Jennifer & David

When and how did the two of you meet, and what is most memorable about your first meeting?

JENN: We met on a dating app called Hinge. On that app, you were matched with friends of friends. You also had to answer questions for your profile. In response to the question of who in the world I most wanted to have dinner with, I had answered Ruth Bader Ginsburg. David liked my answer to that question and contacted me. I realized he had gone to highschool with one of my best friends from college, and she confirmed he wasn’t an axe murderer and was in fact a nice guy. We started a conversation, and when I realized that he had just been to Japan, and I was in the process of planning a trip there with friends, I asked him for recommendations over a drink. I don’t even think the trip came up once we were actually out, but he did send me a document of carefully cultivated recommendations a few weeks later. We met at Anotheroom, which is a very cozy wine bar in Tribeca and sat in the window bench nook next to each other.

DAVID: I remember really liking Jenn and then she told me that she was right about to go to law school, and I remember being disappointed because I didn’t want to do a long distance thing—apparently I was already getting serious after a few minutes. But then she told me she was going to Columbia, and I was like oh interesting, she’ll still be in the city. I thought Jenn was really special on our first and second dates. Then, on our third date, I fully fell in love with her. On the night of a big snowstorm, we took the train out to Astoria to get Greek food. The long train to and from Queens was full of interesting conversations, and the dinner was the first time we recognized each other’s love of food, which has become a very important part of our relationship. I also remember Jenn getting us lost on the way to the restaurant, which has happened countless times since, but I still too often follow her directions.

On your day, what was your first thought when you woke up in the morning?

JENN: I woke up really early around 5AM or something because I was just so excited for the day to start.

DAVID: I can’t wait to marry Jenn!

What did you base your choice of location on?

JENN & DAVID: We live in New York City, and it’s where Jenn grew up and where most of our friends are. David’s family is also in the New York area and northeast, so it just made sense to do it locally. It also made planning so much easier!

What wedding planning decision was the easiest one to make? What was the most difficult?

JENN: The easiest planning decision was picking our band, Valli Orchestra. My parents had gone to a wedding out on Long Island across the bay from where they have a home. David and I were sitting in the backyard and heard the band playing from across the bay, and the music sounded so awesome. My parents came home and were like we have to book this band for your wedding. I think we booked them as soon as we had a date.

DAVID: Honestly, there weren’t any decisions that stand out as especially difficult. Some of them, like picking a vendor, or picking a designer, required a longer decision process, but in all of those cases, once we came across the right answer, it was just so obvious.

Which feature of your wedding was the most unique?

JENN: I think our ceremony was pretty unique. Our Rabbi, David Ingber from Romemu, takes the traditional elements of a Jewish wedding and reinterprets them to be consistent with today’s more progressive values. For example, for the bedeken, which traditionally is when the man unveils his bride to make sure he got the right woman, our Rabbi does a “double-deken,” in which both the bride and groom unveil each other, and he conceives of it as the promise to never stop searching for each other. We spent a lot of time writing our program together, so our guests would understand each element and its reinterpretation.

DAVID: It’s hard to say, since so many things feel so special. Even though I am obviously biased, one thing that stands out to me are Jenn’s two outfits. She wore the most beautiful wedding dress I have ever seen, and then she outdid even herself when she came out for the after party in this hot pink two piece outfit—it was awesome.

How did you feel during the ceremony?

JENN: It was surreal being up under the chuppah in front of our friends and family. I felt like I was floating.

DAVID: I felt pretty emotional. I always knew I’d be one of those grooms who cries, and I definitely lived up to my own expectations. In all seriousness though, the ceremony was one of my favorite moments of the whole day. It was so meaningful to officially promise to be with each other forever in front of all of our loved ones.

If you had to choose, what would you say was the best part of your wedding day?

JENN: I have to pick two. First, when David read me his vows. I was really blown away by the love and intimacy that he was able to convey in his words. Second, we had this epic horah that everyone got so into, even if it was their first time at a Jewish wedding. I felt so ecstatic in those moments surrounded by all of the special people celebrating our marriage.

DAVID: There were so many great moments, but one of my personal favorites was our first dance. Jenn had been in charge of most of the wedding planning, but I had been in charge of dance lessons. I managed to convince Jenn to do something a little more intense than she perhaps had in mind. It was really beautiful and fun, and everyone loved it.

Were there any funny moments that especially stand out?

JENN & DAVID: David’s Aunt came up to give a blessing during the ceremony. When she hugged David, his microphone got caught on her lace dress, and they were fully stuck together for a moment. Our ceremony was very emotional, and only the three of us knew what was going on, so we shared a laugh in the middle of it.

Where did you honeymoon?

JENN: We went to Sri Lanka and the Maldives for our honeymoon. David planned all of it, and it was incredible!

DAVID: Our honeymoon was pretty great, if I do say so myself! We saw ruins, went on safari, did some nice hiking, ate a ton of great food, and had some relaxing beach time as well. I’d say our most memorable stay was at a hotel in the tea country in Sri Lanka. The hotel sits on an active tea plantation and is run by a Sri Lankan-owned tea company. Every day you have afternoon tea, and the views over the surrounding valleys and lakes are absolutely stunning.

Where do you see yourselves in 30 years?

JENN & DAVID: Happily married! Beyond that, who in the world knows!