Yair & Jenna

It’s hard to imagine the level of anticipation that Jenna and Yair must have felt as the moment that they would first see each other on their wedding day drew near.  As high school sweethearts, they had waited their entire adult lives for this day.  As part of their Jewish traditions, they had been waiting all week to see or talk to each other.  And now, as the sun began to set, and as the music played while the men sang and danced Yair into the room for the bedeken, all Jenna could do was wait for the crowd to part so that she could finally lay eyes on her betrothed.  As soon as their eyes met, Yair sprinted up to Jenna in what was likely the most emotionally charged moment of the entire day.  The singing continued and the tears flowed and their closest family members gave one blessing after another.  And the day was just getting started.

The rest of the day was an absolute whirlwind as we quickly moved right into the chuppah and ceremony in the east ballroom at Landerhaven.  Yair’s father sang as Jenna and her parents walked down the aisle and a rabbi who is a close family friend traveled all the way from Israel to officiate.  After the ceremony, I noticed that many of the family and guests had brought a change of shoes.  As we finished up family photos, I noticed lots of people changing out of the dress shoes and getting into comfortable athletic shoes. I knew that some serious dancing and celebrating was about to go down but this was a good clue of just how intense things where about to get.

As soon as Jenna and Yair made their entrance into the dance floor, the ladies scooped her up and took her to her side of the dance floor.  The band set a speedy tempo while both sides of the dance floor danced in circles and sang along at the top of their lungs.  As a photographer, your best bet is to just get into the fray and try to keep up.  The best photos are in there where the action is happening and you’re just not going to get them unless you can take a few elbows and get your toes stepped on a few times.  As the evening progressed, the dance floor barely slowed down for dinner and took a break just long enough for a brief welcome from the parents.  And then out came props, and custom t-shirts, and skits and choreographed dances and more.  We left the reception feeling thoroughly exhausted but grateful that we got to experience something so special with such gracious and wonderful people as Yair and Jenna and their families.

Congratulations, Yair and Jenna!  It was an action packed day and we have so much in store for you.  In the meantime, here are just a few of our favorites with much, much more to come!