Family Dinner

Galleria Europa

Welcome Party

Trask

Wedding

BAYZ - Hilton Beach

Beach Day

Spring

Our Wedding

It all started with a Facebook DM (yes, Facebook—Jack swears it still has its moments). Miraculously, Jordan replied. As luck would have it, she lived just two buildings down, giving Jack the perfect excuse to casually “run into” her and her (our) dog, Koda, on walks to the park. Koda, clearly the true matchmaker in this story, didn’t seem to mind. Jordan thought she was making a new friend. Jack told his boss they were dating a month later. Jordan wasn’t so sure, until she saw Jack cross the finish line of a triathlon and couldn’t help but be impressed. One thing led to the next, and Jack convinced Jordan to run a half-marathon with him. They spent countless hours training together, getting to know each other better and growing their relationship- ultimately falling in love. Jack popped the question at Jordan’s favorite beach in Tel Aviv in April 2025, and the rest is history.

Love at first DM? 

Our Story

Photos

Please take a look at the following Pinterest boards for attire inspiration! <a href="https://pin.it/5novt75L5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wedding Attire</a> - Cocktail/"Israeli-Wedding"- Any color goes!<a href="https://pin.it/XozrOuHgl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Welcome Party Attire</a>- Dressy Casual (Neutrals + Burgundy colors highly encouraged!)

Attire

We recommend arriving no later than Saturday May 23rd, as the welcome event is the evening of May 24th, We personally recommend El Al Airlines (Israel’s national airline) to ensure a smooth experience traveling to and from Israel. There are direct flights from various US cities. Delta and United also offer great flights, both direct to TLV from major US cities such as NYC, Chicago, and DC, and through Europe as well. Many other airlines fly to Israel through Europe as well. US Citizens are also required to obtain a visa for traveling to Israel for a small fee (~$8). Details and visa application can be found here: https://etaisrael.com We recommend staying at one of the hotel blocks, or in that area as there will be shuttles from the Sheraton and the Brown Beach House to &amp; from each of our events. Tel Aviv Hotel Blocks:<a href="https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1761725828842&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink&amp;dtt=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sheraton Tel Aviv</a><a href="https://simplebooking.brownhotels.com/ibe2/hotel/7428?lang=EN&amp;cur=USD&amp;guests=A,A&amp;in=2026-05-19&amp;out=2026-05-28&amp;coupon=Blumenthal%20&amp;placeId=97" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brown Hotel Beach House</a><a href="https://www.simplebooking.it/ibe2/hotel/7429/offer/220880?lang=EN&amp;coupon=Blumenthal&amp;cur=ILS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Villa Brown Tel Aviv</a> Other hotel recommendations:Leonardo Gordon beachLoginn Color BoxMandeli Street Airbnb recommendations:We highly recommend properties hosted by <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/users/profile/1462597244317823733?previous_page_name=PdpHomeMarketplace" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HolyGuest</a>! They are a management company that works with international visitors and provides great customer service. We personally stayed with them in the past and had a great experience! Please reach out to Jordan for other recommendations or questions!

Travel + Accomodations

Coffee Shops

There are coffee shops on every corner! They are all quite good, so no need to trek out of the way for a specific one. That being said, some cute ones we like include: 1. Mela2. Babka Bakery3. Gili Coffee House4. ORIGEM Coffee It is important to note that "iced coffee" is NOT the iced coffee we know. If you want coffee on ice, you need to order "cold coffee" or "kahfe-carr" in Hebrew.

BREAKFAST

We recommend trying a classic "Israeli Breakfast" while you are here! This includes 2 eggs any style, breads, a salad, and multiple kinds of dips. Another classic is Shakshuka of course. Some places we love:1. Cafe Cucu (Jordan's favorite!)2. Cafe Shneor3. Buke Cafe

ISRAELI EATS

Shawarma<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mifgash+Rambam/@32.0683541,34.7690164,19z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x151d4c83a350b317:0xfb01f618bf07a4a5!8m2!3d32.0681985!4d34.7688763!16s%2Fg%2F1tfh6x2p?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mifgash Rambam</a> Falafel<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/K5Zj8CsH61xcTYq29" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hakosem</a> HummusIsraeli's eat hummus as a full meal with different toppings! <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/yJpfAfW8quZYtD8AA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shlomo &amp; Doron</a> Schnitzel in a pita!<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/yGEidrV6jpk6gvyq7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Etzel Zion</a> - delicious 'hole in the wall' local favorite<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/3g64Pqwj4aL9NRFc9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Falafel Gabay</a>- also great Falafel Kebab Meat Sandwich (Jack's favorite!)<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/XvQsjgrVpEJ6Tk9z8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jasmino</a> Schnitzel<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zdqit12s5vmgVDqz8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cafe Noir</a> - also great dinner spot with many options!

DRINKS

Tel Aviv loves happy hour! Some great spots for cocktails to check out are:- Bellboy (50% off drinks!)- Imperial (50% off drinks)- 7to1 Lab (10$ cocktails)- Concierge (50% off drinks) Some do require reservations. Additionally, pop into most bars/cafes on Dizengoff Street between 6-8pm for some sort of happy hour special.

