Dana+Matt : Temple Adath Yeshurun Wedding Photos

What are your wedding colors and/or themes?
Red and gold, can you believe it?! We decided to use endless amounts of roses which gave the entire day a romantic feel. My love story with Matt was one full of love, laughter and excitement. We wanted the decor to match those exact feelings.

What is your inspiration when planning your wedding?
My family is truly my everything. I have 2 sisters, amazing parents, an incredible Grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins who change my life every single day. As we picked each detail for our wedding, I imagined what it would be like to see my family smile on our wedding day. I wanted our wedding to exude happiness with every single detail.

Did you incorporate any fun themes/motifs or design elements?
Yes! We had a HUGE surprise for everyone at the wedding! My Mom (whose imagination is bountiful!) had the idea to turn the stage in the ballroom into a dessert wonderland! We draped the space, hung chandeliers and turned the rather simple stage into a wonderland rivaling Willy Wonka. We decided to keep the curtains closed at first and the band leader asked everyone to turn towards that direction as we revealed the masterpiece!

Did you include any special traditions, old or new?
My Mother created a lace rose to be included in my bouquet which was made from her own wedding dress! Every time I looked down and saw the rose’s intricate detail, I was reminded of my parents and their beautiful love story. My Mom and Dad have been married for 30 years! The symbolism of the rose also reached far beyond my wedding. My sister Rebecca was married a year before me. She too included the rose in her bouquet, it now holds a place in each of our hearts. The rose will be passed down to my sister Kara when she gets married!

We also included many Jewish traditions as part of our wedding day. Judaism is a large part of our lives and it was incredibly meaningful to continue traditions passed down from generation to generation. Matt and I were married at Temple Adath, the same Temple where my parents were married 30 years prior. My Grandfather, Bernard also served as one of the first Presidents of this very Temple! We signed the Jewish marriage document known as the Ketubah. In our Ketubah there was a sentence in Hebrew which we found very significant, “I will honor, sustain, and support you, and together we will meet life’s trail with quiet strength and courage, and embrace life’s blessings with wonder, joy and laughter.” Our Chuppah or the wedding canopy that covered us during the ceremony contained the talliot of both my Grandfathers. Since both men have passed away, I was able to feel their presence by simply looking up and knowing they were smiling as we began our lives as Husband and Wife. The wedding ceremony and corresponding traditions were performed by my Uncle, Cantor Hal Rifkin. Uncle Hal made the entire process leading up to the wedding day and the day itself feel rooted in family-which is exactly who we are as a couple.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Matt and I grew up attending the same sleep away camp together in New Hampshire for almost 8 years! Somehow we never became that good of friends. As fate would have it years later we both decided to run the Boston Marathon in 2013. A dream come true for a novice runner (me) and a dream come true for a college athlete (Matt). All Boston Marathon runners embark on a 21 mile challenge-the last long run before the big day! That was the first time Matt and I came face to face after almost 10 years. I would like to personally thank Mark Zuckerberg for allowing me to reconnect with the love of my life- Matt facebook messaged me to ask how my training was going and the rest is history! A very important shutout goes to my sister, Rebecca and Matt’s sister, Shelby. Rebecca and Shelby are best friends from camp and the ones who encouraged Matt to reconnect with me (we owe them endless gifts!).

Thank you thank you thank you to our friends and family who made the wedding everything we could have ever dreamed and more! A special thank you to my amazing father, Steve. We feel beyond honored to have shared our wedding with you on your birthday!

Dress Designer: Vera Wang
Dress Shop: Vera Wang Bridal in Boston
Hair/Makeup: The INSANELY TALENTED team of Syracuse Makeup Artistry! Makeup: Riki Lebied and Hair: Danielle Leubner.
Bridesmaid dresses: Monique Lhuillier from Bella Bridesmaids
Flowers: Rao’s Flower Shop under the direction of Frank Brice
Cake: Our wedding happened to be on my Dad’s birthday! We decided to celebrate him with a birthday cake rather than a traditional wedding cake.
Catering: Foremost Catering
Entertainment: Hank Lane Music
Coordinator/Planner/Designer: My MOM! My Mom, Sondra’s eye for design is incredible. As an Interior Designer she works endlessly to make ideas a beautiful reality. My Mom and I worked together to create the wedding of my dreams. We wanted the day to feel magical, unique and unforgettable. We were assisted by the duo of sisters, Carrie Ellis and Jill Blasi who helped to organize and coordinate everything (really, everything).