50 Year Connection Through Facebook
Our own General Manager, Esta, met her friend, Bonnie, at Walton High School in Bronx, NY in 1961. To quote Bonnie: “It is amazing that we met since Esta was an Asteroff and I was a Zimmer. We were always seated in alphabetical order; she in the front of the first row of six and I was next to the last seat in the 6th row…between Yee and Zimmerbaum. It was an all-girls public high school and no one was looking to date the quarterback, so it was really friendly.”
Fifty years later, Bonnie’s stepson, Jeff, gets married in Miami Beach to Christine. Jeff and Christine knew each other work-wise for eight years, but started dating each other two years ago after meeting at a company event. They tied the proverbial knot on June 25th, 2011.
Esta and Bonnie had lost touch over the years but had reunited through, of course, Facebook! Bonnie had educated Christine about Jewish wedding traditions and since she knew that Esta worked at MP Artworks, she helped her select our ketubah design entitled Harmony I, with our Interfaith IV text. But according to Esta, “I remember reading the last name of Farin in the ketubah text proof, but I never made the connection.” It wasn’t until Esta saw this picture posted in Bonnie’s Facebook profile that Esta realized that the “Farin” she’d seen was, indeed, related to her old friend!
Bonnie tells us the the whole wedding was very unique. She adds: “This was a second marriage for them both. For a while, Jeff’s daughter was dating Christine’s son…there was a caveat at the beginning of the relationship about remaining friends since they would be step siblings even after the dating didn’t work. The most unique part was the union of two families who didn’t know each other was having such a dynamite time together.”
The wedding was held at SoBe because Jeff had won a week at the Delano at a silent auction….that was a good reason to get married and have a fantastic party.
Cake Topper Extraordinaire
Please check out the photos provided by Marla and Leonard of their ketubah, chuppah and cake topper. The ketubah design is Micah Parker’s Rings of Love and Life, the chuppah design is Micah Parker’s Jazz in Our Hearts (now a beautiful wall hanging!) But the “piece de resistance” is the very clever custom cake topper which Marla had made as her wedding gift to Leonard. It depicts not only their three lovely daughters, but it also features both of our designs!! It is very obvious that Marla and Leonard have extraordinary class since their wedding date is the same as mine (a few years later than mine but we will not get into that issue).
Rings of Life and Love Ketubah
Jazz In Our Hearts Chuppah
Coolest Cake Topper Ever!
We actually got these pix when we ran into Marla at a cantorial convention. Marla looked at our products and said, “I think I might have gotten our ketubah from you!!” Turned out she was right, and we had a lot to talk about, because Marla does custom invitations, offering a dizzying array of options that you can fully customize. Check out her site and start designing your invitations (or note cards, or stationary, etc.) today!
K. C. Walensky
Personalization Made Easy
The purpose of this article is to make the process of personalizing a ketubah as easy as possible. Actually, a lot of the information you already know: (1) Date, time, city and state of the wedding, (2) Six English names – bride, bride’s mother, bride’s father, groom, groom’s mother, groom’s father. We recommend first, middle, and last names for the bride and groom; we use first names only for the parents, and (3) For Conservative and Orthodox texts only, we require the status of the bride, i.e., first marriage, divorced, etc.
The only other data necessary to complete the personalization process is the six Hebrew names for the bride, groom, and two sets of parents. For those individuals, who do not have a Hebrew name or a Hebrew name cannot be determined, we recommend you allow us to transliterate the name into Hebrew, i.e., we simply select the appropriate Hebrew letters to phonetically sound out the name. This transliteration makes for a more “balanced” ketubah whereby all individuals are included in both the English and Hebrew texts. (And don’t worry – transliterating a name into Hebrew does NOT make someone jewish!)
Finally, we often take orders via phone. This process not only handles the ketubah and text selection, it also includes completion of the personalization. We call it: “One Stop Shopping”. No computer interface required, no forms to complete, etc. – just an eight minute call (I timed it) and you are done.
