year old architect in sf.  Cute, nice, great family.  What do you think?

 All the best,  serena

Soon after replying in the affirmative, I received the next email:

Elizheva,

Greetings, I am Karen’s brother who is friends with Serena, who I understand to be your friend as well, and it seems as though the two of them are trying their hands at match making so it seems like the only polite thing to do is for us to get together and test their match making skills.  Other than the fact that you know Serena the only other thing I know about you is that you are a member of the tribe, might be a teacher and that I don’t know how to pronounce your name.  But I suppose that what first dates are for.

What do you think dinner?  Drink after work?  Let me know what your schedule looks like or if you have a questionnaire you would like me to fill out first.

Bob

It made me laugh. There were a few grammatical errors which I overlooked. And even though he might be a super nerd, it was worth at least meeting this brother-of-a-friend-architect-single-guy-in-San-Francisco.

So I replied:

Hello Bob–

I’m very pro-dinner, generally speaking.  Usually on the late side. And company is always better than eating alone.

So, yes, I’ll take you up on the dinner offer.

No questionnaire for you to fill out (though it sounds like you’ve had some … uh… ‘experience’) I’m sure I could think of some deeply important questions to ask online, but probably the most relevant would be when and where?

I am indeed a member of the tribe– and often I say about myself that I’m the Jewish Yahoo, in that I’m pretty connected to the “Jewish” part of my identity.

We can discuss this more in person (or on line).

I continued the reply, sharing how I knew our mutual friend, joking about the questionnaire—even asking a question (if you could meet one person in history, who would it be and why?) and finished the post…

As for my name, it’s pronounced like this:  Ellie-Sheh-Vuh (and rhymes with “whatevah”)

I look forward to meeting you, Bob.

We can tilt our glasses to the matchmakers, whether they are on to something or not.

-E
[Read more →]

Now we know none of you out there are Bridezillas, but if you happen to know any (*Hint*Hint*) WeTV’s top-rated Bridezillas wedding show is now casting for their new season.

Here are the deets:
* Are you planning a wedding between January 2010 and May 2010?
*Are your wedding preparations getting out of control?
*Are you struggling with the cooperation of your wedding party, fiancé or in-laws?
*Are you doing everything in your power to make sure your wedding day is perfect?
*Are you ready to share your story with other women who’ve been or will be in your shoes?
If so, then you are just what they are looking for!
————————————–
If your wedding falls within the dates above and you’d like to be considered for an episode, email the below to castingbridezillas@gmail.com.  According to producers, brides will be compensated for their appearance.
BRIDE’S FULL NAME:
AGE:
ADDRESS:
CONTACT #:
EMAIL:
WEDDING DATE:
WEDDING BUDGET:
GROOM’S FULL NAME:
AGE:
1. TELL US WHY YOU’D BE A GREAT BRIDEZILLA. GIVE EXAMPLES.
2. WHO IS GIVING YOU THE MOST STRESS AND WHY?
3. GIVE US YOUR TOP 3 CONCERNS FOR YOUR WEDDING.
Lastly, email them a couple photos of you and your fiancé.
Don’t think you are Zilla enough? This season they are actually taking the show in a slightly different direction.  Give them a call at 213-417-4446 and they’ll fill you in on the details!

If Alanis Morissette wrote her song “Ironic” this past year, she should have definitely included a line about getting the Swine Flu right along with flies in your expensive wine. I’m not sure of the exact number, but something like 60% of the population caught the H1N1 virus this year and I was one of them. And all of this suffering (oh, how I suffered) happened right after I got all four of my wisdom teeth pulled. So, I didn’t even get to enjoy my post-op and drug induced floatiness. Boo. But enough about that, let’s talk weddings!

(photograph taken by Jessica Peterson)

This is totally how I feel right now, in regards to wedding planning. A bit overwhelmed, a bit over my head, a bit like I’m drowning. I’m suspended, not sure where up is, everything is going so slow and I just need a little air. While I was puffy and stuffy, which is such a terrible combination, I got absolutely no wedding planning done. None at all. So, now that we’re about 125 days away, we’re really pressed for time. We have to get everything done twice as fast which is a bit stressful.

Wedding planning has been fun of course, but now that we have to go into overdrive, everything seems to be falling apart. The person who was making my wedding dress? They completely bailed on me. Oh yeah, just dropped off the face of the earth. That is the thing wedding nightmares are made of. But, after a bit of soul searching and eBay searching, I found something else for a bargain. But, that was an ulcer I didn’t need, you know?

