30Nov

Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the Hora!

By, November 30, 2017

The Hora is a customary Jewish wedding celebration dance. Once the song Hava-Nagila starts playing, guests instinctively rush to the dance floor, and hold hands to form a circle around the bride and groom. The crowd then lifts the newly married couple up in chairs, to honor and celebrate their union. It is a fun and cardio-centric tradition that will get you off your feet, and get your heart rate up!

The tradition of the Hora started long ago, during the time of arranged marriages. The purpose was to bring the community together in celebration, and put the (presumably nervous) young couple at ease. These days, the Hora remains a highlight of Jewish weddings, and remains a way to honor a Jewish heritage.

As wedding photographers, when we capture the energy and the joy of this moment, we make sure to place ourselves at the perfect perspective. Whether we’re unobtrusively in the middle of the action, or shooting from the sidelines, we make sure to capture the energy and excitement of the moment. Check out the fun photos we’ve captured of some real life “Hora Stories” :)

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Family and friends fill the dance floor for the hora
Bride and grooms looks on to their guest for the hora
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Bride and groom hold hands for the hora
Excited groom lifted up in a chair
Groom is lifted by family and friends for the hora
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Groom huddles with friends
Bride and groom have fun with the hora
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Guest surround bride and groom for the hora
Groom barely holds on as he's lifted for the hora
Mom gets lifted for the hora
Bride and groom enjoying the hora at their wedding
Bride and groom celebrate traditional hora
29Mar

Turn Down for What!? | Fun Wedding Receptions

By, March 29, 2016

After you’ve exchanged rings, and sealed the deal with a first kiss, it’s time to party! The guests have been well fed, perhaps with a cocktail (or two) and are ready to cut loose. At this point in the evening, there are many ways to get everyone in a festive mood.

For a little inspiration, we have pulled some of our favorite reception photos from recent weddings. There is a little something for everyone, including a high-energy live band, spontaneous breakdancing, and a grand sparkler exit. So let’s get this party started!

Bride and Groom stand in crowd and kiss during wedding reception

At Alison and Kevin’s wedding (above) at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the couple surprised their guests with an all-out performance. Backed by a full band, their show-stopping routine featured go-go dancers, dramatic lighting, and bursts of confetti. Within seconds, the party came alive, and guests got on their feet to join the excitement. In moments like this, we love being in the middle of the action, capturing all the energy in the room.

Guests are entertained during wedding reception with grand exit and live performancesGroom takes shot and has money throw at him during wedding reception

We also love when couples throw a few personal twists into their day. For example, the photo above shows our own staff photographer, Billy, during his reception at the Ultimate Skybox in Downtown San Diego. Paying homage to his Greek roots, Billy performed a traditional Zeibekiko dance for guests, and finished with a shot of ouzo. Adding special moments like this keeps the reception festive, while also paying homage to centuries of family tradition. Opa!

DJ plays music and performs for guests at wedding receptionWedding Guests form dance circle during wedding receptionFun, live band perform for guests during wedding receptionAerial view of outdoor reception overlooking city lights

While covering the must-have photos, we also like to explore creative angles and views of the reception area. For example, we captured the photo above by hiking to the roof of the O’Donnell House in Palm Springs, CA. From that vantage point, we were able to achieve this aerial shot of guests at Chelsey and John’s wedding, as they enjoyed the beautiful evening and dinner.

Bride serenaded by band of musicians during wedding receptionWedding Couple have fun posing with photobooth propsWedding guests being entertained by live band performanceBride and Groom celebrate during new year's eve wedding

Planning to have a photo booth during your reception? Borrow a few props and get your groove on! You just can’t beat a dance floor populated with captain hats, oversized glasses and fake mustaches, like at Courtney and Andrew’s New Year’s Eve wedding at Sunset Temple.

Close-up of DJ's hands using digital padLive band with guitarist playing during wedding receptionBride and Groom pose and have fun in photobooth Experimental photo of DJ playing during reception

We wanted to show the DJs some love too! To capture this photo from Jennifer and Jason’s wedding at Hotel del Coronado (see above), we used an experimental technique of slowing down our shutter speed and dragging the image. This allowed the natural light of the equipment and market lighting to take on new form, creating a cool frame around this mixmaster.

Wedding Guests jump into pool during wedding reception

Working up a sweat from all those fresh dance moves? Cool off with a jump in the pool! When we saw these fellas at Arianne and Julien’s wedding inching towards the water for an epic set of cannonballs (see above), our photographers were quick on their toes to freeze the action.

Colorful dancers perform dance at wedding receptionPerformer plays guitar while guests party at wedding receptionGroom prepares to throw garter during wedding reception

Hut, hut…hike! Get a little creative with your garter toss and throw something the guys will want to catch! At Darlene and Jeremy’s wedding at Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, the groom had fun putting a modern spin on this old tradition. By wrapping the garter around a football (go Chargers!), the groom prepared to hike the ball to this buddies for an epic garter catch showdown.

Groom is lifted in air by guests for hora dance

End the night on a high-note…literally! As Ashley and Tyler celebrated their reception at Park Hyatt Aviara, a few close friends swept Tyler off his feet for a fun surprise Hora towards the end of the night. The Hora dance, originating from the Balkans, comes from the words “round (dance)” and “celebration,” and is usually spontaneously prompted by guests. Because we had positioned ourselves in the middle of the excitement, we were able to capture this up-close angle, including Tyler’s priceless reaction.

Couple make grand exit using glowsticksLive performers throw performer in air as confetti goes off

Looking to get your own party started? Click here for more unforgettable moments and reception ideas :)

07Apr

Jewish Wedding Celebrations | Mazel Tov!

By, April 07, 2014

Weddings that are culturally significant can have special meaning to family, friends, and invited guests. One such type of religious and cultural celebration is a Jewish wedding. Depending on the level of observance, there are many parts to the Jewish wedding festivities. Examples of customs that may be incorporated include the tish (breaking of a dish by the mothers-in-law), reading of the ketubah (marriage contract), and the shattering of a glass at the end of the ceremony.

We have photographed weddings for Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism, and are very comfortable and familiar with the rituals that may be observed at each level. Since we are prepared for all of the practices, and know the ins and outs of the ceremony, we can spend our time focusing on creative wedding photography. We also love to get right in the mix for some amazing action shots :) If you need any help in planning for a Jewish wedding with specific photography needs, please feel free to contact our studio

Here are some of our top picks from recent Jewish wedding celebrations.

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Want to see more? Check out more images from recent Jewish Weddings!

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