After a few days in London with our friend Simon, we headed up to Manchester by car on a Sunday mid-day. Here's what we saw when we arrived at the synagogue (almost the last ones!)
Under the "chuppah", Andrew (the groom) is with the Rabbi (who ironically was a New Yorker who has lived in Manchester 25 years - he told me when he finished "rabbi school" in Israel, Manchester was were they needed a rabbi, and he's been there ever since) and the "chazzan", the singer-guy.
It was funny because the Rabbi was a real show-man. Funny, cracking jokes, very entertaining. It was like a Woody Allen movie. Later everyone kept saying "Wasn't he great that AMERICAN rabbi!" Andrew put on this blanket-type thing that he wore that had things tied on the 4 corners made by Amy that signified something.
This is after Amy entered. Now, I must apologize for the photos during the ceremony, all of which were taken by Thomas who had my camera in his pocket (wouldn't fit in my 1960's retro purse) and of course we had no idea that we would be SEPARATED when seated in the synagogue so I found myself with NO CAMERA. Check out the rabbi's hat. Love it.
Here are Andrew and Amy under the chuppah. This was after he had read aloud the marriage contract and then gone and checked Amy out in some other room to make sure it was not her sister hiding under the veil (a biblical story). He had returned to us and then the traditional wedding procession begins with maid of honor, etc and she was walked in by her mom.
The view above is Thomas looking from the BOYS SIDE over to the GIRLS SIDE. Thru the wooden alter-thingy separating us, you can see me and my blue flower. Below: they leave the synagogue and go to some other room where they have time alone.
During the hour-long photo shoot, the guests were entertained with cocktails and canapés. The wedding colors were orange and fuchsia - and thus the drinks to match: mimosas and.....cosmopolitans. I just about laid down for joy. With all this foreign-ness of the Jewish ceremony, finally, something that looked familiar - my favorite drink! Ames found me after and said "I knew you'd be thrilled, Jules."
The beautiful blushing bride - she is wearing 10-inch heels. Normally her head is at my hipbone. The next morning at brunch she said "Last night I feared I had done some life-long damage to my feet. But today things are much better". Imagine someone saying that with an accent like the Queen, or at least Maggie Smith or Judy Dench. Brilliant.
Thomas and Simon show off their new personalized-for-the-occasion yamakas. They were orange suede. Inside they were monogrammed with Amy & Andrew and the date. Some of the older men there had their own yamakas on.
Then, the reception downstairs in the synagogue hall - these arches were used to welcome the bride and groom as they were announced.
Challah bread under a special napkin and there was a moment in the evening to cut it and eat it.
The whole reception began with wild dancing. It lasted a long time. I was amazed. Though heavily focused on the groom and all the men, there was a moment for Amy with this beautiful white umbrella/parasol streamer thing, so lovely. She was up in a chair.
Here they both held the same cloth that had been over the challah bread - both up on chairs.
Meanwhile, back at the "Gentile Table" (me, Simon, Thomas and 10 other people who had no clue what was going on! So fun! - we discovered it together).
Later on, the three buddies from a decade ago in Nice get their dancing toes on:
Amy's poor mom got thrown up on the chair. She's howling for her life in this photo.
These 2 goons had way too much fun all weekend:
Interlocking dancing circles for the men:
And a couple who's "old hat" at being married, shucks, they even got married twice:
What a GREAT fun wedding! We loved every second and FINALLY got to meet Andrew! We are so glad we went, and who do we have to thank:
MERCI Papy & Manou qui sont venus garder les filles pour 3 nuits et 4 jours. Sans eux, on n'aurait pas pu y aller!!!!!
3 comments:
Thanks for all the wedding photos, Julie. I found them all very interesting as I have never been fortunate enough to attend a Jewish wedding. I loved all the traditions and customs.
On another note, Lena's hair is getting so long!
Lisa YOU have never been to a Jewish wedding? How is that possible? Of all the people.....
Having been in 3 Fiddler on the roof productions, I have just a wee bit of familiarity of the Jewish festival,and of course, Cedric was the Rabbi in MMU's!! What fun that must have been for you all! You look so happy, esp with a Cosmo in hand!!!
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