K. C. Walensky
Another DIY Ketubah – This Time in Pencil
We recently shared another finished ketubah from a “DIY” client – one who bought a “Paint Your Own” ketubah and then did the design herself. We’ve got another one, but this one is a completely different take! This one is on paper, done with colored pencils, with a mystical theme. Enjoy the pictures of the ketubah as a whole and various close up shots of elements within. Also be sure to see pics of the “real” artist taking a short break 
All images are copyrighted as of 5/1/11. Not to be reproduced without written permission.
“There is no limit to the number of questions you may ask me!”
You may have seen the title of this Blog within my e-mail. It’s at the end of every email I write.
It is a true statement. A while back I had a customer with a long list of questions – so I just told her – “Ask away–there is no limit.” It is actually the fun part of my job. Here’s some samples: How do I handle the personalization for my fiance – he is not Jewish. I am getting married this weekend – can I still get a personalized ketubah? Can I make some changes to your standard text; I want to combine two of your texts? Do you issue a proof via e-mail prior to printing and shipping? And of course, this oldie but goodie: my dog ate my ketubah; can I get a reprint?
After years of having this tag line in my emails, I got my first feedback on it yesterday: “P.S. I love that there is no limit on the questions! I wish I had more!” (I usually get comments on our Company mascots – e.g., “Cute pooches”)
So don’t be shy, ask away – I am here to help and enjoy doing it.
K. C. Walensky
Published Israeli Illustrator Creates Beautiful Ketubah
We offer a “Paint Your Own” Ketubah in which we send you your chosen ketubah text on art paper or canvas and then you (or your artist friend) DIY – do it yourself – and create the artwork! We absolutely love it when our “DIY” clients share with us what they actually did! So thanks so much to Katia, who was kind enough to send us an image of her canvas ketubah that she designed. She tells us: “I am a published Israeli illustrator, so it felt rather silly not to do it myself!” She met her future husband, Jonathan, at a Speed Dating event in June 2009. Talk about fast; two years later, they will be having a wedding in a rose garden in Menlo Park, California.
There will be lots of unique vintage decor created of course by Katia. (She is hoping to get into the business of event decor). Their theme is a Shabby Chic Vintage English Tea Party wedding!! (please see picture from their E-shoot done by photographer Shirley Henderson). And their ketubah will be a perfect memory of that day’s theme! The couple plan to honeymoon in Europe. Below are a few more pix of the ketubah in process.
Photo Ketubot 101
Tyler and Brittany's "Your Photo" Ketubah
One of the unique types of ketubot we create is a photo ketubah. Simply put, you send in an image or photo to us, select a text and then we print it on archival, fine art paper or canvas. As you can see, some photos are more serious, and others more whimsical. Whatever your preference!
The following is a brief FAQ concerning photo ketubot:
(1) Where do I send the image or photo?
You should e-mail the image or photo to info@mpartworks.com. If you have already placed the order via our web-site, please place the order number in the subject line.
(2) Where does the text get placed within the image or photo?
If you have any preference of how the text should be placed within the photo, just let us know in the Customer Notes box at the end of the checkout process or send us an e-mail at info@mpartworks.com.
(3) What the heck does DPI mean?
It stands for “Dots Per Inch.” In layman’s terms, DPI is used to measure the resolution of an image both on a screen and in print. As the name suggests, the DPI measures how many dots fit into a linear inch. Therefore, the higher the DPI, the more detail can be shown in an image. Usually, a minimum of 300 DPI is required to produce a photo ketubah, however, the higher the resolution, the better your ketubah will look when it is enlarged.
(4) What is the size of a photo ketubah?
The size is 16 x 24 give or take an inch.
K. C. Walensky
Be Careful Not To Over Do It
We typically bring you ketubah-related items, but sometimes I just feel I need to vent.
You’ve have all been there. You are lying (no one sits any more) in the dentist’s “chair”. After the bi-yearly cleaning, the dental hygienist always says: “You have to floss more and use a special product to control your bleeding gums.” And the people in that profession wonder why they are hated?
Well, since I was sick of hearing the same boring rhetoric every six months, I decided to get serious. I brushed twice a day with a special rotating toothbrush, purchased decent toothpaste, and bought the special product for my gums.
