Not only was Julie and Victor’s wedding pretty and unique, it took place on a beautiful autumn day in the countryside of New Jersey. Photographed by Levi Stolove Photography, it was a rustic, casual, DIY wedding in a charming inn with a blend of two cultures — Jewish and Chinese.
“We wanted a small, rustic, casual and intimate day for our wedding. Because of our large families, the small part wasn’t going to work, but we were able to pull off the rest in a very short time. We planned the wedding in a little over three months, and almost everything was DIY, most of which centred around natural and understated details with unique and personal touches. We were lucky enough to get the perfect October day for the outdoor garden ceremony, with a cosy tent for the reception.
“We wanted our wedding to have a home-grown feel that came out of the talents of our friends and family. Everyone had their own special roles; Victor and my father built our Chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy under which we were married, from branches from my parents’ backyard. With the help of my cousin and Victor, I designed, printed, and cut all of the paper goods — invitations, place cards, programs, table numbers, and marriage license. I wanted the tables to feel rustic and organic, so we chose to use wild flowers and cacti as an alternative to the traditional arrangement. Victor’s brothers helped string globe lights in the tent that morning, giving the night a warm and casual feeling, and our friends hung old photographs around the tent to make the setting more homely. Most importantly, we had my two grandparents, who are 97 and 98, participate in the ceremony, while my grandmother gave away her own wedding ring, after 72 years of marriage, to Victor.
“The blending of our two cultures, Jewish and Chinese, was very important to us. We had a Jewish wedding ceremony and a Chinese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony was incredibly special to us and was a wonderful way for me to be welcomed into Victor’s family.”
Images © Levi Stolove Photography