That's not it of course!

Check out our <a href="Tel Aviv Food + Drinks google maps list" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tel Aviv Food + Drinks google maps list</a> with additional recommendations!

Recommendations: Things to Eat/Drink!

TEL AVIV BEACH

No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the beach. Walk the boardwalk, put your feet in the sand, or go for a swim in the warm water of the Mediterranean sea. You will always find people playing beach volleyball, footvolly, or"matkot" (beach paddle), or just enjoying the sunny weather. Some beaches we love are: Gordon Beach- Food/snack options are great here. Grab an ice cream from Golda, or a shake from Tamara. This beach is an active one with many courts, often has outdoor fitness classes in the evenings on the boardwalk, and folk dancing every Saturday which is fun to see! Bugrashov Beach- You can find built in 'chairs/seats' along this boardwalk where you can sit and read or relax and take in a sunset. If you want to play any beach volleyball while in town, reach out to Jordan who knows an awesome group of internationals who play pick-up games daily!

Nachalat Benyamin Artist Market

Israel's biggest outdoor market is located on Nahalat Benyamin every Tuesday and Friday. All the artists are vetted and have permits and the entrances to both sides have security for added safety. The fair is conveniently located next door to the Shuk, and right by some of our favorite food spots including Shlomo &amp; Doron (Hummus), Jasmino (Kebab Sandwiches), and Mifgash Rambam (Shawarma). We highly recommend checking it out! More info <a href="https://www.touristisrael.com/nachalat-binyamin-market/7423/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

SHUK HACARMEL 

NEVE TZEDEK

Neve Tzedek is a neighborhood in southwestern Tel Aviv, and the first neighborhood to be built outside the old city of Jaffa. It is if full of old beautiful architecture and the main street 'Shabazi' is lined with cute locsl shops, coffee shops, and spots to grab a bite to eat or drink.

Jaffa

Check out our <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/pbG4eeSnfGRk9qDs8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tel Aviv Things to Do google maps list </a>with additional recommendations!

Recommendations: Things to Do!

Order of Events

Israeli weddings follow a slightly different order of events than a classic American wedding. When you arrive, you will head directly to the rooftop for a cocktail welcome hour. Enjoy drinks, food, and music while enjoying beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. Come hungry- there will be plenty of food ahead of the main meal! Around sunset, there will be a short ceremony under the Chuppah. There will be limited seats for those who need or wish to sit, otherwise, it is customary to stand around the 'aisle'. After the ceremony, we will head downstairs into the main event hall for more food, drinks, and plenty of dancing!

MAGNETS

In Israel, it is part of the culture to have a magnet photographer at the wedding. In addition to the regular photographers who will be capturing the event, there will be a photographer who will be solely focused on taking photos of friends and family throughout the event that will then be printed on magnets. Throughout the night, these photos will be printed on magnets and available for you to grab from a stand at the venue. These magnets are great to put on your refrigerator, or any magnetic surface. We highly recommend flagging down the photographer and taking A TON of photos- that is what they are there for! After the wedding, these photos will also be available as regular photos through an online album which we will share with all of you!

LOGISTICS

There are no speeches or traditional choreographed dances at Israeli weddings. Besides a short ceremony, the wedding is all about dancing, food, and drinks with our favorite people. After Jack breaks the glass (on the first try hopefully!), it is customary to yell 'Mazal Tov'. The ceremony itself is quite casual, and Israelis like to make some noise so feel free to join in on the yelling, cheering, whistling, etc.

Israeli Weddings 101

Here are a few basic Hebrew terms and sentences to help you get around! Don’t worry, everyone speak English also, but always great to try!

Greetings

Hello / HiShalomsha-LOHM Good morningBoker tovBOH-ker tohv Good eveningErev tovEH-rev tohv Thank youTodatoh-DAH Thank you very muchToda rabatoh-DAH rah-BAH PleaseBevakashabeh-vah-kah-SHAH Excuse me / SorrySlichaslee-KHAH Nice to meet youNaim me’odnah-EEM meh-OD

Cafe / Restaurants

Coffee, pleasecafé, bevakashakah-FEH beh-vah-kah-SHAH Iced coffee, pleasecafé carr, bevakashakah-FEH carr beh-vah-kah-SHAH Large coffeecafé gadol, bevakashakah-FEH GA-dol beh-vah-kah-SHAH Small coffeecafé catan, bevakashakah-FEH ca-TAN beh-vah-kah-SHAH Water, pleaseMayim, bevakashaMY-eem beh-vah-kah-SHAH Can I have the check, please?Efshar cheshbon, bevakashaEfshar hesh-BOHN beh-vah-kah-SHAH Delicious!Ta’im!tah-EEM

Getting Around

Where is the bathroom?Eifo ha-sherutim?EH-foh hah-sheh-roo-TEEM Where is…?Eifo…?EH-foh How much does it cost?Kama ze oleh?KAH-mah zeh oh-LEH There (like over there)PoePoh Here (like over here)ShamSHAH-m

Everyday

YesKenken NoLolow OK / FineBesederbeh-SEH-der

Jack & Jordan

Jack & Jordan

J&J

Welcome Party

Wedding

Beach Day