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One of the things I love most about being Jewish is how there’s never just one way to do things. As the saying goes, “two Jews, three opinions!” This is a common and beloved theme in our culture and weddings are no exception!

Every couple brings their own personal touch, and over the years, I’ve seen how beautifully diverse Jewish weddings can be. 

In 2024, I’ve noticed five amazing trends within the Modern Orthodox Jewish wedding scene that I just can’t get enough of! They blend tradition with fresh, new practices in ways that feel meaningful and modern while still honoring the roots of our faith. 

And if I am being totally honest with you, I have 100% cried seeing each and everyone of these new trends!

Ketubah Signing Under the Chuppah

This one is for all the strong, proud Jewish women out there who want to be fully present when their Ketubah is being signed. 

Traditionally, the Ketubah signing takes place in a private room before the ceremony (without the bride), but more and more couples are choosing to make this moment part of the ceremony itself, right under the chuppah. 

It’s such a powerful statement of partnership, with both the bride and groom sharing the moment in front of all of their loved ones. It’s a beautiful way to honor the significance of the promises written and make the moment even more intimate and meaningful. 

Plus, it’s an empowering way for the bride to be right there as the ink is put to paper, highlighting the equal role both partners play in the marriage they are about to enter.

A Joint Tisch

One of the trends I’m loving this year is the joint tisch, where both the bride and groom, side by side, celebrate with their guests before the wedding!

Traditionally, the Tisch is a separate event: the groom and his friends gather to sing, drink, and engage in lively discussion, while the bride’s celebration takes place in a completely separate room. 

But in 2024, more couples are choosing to have a joint tisch, bringing everyone together for a shared pre-chuppah celebration! 

It’s a beautiful way to start the festivities with a sense of unity, excitement and simcha. 

There is something so special about seeing parents, siblings, friends and the entire community come together with pure happiness and anticipation. This trend creates an unforgettable energy and sets a tone of togetherness for the rest of the celebration. 

Both Exchanging Rings + Circling

In 2024, I’m seeing more and more couples incorporating both the bride and groom exchanging rings and circling each other during the ceremony, and I absolutely love it! 

Traditionally, the groom places the ring on the bride’s finger and the bride circles the groom but now more than ever before couples are opting for the bride to give a ring to the groom under the chuppah and the groom circles the bride as well! How cool is that?!

The circling symbolizes the creation of unity and a new home. It’s a deeply significant act which feels even more meaningful when both partners circle each other.

This twist on the tradition emphasizes the partnership and balance of the couple. It’s so powerful to watch and brings an extra layer of meaning to the ceremony.

There is something so heartwarming in seeing both the groom and bride recite the words “Harei at mekudeshet li b’taba’at zo k’dat Moshe v’Yisrael.”

This translates to:
“Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.”

Seeing both the bride and groom perform these loving acts of commitment feels like an even stronger, more meaningful way to begin their marriage. 

Wrapping a Tallit Around Both the Bride and Groom

Traditionally, the groom wears the tallit under the chuppah, symbolizing the sacredness of the moment. However, more couples are choosing to have the bride join him, creating a shared experience that symbolizes their mutual commitment and the creation of their new home together. 

The act of enveloping both partners in the same tallit is deeply symbolic, representing the protection, love, and unity that will surround them throughout their marriage.

It also reflects the Jewish value of partnership, where both individuals are equal participants in building their future. 

This trend adds a powerful layer of connection between the couple and their families, as the tallit is often passed down through generations, making it a beautiful way to honor heritage while embracing the future together.

Original Songs Sung by Family or Friends During the Reception

One of the sweetest and most personal trends I’ve seen at Jewish weddings in 2024 is family and friends singing original songs during the reception. 

These performances add a truly unique and heartfelt touch to the celebration. Whether it’s a creative parody of a popular song, a funny tribute to the couple, or a heartfelt, original tune celebrating the couple’s love story, these songs never fail to put a smile on everyone faces. 99% of the time, everyone is singing the chorus by the end!

I’ve seen everything from funny and playful tunes about the couple’s first meeting to heartfelt songs that honor their families and traditions. The best part? There are no rules—anything goes, and it’s always a beautiful reflection of the couple’s unique journey and the love that surrounds them!

The beauty of Jewish weddings lies in both their deep-rooted tradition AND their incredible diversity—there’s no “one right way” to celebrate and continue the tradition, and that’s exactly what makes each wedding and each couple so uniquely special. 

From personal twists on timeless rituals to new trends that bring fresh energy to the celebration, Jewish weddings are constantly evolving while staying true to the heart of our faith.

Ultimately, these new trends serve as a powerful reminder that the most important thing is honoring the love, joy, and connection between the couple, their families, and their community.

The traditions may vary, but the essence remains the same.

Now more than ever, we need to celebrate and support Jewish love in all its forms.

These weddings are a reflection of the rich, evolving story of the Jewish community and the beautiful connections we create. These weddings connect us to our past and our future.

 I’m so excited to see what trends 2025 will bring, and I can’t wait to continue capturing these meaningful moments with you all!

Picture this… You are at Maynard’s on the Jersey Shore with the rest of your friends. It is a typical summer shore weekend when you notice your friend is talking to the cute brunette you JUST matched with.You walk right up to them and completely ignore your friend and spend the rest of the night in the corner talking to the cutest and sweetest girl you have ever met…

and that was JUST the beginning.