Then D-Day arrived, last Friday. My six month check-up. I did not hear the “you have to floss……” comment. This time around, she said my gums were discolored which a symptom of oral cancer. Normally, I would see the dentist at this point but he was out that day. I made an appointment for an oral cancer screening test for the following Monday, however, all I could think about was the “C” thing. I have many friends who are survivors (including my wife), so I personally saw the “hell” they had to endure to conquer this malicious disease.
I think the worst part was attending a Susan G. Komen luncheon – it is one of best charitable organizations on the planet. However, they only talk about one thing – the thing I did not want to think about.
Well I did nothing all weekend: no usual yard work, no clean up the house, no reading, and even no “nooky” (and I like my nooky). Looking at the pictures on the internet of the poor people who have had oral cancer certainly did not help at all.
Monday finally arrived. I’m back in the dentist’s ‘chair’. I told him what I have been doing with my teeth and gums for the last six months. He tells me: (1) The rotating toothbrush is trash. He says: “You might as well use sandpaper on your teeth and gums”, and (2) The chemical in the bleeding gums medicine discolors the gums – if you use it too often – yeah I did. Just to put me at ease, he performed an oral cancer screening (yeah no problem), sold me a sonic toothbrush (the kind that really works), and told me not to use the bleeding gum medicine – at least for now.
The moral of this tale: You may have great intentions but get professional advice before embarking on a new ‘routine’ and don’t ever go overboard doing it.
K. C. Walensky
Canvas Ketubah for Connecticut Cantor’s Couple
Adoration Ketubah on Canvas by Ketubah Studio
The Lucky Couple!
Canvas Ketubah for Connecticut Cantor’s Couple!?! Say that three times fast! Cantorial Soloist Sherry from Temple Emanu-El in Waterford, Connecticut was gracious to forward us pictures from her own son’s wedding held last February. The good looking couple: Matt and Samantha were married in Mystic, Connecticut. The ketubah design is entitled ‘Adoration’ by Claire Carter. The couple ordered the design in canvas and had it made into a “gallery wrap” – an alternative to framing for canvas ketubahs – whereby the ketubah design was extended around the sides of stretcher bars giving the design a contemporary look. It can now hang directly on the wall without a frame or glass. Thank you Sherry for sharing those gorgeous pictures with us!
One Big Happy Family (Including the Pooches)
Ketubah Goes to the Dogs
A ketubah goes to the dogs. Yes, this is a ketubah. Let us explain.
It was in early 2006 when Brian, a manager of a doggy daycare business in NYC, met Jennifer, who had brought her Beagle/Bassett mix named Henry so he would not have to be alone all day. After meeting Jennifer, Brian did two things: (1) He realized Jen was very cute so he asked her out, and (2) He adopted Hailey, a Rottie/Lab mix.
Fast forward four years later. The couple married on January 16th, 2011.
Why a photo ketubah with the dogs? Brian tells us: “Since our dogs and our love of dogs was such an important part of how we met each other and of who we are, we thought it would be very appropriate to have them as a part of our Ketubah. I also used Henry as part of my proposal to Jen by tying the ring box around his neck with some ribbons, so when Jen walked in to our apartment and Henry went to say hi to her, I walked over with him and as Jen and I both bent down to say hi to Henry I untied the box from his neck and proposed right there.” It would have been a big stretch to have the pets attend the ceremony, which was another factor in having them included within the ketubah.
Speaking of the dog couple, Henry is a Beagle/Bassett mix, 38 pounds, and was rescued by Jen 9 years ago and he is about 12 years old now. Hailey is a Rottie/Lab mix, also a rescue, about 93 pounds, she has been with Brian for 5 years and is about 8 years old. The dogs (like the human couple) happen to love each other very much, they often share a dog bed, lie next to each other, and are often found lying or sitting in the exact same positions. As you can see from the attached photo ketubah, they are adorable.
Two happenings at the wedding unique to the dogs were: (1) The welcome letter in the hotel for all the guests had a picture of the couple and dogs on it, and (2) During the cocktail hour, they had an ice sculpture in the shape of a doghouse with a picture of the dogs inside it.
As a major lover of dogs (and all animals!), we at MP Artworks approve! Woof!
“We Fired Our Ketubah Company”
FIRED!
