Valery + Danny’s Orthodox Jewish wedding celebration at Bridgwater Conference Center in Columbus was hands down one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I honestly think I may have never worked harder at a wedding, ever! It was super fast paced, with much energy, song and dance, love and laughter, for hours on end! Their family and friends came together in a celebration unlike any I’d ever seen.
Everything took place at Bridgewater Conference Center in northwest Columbus. It’s a large facility perfectly suited to accommodate the various simultaneous events of an Orthodox wedding and the large guest list! Valery and Daniel had nearly 300 guests! And myself and the videography team at Together We Click was on hand to document all the events of the day. Valery and Danny started by getting ready in different parts of the building, and we did some separate family and wedding party portraits. Valery comes from a Russian family and I enjoyed practicing my Russian with them!
This led into the separate bedeken with the guys on the first floor, while the girls waited for their arrival on the second floor. I jumped back and forth between the two gatherings – the bedeken in particular was tight and crowded, but very lively! When Danny was led by his group to the second floor to see Valery for the first time, the singing and cheering from their guests was so loud and full of energy, you couldn’t help but feel how happy everyone was for this union! It was so meaningful to witness. And safe to say, I don’t know what I would have done without my wide angle lens!
This followed directly to their chuppah ceremony, with so many important guest readers from almost every synagogue in town. I saw so many familiar faces! At the conclusion of the chuppah, as Daniel and Valery were announced, their closest friends rushed the aisle, surrounding them and cheering them on as they exited to their yichud. Perfectly timed, the rain from earlier in the day cleared up and we were able to go outside for pictures with beautiful light from the setting sun. And Valery and Danny had some time alone for themselves too – so important on a day full of so many people constantly around!
The party was far from over when we returned from pictures. Bridgewater efficiently flipped the room and it was time to party! As soon as Valery and Danny were announced, they ran straight into a 45-minute hora, dancing on separate sides with moments of coming together. They took a break for dinner, toasts, a surprise video from their friends and a flash mob to “Call Me Maybe,” before returning to the dance floor for more insane dancing and plenty of hilarious shtick.
Mazel Tov to Valery and Danny – I had so much fun at your simcha and couldn’t be more honored to have captured it for you!
