Jewish tradition
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A Jewish wedding is a day filled with beautiful traditions, heartfelt moments, and joyous celebrations. Capturing every aspect of this special occasion requires a well-structured timeline to ensure no moment is missed. Below is a detailed wedding photography timeline that helps keep everything organized while allowing time for the couple to be present with the people that matter the most.
Wedding Photography Timeline
11:30 – 12:15 | Bride’s Details & Final Touches
- Main Photographer Photographs Bride’s Details
Make sure to have all your bridal details together in one spot (i.e. all three rings, shoes, invitation suite, jewelry, perfume, veil, etc.). These details set the tone for the day and are an important part of telling your wedding story. - Associate Photographer Captures Final Touches of Hair & Makeup
The final moments of hair and makeup application are perfect for capturing the bride’s anticipation and excitement as the day officially begins!
12:15 – 1:00 | Bride & Groom Prep
- Main Photographer Photographs the Bride Getting Into Her Dress
This is when it starts getting REAL. The emotions, the nerves, the excitement—it all comes together as the bride steps into her wedding gown. - Associate Photographer Captures Groom Getting Ready
Tying ties, buttoning jackets, and adjusting cufflinks—this is a great opportunity to capture candid and refined portraits of the groom and his groomsmen.
1:00 – 1:15 | Bridal & Groom Solo Portraits
- Main Photographer Captures the Bride’s Solo Portraits
These timeless images showcase the bride in all her beauty before she walks down the aisle. - Associate Photographer Captures the Groom’s Solo Portraits
Strong and dapper, these portraits highlight the groom’s excitement and confidence before seeing his bride.
1:15 – 1:30 | Walk to the First Look
- A quiet moment before the couple sees each other for the first time. This short walk allows anticipation to build, making the first look even more special.
1:30 – 1:45 | First Look
- One of my favorite moments of the day!! Such a beautiful and intimate moment, filled with such emotion as the couple sees each other for the first time.
1:45 – 2:15 | Couple Portraits
- Romantic, joyful, and full of love—these portraits capture the couple’s excitement and happiness before the ceremony begins.
2:15 – 2:30 | Bride with Bridesmaids
- These shots capture the bride with her closest friends and family, celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime moment.
2:30 – 2:45 | Full Bridal Party Portraits
- Lively, elegant, and full of energy—this is where the entire bridal party comes together for fun and classic group shots.
2:45 – 3:00 | Groom with Groomsmen
- These portraits highlight the friendship and joy of the groom with his best friends and family members.
3:00 – 3:30 | Family Formals
- Capturing family members in various groupings ensures everyone gets their moment in front of the camera. These images will be cherished for generations to come.
3:30 – 4:00 | Couple’s Break & Venue Details
- Bride & Groom Hide, Rest & Retouch
A much-needed moment of calm before the ceremony. - Main Photographer & Associate Capture Ceremony and Reception Decor
The chuppah, floral arrangements, table settings, and personalized details deserve their moment in the spotlight too!
4:00 – 5:00 | Tisch & Bedeken
- The Tisch (groom’s gathering) and Bedeken (veiling ceremony) are essential parts of a Jewish wedding. These emotional and meaningful traditions set the spiritual tone for the ceremony.
5:00 – 5:45 | Wedding Ceremony
- The moment we’ve all been waiting for! The chuppah, vows, blessings, and the breaking of the glass—it all comes together in this sacred moment.
5:45 – 6:05 | Yichud Room
- The couple’s first private moments together as husband and wife. A truly special time to capture love, joy, and excitement.
6:15 – 6:30 | Grand Entrance
- The energy is high, and the celebration officially begins as the couple makes their way into the reception!
6:30 – 8:00 | Reception & Dancing
- From the hora to heartfelt speeches, every moment is filled with emotion, love, and joy. Our goal is to capture all of the laughter, excitement, and energy as the celebration unfolds.
8:00 – 8:10 | Sunset Portraits
- Golden hour is the perfect time for intimate husband-and-wife portraits. With the sun setting behind them, these images have a soft, romantic glow.
8:10 – 10pm | Reception & Final Moments
- Dancing, cake cutting, and celebrating into the night—our team stays until we’ve captured every incredible moment of the evening.
A well-planned timeline ensures that no special moment is missed and that the couple can truly enjoy their day without feeling rushed. Every Jewish wedding is unique, and this schedule can be adjusted to fit specific traditions and preferences. The key is to leave enough room for spontaneity and joy while still keeping the day structured and smooth.
At Yael Pachino Photography, we specialize in capturing the beauty and traditions of Jewish weddings, ensuring that every memory is preserved with love and artistry. If you’re planning your wedding, we’d love to be part of your day! Reach out to us to discuss your vision and how we can make it come to life through stunning photography.