As if the Dress Mess and Swine Flu wasn’t enough, I’ve had even more aggravation  thrown my way in the form of  thinly veiled nuggets of anti-Semitism and ignorance. The kind that hurt you for a few days and you think to yourself “Ugh, I should have said such-and-such and that would have shown them”.

But, like any challenge you come across in life, you just have to put on your War Face and Stompin’ Boots. Wedding things are getting done and I still have my fiancé Matt by my side. That’s what really matters. Our wedding rings have been ordered, I hopefully just secured an officiant, I’ve been in regular contact with a photographer, I have all the doodads to send to one of my vendors (I can not wait to make a post about that!), I’ve found a ketubah I actually like, and all of the paper products are nearing their final design. So, things are happening. At just at a bit of a hectic pace.

Hopefully, my next post won’t have a huge gap like this one and the last one did. But, now that things seem to be coming at me at about five hundred miles an hour, I’ll have a lot more to post about!

• Birthright Israel does a mizvah and throws a couple a wedding (Project We Do)
• How to plan a traditional Jewish Wedding meal (ehow)
• Our bridal blogger Bevin got hitched! (My Personal Cantor)
• Some Israeli Men Look to Latinas as the perfect partner (Jewish Journal)
• The ketubah, before, during, and after the wedding (Bridal Association of America)
• It’s a small world – A Chuppah Tale (The Jewish Press)
• US Couple are first couple to marry in 20 years to marry in a Dunedin, New Zealand synagogue  (Otago Daily Times)
• Everything you need to know about the horah (BZ Events)
• The challenges of celebrating the holidays in an interfaith marriage (Amy Koehler)

I’m not sure where the time has gone, but seven months have passed since our engagement.  At the time, my mom was concerned that we may want a longer engagement. With a month until I Do’s, I can say with full confidence, we are ready!

Yes, there are still the details of the welcome bags, take home gifts, endless timelines, tastings and other things to complete, but for the most part, I would say I’m ready to be married!  The day after the wedding is looking pretty enticing right now.

The invitations and ketubah were the most exciting part of the process (other than the dress!)  I found an artist that I absolute love, Rachel Deitsch, who kindly helped my dreams become a reality.  She worked with me and my groom to ensure that the invite (which was the first that she had designed) was absolutely perfect.  It combines vibrant colors, Jewish texts, and an overall sense of who we are.  The inside also has the pomegranate theme, which is absolutely stunning. Rachel also converted one of her prints into a ketubah, which it has a similar feel.  Her work is incredible!

So with the invitations out, I’d say there’s no turning back!  The wedding tasting happened a few weeks ago when we went out to Boca. We decided to forgo the traditional wedding menu for something that is more of a representation of who we are and how we feel in love.   We’re doing stations during the reception with sliders, brisket sandwiches,  multiple varieties of french fries, tacos, dim sum, etc, etc etc.  It will be quite a kosher feast!  We wanted the focus to be on fun foods that will energize people to dance!

The dessert options are very similar. There will be a small cake for cutting, but the main desserts include donuts, little ice cream cones, popcorn, cookie sandwiches, etc etc etc!  I think we put more thought into the menu than anything else!

We’ll be back in Florida in a few weeks for the rehearsal dinner tasting, which I’m so excited for!  I just ordered personalized chocolate for the welcome bags, which I think are a cute touch (although probably one of my most unnecessary purchases.)  The Wedding Channel Store is having a huge sale right now, so I recommend picking these chocolates up soon if you like them.  They were on $50, now down to $20, with an extra discount on top of that!

Next up: How sample sales saved my wedding budget!

If you are planning to register for wedding gifts, you might consider registering for a menorah.  Unlike an ice cream maker or formal china, you know a menorah will come in handy at least eight days a year! Menorahs also make wonderful family heirlooms.  Whether your taste runs traditional or modern, there is a menorah out there to suit everyone’s style. ModernTribe.com, Amazon.com, GalleryJudaica.com, JewishMuseumShops.com, and Judaism.com are just some of the online shops where you can register for menorahs and other Judaica. Here are some of my favorite picks:

1) This classic modern menorah is a reproduction of one that is part of the permanent collection in The Jewish Museum. Because it is fashioned of argentum pewter, you don’t have to worry about it tarnishing! $250 at The Jewish Museum Shops