So, a couple from New Jersey called us the other day (they are marrying in Philly – yeah!) to place an order, telling us that “we fired our ketubah company.” Huh? Here’s the story.
They are an interfaith couple and their wedding is being co-officiated by a minister and a rabbi. When the subject of a ketubah came up, the minister recommended one of our competitors – well, let’s just call it “Ketubah Depot.” This couple had a horrible experience. The word they used to describe the experience was ‘pushy’ – they were hard selling them. Jerseyans, like myself, hate (loathe) pushy people.
So they approached their Rabbi. He gave them his usual line: “Call KC or Esta at Ketubah Studio [by MP Artworks] and I guarantee you’ll be happy with the service”. We took the order yesterday.
We don’t like to be “sold” any more than you do. What we do like is good, old-fashioned, helpful service, someone to walk you through the process and educate you without harassing or pressuring you. So that’s what we strive for. And I think we typically hit the mark.
Oh, and for those of you who think that we must sacrifice quality or variety to provide such exceptional client service? Think again. We have a huge selection of exclusive designs, we print everything ourselves with the fastest turnaround in the biz, and we are the ONLY ketubah company to offer a 100% Happiness Guarantee, even on personalized or customized products.
Give us a try – you’ll be happy you did!
Minnesota Reverend conducts Jewish Wedding?
Well, not quite. But almost. Let us explain.
The Reverend Tomkin Coleman is an ordained Anglican minister (Protestant Christian), but has been working as a non-denominational chaplain for over ten years.
Very often, he performs ceremonies for Minneapolis couples who come from different religious backgrounds, and want to incorporate both traditions into their wedding ceremony. He tells us: “Sometimes, I have a couple coming to me where one is from a Christian background, and one is from a Jewish background. No local rabbi will help them with a wedding ceremony, and no local minister has experience with Christian/Jewish ceremonies. So I step in to help them create a wedding ceremony they’re both happy with.” He continues: “As part of their wedding ceremony, most of these interfaith Minneapolis couples want to sign a ketubah, and I’ve found that MP Artworks is a perfect place to refer them to. They offer amazing personalized service and gorgeous ketubot. I love being able to refer them to such a wonderful place!”
Deanna and Darrell of St. Paul had difficulty finding a local officiant to marry them. Neither of them is actually Jewish but they liked the idea of having art from their wedding so they incorporated the idea of a ketubah into the ceremony. selected the design Tropical Romance (interesting selection for a MN couple) for their January wedding performed by Reverend Tomkin.
MP Artworks proudly welcomes The Reverend Tomkin Coleman into our Officiant Program.
K. C. Walensky
Double Converts Marry in GLBT Wedding in DC
Growing up in Indiana, Margie was the proverbial nerd who loved to read about different cultures, religions, you name it. She always had an interest in Judaism and her parents did not attend church. She married a Jewish man and although the marriage ended, her ex-husband and she remained very friendly and she actively participated in their son’s Jewish education and social activities.
Many years later, Margie met Jo Anne in Ft Myers. One day, Jo Anne mentioned seeing an Intro to Judaism class being offered at the local Temple and asked if Margie would be interested in taking the class with her. It was the first time they realized they had more than a passing interest in Judaism. They completed the class, attended services regularly, started practicing home rituals, but never pursued it further due to job changes and an out of state relocation. However, a while later, they both ended up taking a year long class which eventually culminated with the conversion to Judaism.
After one of the meetings, the rabbi approached them and asked if they were a couple. They affirmed that fact so the Rabbi mentioned she was planning a wedding for GLBT individuals to be held in Washington, DC. That location is one of the few locations where such marriages are legally recognized. So the ceremony will take place in early April and they will have a Jewish ceremony complete with all the trimmings….chuppah, ketubah (Margie and Jo Anne selected the Micah Parker framed ketubah design entitled ‘…And My Beloved is Mine II), breaking of the glass, etc. To quote Margie: “This is all something we never thought we’d get to experience.”
And My Beloved Is Mine II Ketubah
Incredible Dr. Seuss Wedding
Lisa and Paul Say I Do
We have written about many weddings that have had innovative themes. This particular wedding is most likely near or at the top of unique ceremonial events.
