I am thrilled to share the first wedding of the season with you all – Eliza & Zev’s stunning black tie celebration at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia! It was a whirlwind of a trip for me to travel cross-country to be there to document it all, but boy was it worth it. Eliza & Zev both graduated from the University of Virginia and are currently living in New York, but, like Kevin & I did as well, they decided to tie the knot back in beautiful Charlottesville. Traveling back to Virginia for their wedding is just the tip of the iceberg for these two adventurous souls. Zev actually proposed on the top of a mountain in Nepal during their year long sabbatical traveling throughout Southeast Asia. Talk about a grand start to their journey! Eliza & Zev took this precious memory to heart and asked that their guests consider donating to the earthquake relief efforts in Nepal instead of a typical wedding registry gift. This spirit of giving and love was evident throughout their wedding day as well, especially highlighted by their nods to tradition, both to their Jewish faith & family history. One of my favorite twists on a Jewish tradition was during the breaking of the glass at the end of the ceremony, both Eliza and Zev broke glass rather than just the groom. I love how they modified & modernized these beautiful traditions to strengthen their beliefs. Another sweet nod to tradition was the 1940s cake topper – it had originally belonged to Zev’s grandfather, and has since been used in over 10 weddings in their family! Not only was nearly every detail tended to with thought & care sentimentally, but also visually. Every piece of their day was so beautiful, from Zev’s navy blue tux and Eliza’s stunning gold Sarah Seven dress, to lush overflowing florals by Whimsical Floral Design. Eliza’s bridesmaids had me cracking up from the second I walked in the door until the final moments of gatoring during Shout at the reception. The hora was one of the most epic reception moments of my career to date – I got dizzy myself watching them run around and circles throwing each member of the family in the air! I am so thankful I was able to document this special special day, and I know that Eliza & Zev have a rich marriage ahead of them, full of love, laughter and adventure. Eliza works for a travel company so obviously they were bound for a fabulous honeymoon – they jetted off to South Africa the morning after the wedding! Congratulations & Mazel tov!
Venue & Catering: The Clifton Inn, Charlottesville, VA // Bridal Dress: Sarah Seven // Florals: Whimsical Floral Design // Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN // Paper: Wedding Paper Divas
