An Eiteljorg Dream Wedding: Sarah + Avihay

Every wedding will present unique planning challenges. This might be from an item request from the couple or by challenging the catering staff to make something that isn’t part of their typical menu. Sarah and Avihay’s wedding offered a new opportunity for their event specialist, Heidi, which was that the entire wedding was planned predominantly over phone and by email because Sarah was in Israel until the week of the wedding! Sarah’s mother played a huge role by meeting with Heidi to ensure that everything went to plan and was a wonderful help to both the bride and Heidi in finalizing details. Sarah’s vision for her wedding was a rousing success because of the open communication she continually had with each of them throughout the planning process.

Creamy greens and rose quarts are two tones that beautifully coordinate and bring in a subtle nod to nature when used in décor. It’s these colors that made Sarah and Avihay’s late spring ceremony and reception at Eiteljorg Museum fit in so well with the space. While the museum doesn’t allow potted plants in their spaces because of their historic artifacts, including these colors into the décor brought Sarah’s dream wedding to life. Their guests were also able to take a small succulent home with them at the end of the evening to remember this special time.

Before the ceremony the couple joined together with their family to sign the Ketubah. This is a special Jewish marriage promise from the groom to his bride. It outlines all that he promises her. Typically these are personalized to the couple in wording and design. Their attendants joined afterwards to take photos throughout the grounds.It was evident right from the start that there was quite a bit of love filling the air of Eitlejorg that day.

As guests were seated before the ceremony, programs and yamakas (or kippah) were available on tables leading to the ceremony area. Tucked away in the gardens of the Eiteljorg, the couple exchanged vows under a gorgeous bold royal purple and blue painted huppah. Sarah and Avihay opted for a late ceremony beginning at 7:30pm, giving their ceremony a perfect golden hour glow as the sun began to set around the city.

Cocktail hour was hosted outside around the garden. Hors d’oeuvres were passed and bars were open for guests to enjoy. The reception was held in Clowes Sculpture Court. Keeping with their light tones, the linen was a light sage with matching napkin and chair cover. Chairs were sashed in a sage green bridal satin that pulled in the colors of the succulents on their wedding cake into the space.

Hors d’oeuvres
Hearts of palm and orange brochette with toasted cumin emulsion
Beef carpaccio crostini with crispy capers, truffled honey and arugula
Ahi tuna hand roll
Tempura portabella fries with Asian ginger dipping sauce
Maple leaf farms duck eggrolls, ginger beer BBQ
Moroccan chicken satay with mango chutney

Taking a slightly nontraditional approach to their reception, guests found their seats and were able to enjoy a preset salad at each place setting. This allowed guests to begin eating right away and sped up their dinner service. Sarah’s parents offered a welcome to their guests as they dined while Sarah and Avihay finished their wedding portraits in the setting sun. Dinner service followed with guests being released to the buffet. Towards the end of dinner the cake was cut and dancing commenced.

First Course

Romain with artichoke hearts, garbanzo beans, feta, roasted red peppers, crispy lavosh and lemon honey vinaigrette
Assorted breads with seasoned flavorful  oil

Second Course
Buffet Entrees
Gnocchi with fresh crushed roma tomatoes, ratatouille vegetables, bail pinenut pesto
Smoked sea salt Delmonico rib eye with horseradish demi-glace

Buffet Sides
Wild mushroom and arugula risotto cakes
Green beans with crispy fried shallots
Roasted marble potatoes, sautéed shallots

Third Course
Wedding Cake
Vanilla cake, dried French lavender, vanilla honey buttercream filling
Lemon cake, raspberry coulis filling, lemon buttercream Filling
Chocolate cake, chocolate ganache filling
Vanilla cake, white chocolate ganache filling

Sarah and Avihay had a wonderful wedding experience, their parents commented to their event specialist, Heidi, after the event that it was the wedding the couple had dreamed of.

Interested in learning more about Jewish wedding ceremonies? Read “Shatter the Glass: A Guide to Jewish Weddings“.

Wedding Professionals

Venue: Eiteljorg Museum
Catering/Cake: Kahn’s Catering
Photography: Stevenson Photography
Videographer: Happy Kamper
Florist: The Empty Vase
Ceremony Musicians: Innocenti Strings
DJ: Midwest Sound