It seems the couple’s (junior high/high school sweethearts, Paul and Lisa) officiant, Rabbi Ken Block, had performed various ‘unorthodox’ ceremonies including a pirate wedding, a Carmen Miranda ceremony and a wedding including vows in Dr. Seuss rhyme. The Rabbi told them that many times a couple would select a theme but then get cold feet and never follow through. Paul and Lisa took this as a challenge, immediately latched onto the Dr. Seuss idea, and commenced to put the event into motion.
After securing permission to use a Seuss image for their ketubah, they called MP Artworks to create a Dr. Seuss gallery wrap canvas ketubah. Following that theme, the wedding tables were decorated with Dr. Seuss books instead of flowers, a friend created a 200 inch poster using the ketubah image, and ‘Cat in the Hat’ cookies were served out to the guests. Even the wedding music captured the theme – the walking down the aisle music was from the Entre Act of Seussical the Musical. Hysterical moments occurred when Paul inadvertently stated he would take Lisa as his husband and when the Rabbi switched his yarmulke for a Cat in the Hat hat.
The couple spent a pre-wedding two week honeymoon in Hawaii. Lisa tells us they wanted to take the trip prior to the wedding “just in case they did not like each other, they did not want to miss out on a fabulous trip.”
The couple was nice enough to forward us pictures from their wedding. Please enjoy as we did!!
Dr. Seuss Ketubah
Dr. Seuss Wedding Cookies
Dr. Seuss Poster Covering Reception Blackboard
Clever Wedding Program for Interfaith Marriage
Wedding Program
Before I get into the wedding program, let me tell you how the couple met. Steve and Lori met last year at Steve’s place of work. After chatting for 45 minutes and showing Lori every single television console the store offered for sale, the conversation ended something like this:
Lori: “You have any kids?”
Steve: “No, you have a boy friend?”
Lori: “No”
Steve: Would you like to go to dinner?”
Lori: “I’d love to”
They have been together ever since.
Steve developed a brochure (see picture) depicting their ketubah design – Strength and Grace – with their interfaith text to help the non-Jewish attendees understand the various ‘Jewish’ parts of the ceremony. This can make the ceremony so much more meaningful, and accessible, for everyone.
And their ketubah itself was a big hit. According to Steve, “Everyone loved the Ketubah. When the rabbi saw it I heard this low spoken wow, incredible.” Steve tells us that design was chosen due to its delicate detail, color, and the interlocking rings.
They were married in a beautiful small park near a waterfall.
Golden Elegance Ketubah Design Nearing Retirement
Golden Elegance Ketubah
MP Artworks will shortly be retiring the ketubah design Golden Elegance. The design depicts antique golden threads and lace being soldered together to form a filigree. Micah Parker, the creator of the work of art writes: “This ketubah evokes the romance of a more mystical time–of Romeo and Juliet, of chivalry and honor. In designing this ketubah, I envisioned a bride in medieval times in her long, flowing gown and intricate lace headdress, anxiously anticipating our nuptials. The design as a whole is powerful yet the detailing is soft and graceful.”
The piece also incorporates the popular wedding phrase from the Song of Songs, “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li,” which is translated along the bottom: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”
A couple to recently purchase this ketubah, Dan and Erin from Maryland, tells us: “We really liked the simplicity and elegance of the ketubah. Also, it seems to be very traditional and classic, which we hoped goes along with the theme of our wedding. Another reason we chose this particular design is we plan to hang and display our ketubah. Not knowing exactly where we will hang it, or what our future home will look like, we wanted to go with very neutral colors that will match and look good in any room. We are thrilled with the decision we’ve made. We can’t wait to see it!”
Another recent couple to buy this design, Mark and Laura from North Carolina, related the following concerning selecting Golden Elegance as their choice of ketubah design: “We chose the Golden Elegance, by Micah Parker, as our ketubah. What we really love about our ketubah is the exquisite detail. The gold is striking and makes the ketubah stand out as an object of special significance in our home. This is a timeless masterpiece that blends a religious influence with a strong conservative and traditional Jewish beauty. Our ketubah is an elegant reminder of the promises we’ve made and the love we share.”
