On the verdant grounds of Sebago Lake’s Camp Mataponi, Clara and Ilan tied the knot surrounded by friends and family in a unique celebration of love, creativity and, of course, organized group sports!  In addition to orchestrating a stunning wedding reception, Clara and Ilan planned a three-day extravaganza filled with lakeside dinners, field day-style competitions, campfires and one of the most interactive Horas in Without A Hitch history! 

​The captivating images below are courtesy of Lauren Ortega Photography.

​While Clara and Ilan’s guests enjoyed a little friendly competition to kick off the wedding day, the bride and her bridesmaids enjoyed a little pampering from the stylists and makeup artists of Jewlz Beyond Hair.  Clara was radiant in her fitted lace gown, complete with timeless accents including a vintage floral hair pin and wristlet!  

​Despite the light rain, there was no shortage of beaming smiles when Clara made her entrance on the arm of her father, Jorge.  In a thoughtful and moving ceremony led by friends Chaz and Amber, Clara and Ilan pledged their commitment to one another in vows recited from an intricate Ketubah designed by the groom’s aunt.  With a resounding Mazel Tov, Clara and Ilan were declared husband and wife!

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy an outdoor cocktail hour with sweeping views of Sebago Lake and tasty hors d'oeuvres courtesy of the awesome staff of Camp Mataponi.  In a sneak peak of the incredible dancing to come, several guests jumped right on to the dancefloor to enjoy the musical stylings of DJ Mike from Party Excitement Entertainment!  After being hoisted above their guests in an enthusiastic Hora, Clara and Ilan were also treated to a hysterical Leibadik, where guests tried to make them laugh using handmade props and costumes! 

​The reception venue, with its remarkable wood ceilings and staggering views of the lake, was made even more breathtaking by the addition of the bride’s carefully-curated tablescapes.  Each place setting featured a unique combination of vintage plate, wine glass and tea cup, all of which were collected by the bride over the course of several months!  In fact, Clara’s incredible creativity was evident in every element of the day – from the hand-painted signs and hand-drawn camp maps to an unparalleled dessert table, no detail was overlooked!  

​Thoughtful and humorous toasts, a packed dancefloor and a late night campfire ensured that Clara and Ilan’s “Summer Camp of Love” Celebration went out with a bang!  We know this awesome couple will be enjoying s’mores together for many years to come!

For the ladies, your dress is one of the most significant purchases you will make for your wedding day, and the hairstyle you choose is important too! From flowing curls to tight updos, there are many classic wedding hairstyles that you will continue to see at weddings in the future. Here are a few unique and trendy styles that are sure to make you stand out.

A top knot is a gorgeous look for the ladies who have a very detailed dress. If you have lots of embellishments on the top of your wedding gown this may be the hairstyle for you! A high bun can be done loosely for a more relaxed vibe or tighter for a more elegant look. Pair this with a princess cut dress and you are sure to look like a modern day Cinderella.

This vintage updo will never go out of style. This is a classic twenties look that is gorgeous for a bride’s big day. Quirky and offbeat brides will love this retro hair! Add a dark or red lip for an eye catching, sophisticated look. 

For any boho brides, this is the look for you! Great for a bohemian themed wedding, a fishtail braid is a youthful, yet fun hairstyle that goes with almost any wedding dress. Add some cascading flowers throughout the fishtail, or some diamond accents to add some glam! 

We had a blast working with Amy and her parents on the preparation for her spring Bat Mitzvah celebration. Amy rocked it on the bema delivering her speech and reading from the Torah, and then she continued the theme for the afternoon luncheon and evening party.  Check out the day with photos from Valencia Images.

After Amy's morning service at Temple Shalom in Newton, guests moved across the hall to the social hall for a delicious luncheon catered by Blonde On The Run. The room looked lovely, with a slideshow of pictures playing for guests to watch, a sign in board with markers, and floral centerpieces from Busy Bee Florist. Each table also had smooth rocks and metallic pens for guests to write a note to Amy.  Guests could also view a multi-color family tree that traced all the way back to Amy's great-great-great grandparents.  Live music was provided by the Winiker Music. The musicians played a rousing "hora" dance and Amy was lifted in a chair, as were her brothers. 

While guests, Amy, and the family took time to rest and relax after the morning's events, we headed straight to the Wellesley College Club to set up for the party, transferring over all of the decorations from the temple.  We also set up some great personal touches that Amy thought of at the venue, for example replacing all of the artwork on the walls with her own personal artwork and family photos.  We put out favors at each place setting - chocolate Hershey kisses. And we made sure the outdoor patio was ready for the adults too.

As guests arrived, DJ Paul Madden from A Goodtime DJs entertained Amy and her friends with games and music and lots of prizes.  Adults and kids alike had the option to get a henna tattoo from Henna Designer Jumana Bootwala.  This was a highlight for many people, including the Bat Mitzvah girl!

After dinner, we heard a brief toast from Amy's dad, followed by a beautifully edited slideshow, told in the voice of the family dog. It was cute, funny, and very sweet.  Amy then led a candle lighting ceremony, calling up groups of family and friends to light candles with her.  Then the dance party truly began with adults and kids crowding the dance floor while the DJ kept the tunes spinning.

Mazel tov to Amy and to her family on her accomplishments in becoming a Bat Mitzvah!