2) Nice Jewish Boy Jonathan Adler designed this Relief Menorah – a simple form accented with rippling texture and a matte white glaze. $98 at ModernTribe.com

3) This hand polished menorah by Nambé is stunning enough to be used as a centerpiece or candelabra year round. $160 at Amazon.com

4) This peace sign menorah is the most affordable of the bunch, and reminds us what is truly important during the holidays. $14 at ModernTribe.com

5) This pewter baroque style menorah by Quest is hand-painted with enamel and adorned with Austrian crystals. Gorgeous! $270 at GalleryJudaica.com

6) At first look, this Olive Branch Menorah by artisan Michael Aram does not appear to be a menorah at all, but at closer inspection you’ll realize that it is designed for the Festival of Lights! $210 at The Jewish Museum Shops

Wedding planning is one heck of a learning experience! Nearly every newlywed I know has valuable advice to offer to those who are about to embark on the same journey. That is why I am introducing a new column on Jewish Wedding Network called Lessons Learned, so those who have “been there and done that” can impart their wisdom on others. I will start with my own lessons learned, and the advice I have to offer:

Hire Vendors Who Have Previously Worked at Your Venue
I got married at The Angel Orensanz Foundation, an event space on the Lower East Side of Manhattan that at one point had been a synagogue. The ketubah signing was at the basement level, the ceremony and reception on ground level, and cocktails on the upper balcony. There are no elevators at the venue, so the only way to get from one level to another is via the stairwell. Needless to say, it’s a tricky venue to navigate – particularly if you are the caterer and your waiters have to carry food and drinks from the basement level to the balcony, which is two flights up. We were about to sign a contract with a caterer we really liked, when all of this had been brought to our attention. The caterer had never worked at this venue before, so we would be his “learning experience” and there was potential for disaster. At the last moment we hired another caterer who had worked weddings at the venue on numerous occasions, and all worked out well. My advice is to stick with vendors who are familiar with your venue.

Communicate With Your Photographer
Our photographer took the most amazing photographs. So many friends have commented that they are the best wedding photos they’ve ever seen. We absolutely loved them, but were disappointed with one thing: many of our closest friends and relatives were omitted from the photos.  Photographers tend to be drawn to the most photogenic people. It’s only natural. In our case, we ended up with more photos of our neighbor who was sporting a mohawk, than our own immediate family and best friends.  It is always important to convey to the photographer who the most important people are at your wedding both prior to the wedding, and on your wedding day. Photographers who offer packages will most likely put together a shot list, but photojournalist style photographers like ours may not.  If you want a shot of you and your childhood best friend, be sure to pull the photographer over to take one of you, or that photo may be missing from your album like it was from mine!

Hire a Day Planner, If Need Be
Prior to my engagement, I never knew what a day planner was. Once I found out, it seemed to me like a needless expense and a great waste of money.  Boy, was I wrong.  A planner is much like the ringleader at a circus. He makes sure that the lions and tigers and bears come out on cue and that the circus starts and ends on time.  Many venues provide a point person like this for you. Our venue did not. We mistakenly thought that we would be able to coordinate our own rehearsal, and keep the timeline of our wedding going.  The result was that we ended up working really hard on our wedding day – we rounded everyone up for the rehearsal (it’s much harder than it sounds!) told the DJ when to stop playing the dance music and start playing the dinner music, and instructed the caterer when we should cut the cake.  We should have just been able to sit back and enjoy the experience, and you should too.  My advice – splurge on a day planner!

Newlyweds – do you have advice to share? Please post your advice in the comments section!

As we all know, weddings can be quite expensive! That’s why today is the best day to take advantage of all of the wedding deals you can find on the internet.  We thought we’d help out by compiling some of the best deals on the net:

Planning on having a wedding this Winter or Spring? Tying the knot Jewish-style?

If you’ve ever wanted to be the star of a wedding TV show, here’s your opportunity!

A new television series from Matar Productions, a company that has produced prime time Israeli television shows for more than 30 years is looking for couples getting married this January through May to participate in a unique documentary.

If you’re having a Jewish or mixed marriage or you’re an American-Israeli then they’re looking to feature you on ISRAELI TV.  Have your marriage in the States screened in the Holy Land!

Chosen couples will have their marital preparations and weddings documented and are being offered FREE FULLY PAID HONEYMOONS!

For additional details email: israelweddingshow@gmail.com or call 00972526141332 or 00972525223334 and tell them you were referred by Jewish Wedding Network.

You can view the show’s website at MatarProductions.com