The edition limit for Golden Elegance is 250. Edition number 244 was recently purchased, leaving six editions to be sold. Once edition number 250 has been purchased, the design will be officially retired and never sold again.
K. C. Walensky
Non-Jewish Couple Buys Ketubah – Why Not?
Tyler and Brittany's "Your Photo" Ketubah
Tyler and Brittany met over 10 years ago when they were teenagers. With the passing of time, Tyler and Brittany’s friendship grew into something deeper and lifelong.
Brittany’s mom tells us that the Jewish custom of having a ketubah is something she had read about eight years ago. She was fascinated with Jewish tradition and her love for Jewish customs “flowed over” to Brittany. She tells us: “It just seemed like the “right” thing to include this Jewish custom into their non-Jewish wedding ceremony.” The ketubah was one of the details Brittany wanted included in her wedding ceremony even before their engagement. Tyler and Brittany believe wholeheartedly that marriage is a covenant, not to be taken lightly, and the ketubah exemplifies their beliefs.
Brittany poured over the different ketubot that we offer and felt that a photo ketubah best fit their home décor and because their engagement pictures were so good they believed it would be a beautiful piece of art. The picture was taken in Montevallo, Alabama at “Flower Hill” which is the President’s Mansion at the University of Montevallo where Brittany graduated from College. To make it even more beautiful, they had it printed on canvas and had us add a “gallery wrap.” That means they can simply sign it and hang it up for display – the picture simply “wraps” around the stretchers and gives the piece a very modern look without needing a frame. Cool!
Their honeymoon plans are currently up in the air because of the Gulf Coast situation. They do have an extended trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming planned for later in the year. “Mom” has promised us pictures of the wedding. We hope to bring you an updated post with them soon.
K. C. Walensky
Gorgeous Wedding Party Signs Gorgeous Ketubah
Ketubah Signing
We are fortunate to have made some amazing relationships over the years with some amazing people, including Rabbi Dennis Tobin, a wedding officiant with whom we have worked for many many years. Rabbi Tobin often sends his engaged couples to us to obtain a ketubah and/or chuppah, and he is a warm and wonderfully caring person. He has counseled us in our own business (unasked, of course, like any good jew! and he assists couples in every step of their wedding, including the ketubah.
So we were excited to receive a photograph from him of a wedding he had recently performed. The couple is signing our ketubah design entitled For Every Season II, by Claire Carter, surrounded by Rabbi Tobin and the wedding party. It was a November wedding in Chatham, New Jersey.
The Rabbi tells us he likes to do a very special signing with the couple, witnesses next to them, parents behind the couple and the bridal party in the background. This brings the whole family together for this important part of the wedding.
K. C. Walensky
Ketubah Pix Are Worth 1,000 Words . . . OK, 265 Words
Hillary Signing 'In Days of Old' Ketubah, by Micah Parker
We always work with brides and grooms before their wedding so we rarely get to see the final fruits of our labor in action. So imagine how tickled we were to receive these photographs from our clients who got married last September!!! Their pictures are gorgeous, as well as the note that came with it. Here’s what they said:
Dear MP Artworks,
I know it’s Shabbat but I have been meaning to send you these for a lonnngg time so I’m going to go for it. You helped us with our ketubah last year, and we finally got our digital wedding files a few months ago.Thank you for your excellent service and product. Our ceremony was beautiful, and the ketubah is beautifully framed and hangs in our bedroom. It makes us so happy seeing it each day!B’todah v’shalom,
Hillary & Zac
Hillary and Zac met at a party seven years ago. It was a “virtual” love at first sight for both of them. They looked at lots of ketubot online and the ketubah design “In the Days of Old” caught their eyes. They liked the tall, vertical alignment and the elegant color palette. They also both loved the elements of history and continuity in our Interfaith Text 1.
The wedding was held in Mt. Hood, Oregon. They did a family/witnesses/rabbi only ketubah signing before the wedding, then placed the beautifully framed ketubah next to the chuppah during the ceremony so their rabbi could read and explain it to everyone. After the wedding, the couple went on their honeymoon in the San Juan Islands.
A special thanks to Jasmine Photography for these beautiful pictures!
