Saja: How did you meet?
Anna: Daniel and I have known each other for nearly our entire lives. While our parents have been friends for 20 years, we didn't notice each other until college. During my freshman year, Daniel was living in Germany. We started talking one day, and emailed every day after that. At the end of the spring semester, I hopped a plane and flew to Munich for our first date. An hour into our date, we both knew that we were in love and this was it.
Anna: Daniel and I have known each other for nearly our entire lives. While our parents have been friends for 20 years, we didn't notice each other until college. During my freshman year, Daniel was living in Germany. We started talking one day, and emailed every day after that. At the end of the spring semester, I hopped a plane and flew to Munich for our first date. An hour into our date, we both knew that we were in love and this was it.
Saja: How did he propose?
Anna: While we knew instantly that we were going to be a serious thing, getting engaged took much longer. I graduated college, we both attended and graduated from graduate school, moved in together, and started our life. Eight years later, we started talking about getting married, but with no firm plans. Last summer (August 2014) while on vacation, I turned to Daniel and said that I was serious about wanting to get married. We were sitting on a rocky beach in Ireland, over looking the Atlantic ocean, and we finally took time to talk about this. Neither of us could see any reason to not get married now, and I asked again. This time, Daniel said, ok, lets do this.
Anna: While we knew instantly that we were going to be a serious thing, getting engaged took much longer. I graduated college, we both attended and graduated from graduate school, moved in together, and started our life. Eight years later, we started talking about getting married, but with no firm plans. Last summer (August 2014) while on vacation, I turned to Daniel and said that I was serious about wanting to get married. We were sitting on a rocky beach in Ireland, over looking the Atlantic ocean, and we finally took time to talk about this. Neither of us could see any reason to not get married now, and I asked again. This time, Daniel said, ok, lets do this.
Saja: Where did the wedding take place? What made you choose there?
Anna: Our ceremony took place at Park Slope Jewish Center (PSJC) in Brooklyn. We both grew up there (that is how our parents became friends), were bar and bat mitzvahed there, and felt that it was our second home. We immediately knew that we had to be married there. It was such a meaningful space for us previously, but is even more meaningful for us now. Our reception was at the Green Building (also Brooklyn). After touring dozens of venue options, we saw the Green Building and fell in love. The relaxed, fun, and Brooklyn vibe appealed to us instantly.
Anna: Our ceremony took place at Park Slope Jewish Center (PSJC) in Brooklyn. We both grew up there (that is how our parents became friends), were bar and bat mitzvahed there, and felt that it was our second home. We immediately knew that we had to be married there. It was such a meaningful space for us previously, but is even more meaningful for us now. Our reception was at the Green Building (also Brooklyn). After touring dozens of venue options, we saw the Green Building and fell in love. The relaxed, fun, and Brooklyn vibe appealed to us instantly.
Saja: What was your favorite part of the day? Why?
Anna: My favorite part of the day was the bedeken. This is a traditional Jewish ceremony where the groom is danced in by both families to see the bride and make sure that she is the right woman. Everyone was so happy that our wedding was finally here, there wasn't a dry eye in the entire room. Seeing Dan come in laughing, dancing, and singing with our fathers, brothers, cousins, and friends was spectacular. I was sitting with our mothers, sisters (in-laws too), cousins, and friends, and we could hear them coming from the street through the garden, into the building. As soon as we met eyes, we both started crying and laughing simultaneously and felt the love and joy that surrounded us.
Anna: My favorite part of the day was the bedeken. This is a traditional Jewish ceremony where the groom is danced in by both families to see the bride and make sure that she is the right woman. Everyone was so happy that our wedding was finally here, there wasn't a dry eye in the entire room. Seeing Dan come in laughing, dancing, and singing with our fathers, brothers, cousins, and friends was spectacular. I was sitting with our mothers, sisters (in-laws too), cousins, and friends, and we could hear them coming from the street through the garden, into the building. As soon as we met eyes, we both started crying and laughing simultaneously and felt the love and joy that surrounded us.
Saja: Which of the photos is your favorite? Why?
Anna: I have a couple favorite photos. One of me wiping a tear away while sitting is from the bedeken. There are couple photos of dancing during our hora which show how much fun we were all having, especially one with me and my dad which shows the fluidity of the dress really well.
Anna: I have a couple favorite photos. One of me wiping a tear away while sitting is from the bedeken. There are couple photos of dancing during our hora which show how much fun we were all having, especially one with me and my dad which shows the fluidity of the dress really well.
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