Fast forward a few years and you are at the same bar posing for your engagement photos, looking super cute with your pup Reese.

I mean, can it get better than that?!!!

I am absolutely blown away by these two…or should I say three!

Little pup, Reese, almost stole the show with her sweetness, but nothing could beat the love and joy that feels electric whenever Shelby and Danny are together.

Their love is fun, silly, full of respect and support, and there is really nothing better than that!

Their easygoing nature and excitement for life is something I deeply admire, and I could not be more excited and happy for these two!

I already know your wedding day is going to be a special one!

Shelby and Danny, I can’t wait to continue celebrating the two of you!! Xos!

“We just don’t know what we are doing in front of the camera like at all!” 

“That’s why I’m here!”

This is a conversation I have almost every single time I sit down with a couple for their wedding consultation. I get it. I know it’s hard. I know we are the generation that created the selfie and we have spent years perfecting it but still feels super awkward when anyone else points the camera at us. I know most of us haven’t even had a professional photo taken of us since our Mitzvahs or High School Yearbooks! I know! I get it! I understand your concerns. I understand the nervousness and the discomfort. But, I have good news…

I have taken the time to study, practice and master posing and now I know how to coach my couples into poses that feel genuine and true. I don’t want your photos to feel posed. And I definitely don’t want your photos to look rigid. I want them to feel like you. I want them to look as happy as you feel! That’s why I like to coach and guide my couples. It helps them find what works for them without feeling forced. My business’s main goal is to make my clients feel as happy and as comfortable in front of the camera as possible! My purpose is to make you fall in love with your photos! My intention is to make your wedding day run as smoothly as possible, especially when you are standing in front of my camera!

So, let’s not wait until your engagement session or wedding day. Let’s settle some of those concerns right here and right now! You are about to read something that is so near and dear to me, I seriously cannot believe I am writing this! These are my top four FAVORITE YP Couple Base Poses! This is big stuff guys! This is the meat and potatoes of my posing techniques and I am beyond excited to sharing them with you!!

You may be wondering, what the heck is a base pose, Yael?

Well, let me start from the beginning. I like to think of posing as a pyramid. You start with the bottom of your body and then work up. You start with where your put your feet and the rest will fall into place (with my help of course)!

Warning: The name of my base poses may not be clever, but they get the job done and sometimes that is all we can really ask for!

For the purpose of this blog post, instead of calling our couple “Man” and “Woman” in the instructions, I am going to give them names “David will refer to the man and Rachael will refer to the woman. This way, it sounds a lot less robotic, at least to me.  😊😊😊

Base Pose One: Belly to Hip Bone

My nickname for this base pose is also the “HI MOM!”

This is the pose I like to use for the classic, standing next to each other looking at the camera, smiling pose! It’s the pose that every mom really loves because she gets to see your entire face happy, smiling at her!

Step 1: Have David stand with his body straight to the camera. One foot slightly in front of the other with a little bend in the knee (this way, it doesn’t look or feel stiff)! 

Step 2: Have David’s beautiful fiancé, Rachael put her belly button to his hipbone (instead of  her having her body straight on to the camera).  This way Rachael has her body turned towards his. Rachael will then put all of her weight on her back foot. Rachael will put a slight bend in her front knee.

Step 3: Make sure there is no room between David and Rachael! They need to be touching!!

So why do I do this?! Well, it’s simple, a man looks his best when his shoulders are at their broadest (this is why suits look incredible on all men, it shows off their broad shoulders)! Women, don’t want to look broad in the same way men do! That’s why, I like to have our women turned sideways and put all of their body weight on their back foot. It flatters our curves in the best possible way!

Base Pose Two: Belly to Belly

I told you my names for the poses aren’t clever 😁

This pose is the one I like to use when I want my couples to really snuggle up and get all close and personal! It is literally exactly what it sounds like!

Step One: Have both David and Rachael face each other. Have their belly buttons touching. This way they are as close as possible!

Step Two: Add that extra little bend in Rachael’s front knee as she distributes all of her weight onto her back foot!

Step Three: Have David wrap his arms around Rachael’s waist, tight enough so it clinches at the waist, but loose enough so she can breath!! 

Base Pose Three: The Prom Pose 2.0

We all remember the prom pose, and I promise, this will NOT look as cheesy as it sounds!! This one I like to use for intimate, yet fun photos.  

Step One: David stands behind Rachael. But instead of putting him directly behind Rachael, move him slightly to the side. Not too much space so David can still put his arms around Rachael!

Step Two: Have Rachael stand in front of David with one of her knees having a slight bend (make it more casual and not stiff)!

Step Three: Have David put his arms around Rachael

Step Four: Have Rachael put her hands over David’s arms or hands, whatever is comfortable. 

This way David’s body is wrapping around Rachael! It shows off his broad shoulders and makes her look cute and cuddly!

Base Pose Four: Splitting The Chest

This name always confuses people and I totally get it! So let me just explain it!

Step One: Have David stand with his body straight to the camera, kind of like in Base Pose One (Belly to Hipbone). David should have one foot slightly in front of the other with a casual bend in his front knee.

Step Two: Rachael stands next to David. Have Rachael take a very small step back (but still on his side).

Step Three: Have Rachael turn her body and face David.

Step Four: Have Rachael turn her body so her chest is touching his upper arm. In other words, his arm and shoulder will be in front of half of Rachael’s body (look up at photo example and notice the position of his arm and her body)!