The Ceremony
Reading the Ketubah
In Days of Old Ketubah - Closeup
Zac Signing the Ketubah
Who Says You Have To Be Jewish To Get A Ketubah?
Embrace Ketubah by Micah Parker
Jeff and Candi from Canada are not Jewish but decided to get a ketubah after seeing the MP Artworks’ ad on facebook. They had no idea what a ketubah was but clicked on a design because it had something to do with weddings. After all, their ceremony is scheduled for this July. After checking it out, per Candi: “It seemed like such a beautiful idea, placing our vows into artwork to share with everyone, so we decided we must have one. In fact the wording on the ketubah (the Embrace design) we chose was so moving to us that we had it written into our ceremony and vows.”
The couple met each other two and a half years ago, after they were both “forced” onto a local dating site by friends. Neither of them liked being online so they did not waste any time before meeting in person. Back to Candi: “It was truly like an eHarmony commercial, we just clicked, and we haven’t been apart more than a day since.”
The wedding will take place in their back yard in Kelowna, BC. They bought a home together last year and loved the idea of being able to look out on the place where they said their vows for the rest of our lives there. The wedding will be traditional with the exception of writing the wording from the ketubah into their ceremony. One more Candi quote: “The words in our ketubah say everything we want to – this simple artwork will be the centre of our vows to one another.”
The couple leave the morning after the reception for a week in the Bahamas on a cruise ship.
Here is the text that Candi and Jeff fell in love with (the owner, Micah Parker, wrote this text for use in his ketubahs - it’s the English from our Interfaith V text):
On the ___ day of the week, the ___ day of ___, in the year ___, corresponding to the ___ day of ___, in the year ___, in ___, the groom, ___, son of ___, and the bride, ___, daughter of ___, entered into the holy covenant of marriage before God and these witnesses and made this pledge together: “As we travel life’s journey together, we will hold each other in respect, in admiration, and in love just as we will hold each other’s hand. We will try always to be understanding and forgiving, sensitive to each other’s needs and feelings. We will be there for each other in times of need as in times of celebration. We will share in each other’s hopes and dreams and support each other to achievements great and small and through all of life’s setbacks. May God be with us and bless us. May the laughter of children grace the halls of our home. May we be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings. May the light of friendship guide our path together. May we see our children’s children. May the joy of living for one another bring smiles to our faces. May we know nothing but happiness from this day forward. All of this we accept as valid and binding.”
(c) 2010 Micah Parker Artworks, Inc.
K. C. Walensky
Production Manager Saves the Day (and the Order)
One of our Dealers wrote us about a couple, Lauren and Jeffrey, who had lost their ketubah purchased back in 2005. Due to space restrictions, we do not have any paper records from that year. Not to panic. Tim, our Production Manager did some research and found the old order from August, 2005. The ketubah was immediately reprinted and drop shipped to the now happy couple that day.
So, if you have a ketubah that has been damaged, lost, stolen, shot, non-personalized, and/or needs to be changed, please contact us and we can get you a re-print of your original ketubah in a matter of days. The cost is $50.00 which includes ground shipping.
K. C. Walensky
MP Artworks Introduces Additional Mascot
Our Newest Mascot, Arrow
Yes, I know we talk about dogs a lot. But we just love ‘em! And now, MP Artworks is proud to announce the addition of a third canine mascot: Arrow. Hailing from San Antonio, Florida, the three month old puppy is the half-brother (father’s side) and first cousin (mother’s side) of our current co-mascot: Oblio. (Oy, in-breeding can be so confusing and fun.) Arrow’s attributes include chewing on furniture and following Oblio wherever he goes. Please see the attached photo of the young lad. And feel free to share pix of your “mascots” with us! (And don’t think we’re biased to dogs – among us we’ve got 7 cats in the MP Artworks “family.”)
K. C. Walensky, Ketubah Counselor
Evening Savannah – First Edition Museum Wrap Big Hit with Couple
"Evening Savannah" Ketubah - Canvas Edition
Alissa and Ross are the first couple to purchase the Evening Savannah ketubah – Canvas Edition with a Museum Wrap. A “Museum Wrap” is when the canvas is ‘wrapped’ around thicker stretchers so that the entire picture shows on the front, leaving the sides a clean, crisp white. The artwork can be hung on the wall like that, without a frame, providing a contemporary look.