Mazel tov and happy planning!
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Planning a Jewish wedding can be one of the most meaningful experiences and also one of the most overwhelming places.
As someone who has captured countless Jewish weddings, I know how vital it is to find a photographer who truly understands your vision and the traditions that make your day unique.
Your photographer will be the one preserving your cherished rituals and heartfelt moments.
To help you find the perfect match, here are ten essential questions to guide your conversations with potential photographers
1. Do you have experience photographing Jewish weddings?
Jewish weddings have unique customs and traditions, so it’s important to work with someone familiar with them. From the breaking of the glass to the chuppah ceremony, experience ensures nothing gets missed.
Personally, I always make sure to talk to the officiant or Rabbi before the ceremony begins to make sure I know exactly what to expect.
Two questions I always ask: (1) Which direction will the bride and groom stand during the ceremony? and (2) where will the Rabbi place the glass on the floor before the smashing of the glass!
Both of those questions, change my game plan for how I photograph the ceremony!
2. Are you familiar with specific Jewish rituals and traditions, such as the chuppah, ketubah signing, Tisch + Bedekin, Shtick or horah?
These moments are central to your celebration. A photographer with knowledge of these rituals will know when and how to capture them with sensitivity and precision.
There are specific traditions you can explain to someone until they are blue in the face, but if they haven’t experienced it before, they won’t truly understand what to expect and how to photograph it!
3. Can you accommodate the timeline of a traditional Jewish wedding day?
Jewish weddings often involve extended celebrations, and more traditions and rituals than most secular weddings. Ensure your photographer is comfortable working with a more flexible and potentially longer timeline.
For most secular weddings, I suggest at least 8 hours of coverage, but for Jewish Weddings, I suggest at least 9 or 10 hours, depending on how many traditions the couple is planning on!
4. How do you ensure privacy and respect during religious moments?
Key religious moments, such as what happens under the chuppah and during the veiling of the bride, require a photographer who understands the importance of being unobtrusive while still capturing the beauty of the moment.
I always say, I will be under the chuppah for part of your ceremony with you, but I will be as quiet and as quick as a ninja so I can be the least disruptive as possible. I will never get in the way of the other people under the chuppah, but I will always be there to capture the special moments!
5. How do you handle unexpected challenges on the wedding day?
An experienced photographer is prepared for anything from sudden weather changes to tight timelines, ensuring your day goes smoothly and your photos turn out beautifully no matter the circumstances.
I always say that as a wedding photographer, you have to embrace the chaos and learn how to go with the flow… You can plan every moment to a T, but at the end of the day, 95% of wedding timelines run late or need to be adjusted in the moment and as the photographer you just got to roll with it, be confident and make sure your clients are as calm and as in the moment as possible!
6. Do you offer a second photographer?
I highly recommend two photographers for any Jewish wedding and even more so if you are planning on having a Tisch and Bedekin at your wedding!With so much happening simultaneously, having two photographers ensures every special moment is beautifully captured.
Many couples ask me if they should have three photographers, and I always say that if you are having less than 400 people at your wedding, two photographers is plenty! I find three photographers a little overwhelming for the couple, their family and their guests. We are there to enhance everyones experience and not overwhelm it!
7. How do you approach family portraits?
Jewish weddings often include large and extended families. Your photographer should have a clear plan to efficiently organize and capture these important portraits.
I believe there is really only one way to make sure my couples get all the family combinations they (and their parents) could possibly want… and it is being bossy in the nicest way possible!
I ask my clients to write out a list of all the different family combinations they want so I can print the list, call them out and check them off as we go.
My goal is to go as quickly and as painless as possible when it comes to the family photos.
8. What backup equipment and plans do you have?
A reliable photographer should have backup cameras, lenses, and a contingency plan to ensure no technical issues disrupt their ability to capture your day.
I always bring three cameras, just in case, and I make sure every single photo I capture are recorded to two memory cards, just in case one is defective.
9. Can you share examples of full wedding galleries?
While highlight reels and Instagram posts are great, seeing complete galleries will give you a better sense of their style, consistency, and how they capture an entire event.
Social media is full of the best of the best, galleries are full of every single moment of a wedding day captured. It is a completely different viewing experience and I personally, like the full gallery experience better! Makes it all more real!
10. How do you incorporate cultural or personal details into the photos?
Jewish weddings are rich in tradition and meaning. Ask your photographer how they’ll highlight these elements, from embroidered tallitot to family heirlooms.
As someone who has stood under the chuppah at her own wedding and is now a proud, Jewish mama, I understand the importance of our culture and rituals in a deep way that makes me photograph those details with so much love and honor.
