An Intimate Jewish Wedding at The Club Continental in Orange Park, Florida — Planning Forever

One of the best parts of being a wedding planner is that you get to be involved in all sorts of different types of weddings.

Some couples go the more traditional wedding route, others like to choose their own adventure, and then you have some who choose to honor their religion and I’ve got to say – those are some of the most heartfelt events that I’ve ever gotten to be a part of!

And that was definitely the case for Libby and Nate’s wedding on a beautiful October day in 2023.

Libby and Nate opted for a smaller, more intimate wedding at The Club Continental in Orange Park, Florida.

Everything about their day from start to finish was beautiful and it perfectly displayed the Jewish traditions that are important to both of their families.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by the flower girls who handed out Kippahs. Shortly after, the ceremony began where the couple said their vows, exchanged rings, 7 blessings (a Jewish wedding ritual) and had a prayer for Israel (in English as well as Hebrew).

The cocktail hour took place in the front courtyard of The Club Continental where there was champagne and hors d'oeuvres provided alongside a jazz trio by Bay Kings band. 🎶

After the ceremony, guests welcomed the newlyweds into the reception as they went straight into their first dance, immediately followed by the traditional Hora dance, sometimes referred to as the chair dance.

This dance is high energy where the newlyweds are lifted into the air while their family and friends dance around them. During the Hora, the couple each holds one end of a handkerchief or napkin to signify their union!

After the signature Hora dance, dinner was served buffet style, followed by toasts from the Father of the Groom, Father of the Bride and the bride's sister. 🥂

After enjoying a delicious meal and hearing heartfelt words from their loved ones, Libby and Nate cut their beautiful four tier cake and continued dancing through the end of the wedding! 🎂