Initially meeting at a loud crowded club, they eventually became engaged after hours upon hours of conversation, visiting each other on the weekends, and a relocation by Alissa. To quote Alissa: “Almost 5 years later, I don’t remember my life without Ross. He is very ‘special’ to me and keeps me entertained.”
The couple selected Evening Savannah because it was the favorite design for both of them. The Interfaith IV text ‘spoke’ to both of them and the text represented their relationship. The wedding will take place in Detroit since Alissa’s family is from that area. The ceremony will be conducted by a priest and rabbi. Then they are off to Thailand and Hong Kong for their Honeymoon!
It’s a Dog’s World (I Mean Wedding)
Before I get into the dog(s) story, I thought I would write about the bride and groom. Stacia met Steven at a Jewish Singles Event in Ft. Lauderdale five years ago. After ‘doggedly’ pursuing her for a while, he finally convinced her that not only was he a nice, sincere guy but also the one she will be with for the next 60 years.
They chose Boca Raton as the location because The Addison is “stunning”! Built in 1926, it was Addison Mizner’s home. The couple both love old architecture and they allow dogs at the location.
Stacia and Steven tell us they chose the design ‘I Am My Beloved’s’ due to its color and the depiction of Star of David! The poetic phrase was perfect for them. Stacia says: “I always tell Steven, I am for him only and he is for me only…and don’t ever forget it!!!”
Now the “children”: Rocco, a dapper English Bulldog, and Chanel, a darling Yorkshire Terrier participated in the wedding. Rocco walked down the aisle with Steven and the best man and Chanel walked down the aisle with the Maid of Honor. Read more about the dogs and their ceremony on our Wedding Blog.
No honeymoon plans as yet. A cruise is a good possibility as long as it does not coincide with the NFL season.
Stacia and Steven's Ketubah
The Happy Family
Esta Saves the (Wedding) Day
And My Beloved Is Mine III Ketubah
Thomas and Jana had a little bit of a problem with their ketubah delivery, however before I get to that story, let me talk about the lovely couple.
They finally started dating after going out with the ‘wrong’ people from seventh to tenth grade. Almost eight years later, including enduring a four year long distance relationship through college, they finally tied the knot. They couldn’t be happier and they are truly each other’s best friends.
They ordered a ketubah (…And My Beloved is Mine III) and a chuppah (With This Ring White) because they felt the ketubah sealed them together spiritually and the chuppah showed their family and friends that they are always welcome in their home. They chose the designs of the interlocking rings because the never ending circle reflects their unconditional love for one another. They also liked the description that while the two rings retain their individuality, together they form a stronger bond.
They chose the Interfaith IV ketubah text because Thomas is in the middle of converting to Judaism and they wanted something that talked about their love and commitment towards each other, regardless of religion. To quote Jana: “You can’t help who you fall in love with and neither of us were going to let a faith title stand in our way.”
With This Ring White Chuppah
Their wedding ran very smoothly. However, there was a huge problem prior to the event. I’ll let Jana relate: “We received the chuppah but the ketubah never arrived. With just a week until the wedding, I quickly called FedEx to track the package. They could not help me (they said it was lost) so I called MP Artworks to rectify the situation. As you can imagine I was sobbing on the phone, thinking it was too late to order a new ketubah. It was Friday and I figured they would be closed on the weekend and Monday was a holiday. I spoke with Esta on the phone and she calmly assured me that they would do everything possible to get us our ketubah in time. She said it would be at my door on Tuesday before the wedding. Of course, I was sweating bullets but sure enough, as promised, MP Artworks overnighted [another] ketubah and it was delivered Tuesday morning with plenty of time to spare before the wedding. I can’t thank you all enough for putting this drama to rest. I was extremely stressed at first but as soon as I opened the tube with the beautiful ketubah, my fears subsided. I will recommend this company to everyone I know. I have never dealt with such caring and hard working people. Thomas and I are truly grateful for our perfect wedding day and the beautiful marriage contract we will have for the rest of our lives. Thank you for everything!” Thomas and Jana Peyton
K. C. Walensky