Choosing the right photographer ensures the memories of your Jewish wedding are beautifully preserved. These questions will help you find someone who aligns with your vision, values, and the traditions that make your celebration unique. Take the time to have open conversations with potential photographers, and don’t be afraid to trust your instincts.
Mazel tov on this exciting chapter of your life! Your perfect photographer is out there, ready to capture every meaningful moment.
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“Do you want to hold the back of my dress as I go see Will?” Brittany asked Sadie, her flower girl. Sadie’s smile grew as she nodded. All three of us walked out onto the balcony and down the ramp to the beautiful bridge right outside of the Talamore Country Club. There he was. Brittany’s groom. Looking sharp in his white bowtie and light grey suite. Will was facing away from us but I could tell from his posture that he couldn’t wait to see his bride. As Brittany walked towards Will smiling, Sadie followed closely behind doing everything she could to make sure that Brittany’s dress didn’t touch the ground. Finally, Brittany and Sadie were right behind Will. Brittany lightly tapped her manicured finger on Will’s shoulder. He turned around. Saw his beautiful bride and adorable flower girl. His eyes widened and his hands immediately covered his mouth in complete awe. A tear fell down his cheek.
It was the perfect moment.
This is just who Brittany and Will are; big smiles, huge hearts and forever thinking of their friends and family. They are two of the most considerate people I have ever met and it was evident in every detail of their wedding day. From making the afternoon fun for the little humans, all the way to the beautiful roses that decorated the entire venue and right down to the ten year anniversary cake they had speciality ordered for two of Brittany’s cousins.They thought of it all. Brittany and Will are truly mindful, incredibly sweet and insanely generous to the core. I couldn’t be more inspired by the two of them.
Brittany and Will tied the knot under the family Chuppah in the beautiful Talamore Country Club Ballroom. With the officiant being one of Brittany’s cousin, their ceremony was full of laughter, tradition, connection and so much love. It was stunning in every way. As Will dipped his beautiful bride for their first kiss, the entire audience clapped and cheered. It was yet another perfect moment.
Brittany and Will, I know your love can do it all. Your hearts are big and beautiful.. Your souls are kind and loving. And your relationship is unique and energizing. My wish for you, is that you continue creating a beautiful life together full of happiness, generosity, friends, family and hundreds and hundreds of more dip kisses and choreographed dances.
Venders: Venue: Talamore Country Club | DJ: East Coast Event Group | Videographer: East Coast Event Group |Cake: Ann’s Cake Pan |Caterer: Talamore Country Club |Bridesmaids Dress: David’s Bridal |Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse |Invitations: Kathleen Blass |Florist: Plaza Florists – Plaza Florists |Bridal Dress: Country Bride and Gent |Hair and Make up Artist: Daneene Jensen and Associates
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“All the kids are staying up as late as they can before they pass out.” Shana, my sister, WhatsApped me. I laughed when I read the message. There is nothing like staying up for Passover Seder when you are a kid. Drinking what feels like galloons of grape juice, smelling the bitter horseradish but not eating it, singing the dozens of songs we practiced and showing off the beautiful Hagadot (Seder Books) that we spent hours creating in school. It was our night to shine and I loved every second of it.
As I think about Akiva and Shmuel belting out the “Four Questions” on the top of their lungs, with their younger siblings trying to keep up and my sister and brother-in-law smiling, I can’t help but feel an immense warmth and sense of pride. I find the whole Passover ordeal charming. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is a lot of work. I know the cleaning can be overwhelming, the cooking can be challenging and the long nights can be exhausting. Yet, there is nothing like sitting around the Seder table, asking the same questions as every Jewish generation that came before us and eating the same Matzah as all the Jewish generations that will be coming after us.
Passover, in its essence, is a holiday for the children. It is here to teach the next generation our heritage. Teach them about the exodus of Egypt, the strength of the Jewish people and our ability to overcome obstacles. I never fully understood the power of this holiday until I witnessed my oldest niece, Shira’s, first Seder. The twinkle of pride in her eyes as she sang her songs, the happiness that washed over her face every time she answered a question correctly and the smile that shined through as she showed us the projects she made in school, finally made me see the incredible importance of this holiday. There is nothing like watching the next generation fall in love with your heritage and your traditions the way you did once upon a time.
This year, all the little ones will be in Israel (as they should be) but that doesn’t make Passover any less special. This year, Robert will be coming home with me. We will be surrounded by family and close friends, tradition and tons of wine. I couldn’t be more excited to share my favorite holiday with my favorite human. I could not be more excited to sit down and keep the Jewish Tradition alive for yet, another year.
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My mission is to not only craft images, but really celebrate the unique spirit of Jewish love. I'm here to honor our culture, capture the magic of your love, create family heirlooms for your future and do it all with a whole lot of heart and soul.