Bradley and Na'amah were married at the 1886 Crescent Hotel in a beautiful Jewish ceremony. They are artistic, love to read and watch movies, and are deeply rooted in faith and family. Bradley and Na'amah are huge Harry Potter fans, and love science fiction and fantasy in general. They have a very fun and whimsical style, so a completely traditional wedding just wasn't for them. Instead, they combined tradition with the elements that reflected who they were as a couple. Notice the groom is house Ravenclaw. They even asked the guests to dress in period clothing! Bradley and Na'amah live in Arizona, but decided to have a small wedding halfway around the country because they fell in love with Eureka Springs, Arkansas and the 1886 Crescent Hotel. Eureka Springs is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and has a very rich Victorian history filled with magic and mystery. The Crescent Hotel has a long history steeped in otherworldly tales. Combined with the lush wooded setting, it's the perfect place for romantic and whimsical weddings!
Na'amah's favorite color is purple and she loves sunflowers. Amy from The Vintage Soul Events incorporated these into her wedding decor with an impeccable attention to detail. The original plan was to have the ceremony outside, but it was a rainy day, so Amy created the special indoor Chuppa (Jewish wedding canopy) you see here. Because they wanted to have a circular based ceremony, with everyone touching, I grabbed a ladder and photographed from above to capture the ceremony in it's intended essence. I have to say, it was one of the most beautiful and touching ceremonies I've seen (and I've seen a lot!) I was fighting back tears as I captured this ceremony (and I cried afterwards). The signing of the Ketubah (Jewish wedding contract), the sharing of the wine and Challah (Jewish wedding bread) were all stunning time honored traditions and a beautiful sight to behold. It is also tradition for the groom to place the wedding ring on the brides index finger, and if she accepts, she places it on her ring finger.
Afterwards, everyone enjoyed visiting, eating cake from Ricks Bakery and dancing to the sounds of Brock Entertainment. They even played the Horah (Jewish wedding dance) much to the surprise and delight of the family.
Na'amah and Bradley are so full of life, joy and light, and we were so honored to have been a part of this special day! Everyone who was there was deeply connected with each other. The warmth and joy was overflowing. Seeing such strong family ties was beautiful and refreshing. We look forward to when they come back for a special trip or anniversary!
Wedding tip: If you're thinking of a destination wedding, Find your wedding planner and photographer first. Pick vendors that are local to the specific town because they are going to know the area much better than anyone else, and often have special privileges, insights and perks a non-local won't. Choose vendors that network together. Why? Because they often work together and that means less stress, a more smooth flow, and less drama for you. You want a cohesive team that will handle everything for you behind the scenes without having to ask what to do in the middle of your special day when you are enjoying family and friends. Local is often a big savings for your pocketbook as well!
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