These two knew from the start that they wanted to incorporate Jewish wedding traditions and other wedding traditions on their big day. It all came down to how they would mix the old with the new at this outdoor fall wedding. See how everything came together in planning their traditional Jewish wedding at Poplar Springs Manor.
One non-negotiable part of the day was using a chuppah for the Jewish wedding ceremony. The couple’s wedding planner, Khatera Panjshiri shared, “it was a matter of who would be standing under the chuppah, and how much of the tradition they would follow. Typically, it’s both sets of parents that are under the chuppah.
Since the bride’s mom passed away a couple years ago, her grandmother stood in holding Rachel’s bouquet in honor of her mom.” Rachel and Mitch found ways to create a traditional Jewish wedding environment that also honored their lost loved ones. This extended to even using Rachel’s mom’s wedding dress veil as part of the chuppah.
Other traditions included the Jewish wedding glass to break and a Jewish Ketubah signing. A ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract that is signed and witnessed prior to the wedding. The couple signed the document (designed incorporating their wedding theme colors) surrounded by their immediate family. The reception included the standard dance of a Jewish wedding: the hora. This dance has the newlyweds seated and lifted up in the air by guests.
Despite all that was used as part of their traditional Jewish wedding, the day also included other components that infused the couple’s personality into the day. The romantic boho vibes that the bride was going for came out in touches like wearing a cape instead of a veil and using recording messages on a vintage phone for the guest book. Their pup Winnie was also included in the couples photos and walking down the aisle wearing a crown of floral greenery. She joined them for their engagement session too!
The overall feel of the wedding design and colors came from Rachel’s own inspiration. The planner described the wedding aesthetic as being “very much into the boho feel which is more of her style: retro, moodier, and boho.” The color palette included browns and different shades of red in the bridesmaid dresses against white tablecloths and greenery in the table settings. The wedding decor florals also matched the white, pale brown, and red flowers in both the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets.
Rachel showed off her personality with a reception change into a white beaded fringe dress paired with hot pink shoes! This was the signal for the karaoke and the dance party to begin! These two are so fun and loved dancing, singing, and drinking with their friends at the afterparty. This party even included catering by McDonalds!
Rachel and Mitch’s traditional Jewish wedding and after party found its place at Poplar Springs Manor in Warrenton, Virginia. Here’s Khatera Panjshiri’s wedding planner tips for hosting a wedding at this gorgeous wedding venue just outside of Washington, DC:
If you are looking to both incorporate and break tradition on your wedding day, then let’s talk!
Venue | Poplar Springs Manor
Photographer | Shelly Pate Photography
Wedding Planner | Events by Khatera