May 03, 2009 Issue

Letter from the Editor

I love stories about weddings. Court­ships, love...I think it’s because they form the basis of everything we plan, do and hope for. Plus, everyone has a story, and each one is the best soap opera ever.

Letters to the Editor

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT

SANITY SAVERS

Vow Factors

So you're getting married. One thing is for sure—no matter how excited you are, chances are you're so stressed with prewedding jitters you can't see straight! It's the norm for brides and grooms. And you're not alone. Here is a sampling of the questions I get from intendeds, because no matter where you live, at least some of these universal queries—your budget, your plans, your dreams—will come up in your preparations. And now the good news: There are answers...

Turn It Up

TÊTE-à-TÊTE: JASON SCHWARTZMAN

FEATURE STORY

Cause/Effect

Some shrink when they see him coming. Maybe it’s the height, the silver hair, the intelligent, piercing eyes. More likely it’s the power of the stride, the determination in the walk, the purpose in the direction. And yes, the eyes. They call him Eli, and everyone knows it’s that Broad guy.

WEDDING ALBUM

Single No More

In his rearview mirror I could see the tears streaming down his face while my father screeched out of our driveway in his green Camaro. I was screaming, “Daddy, don’t leave us,” as my mom flung a plate with half-eaten tofu at the car and hit the Christmas figurine on the lawn of the couple across the street. Then there was only silence, accompanied by our dog’s maniacal barking as he chased his tail.

WEDDING ALBUM

Well Matched

In March, I received an invitation from my sister, Freyda (affectionately known as Freydee) Geberer, for the wedding of her second son, Yehudah, to Chana Katzenstein. It was an arranged marriage.

WEDDING ALBUM

Eastside Love

Two Latino guys with shaved heads hang out in a bar, drinking beer straight from the bottle. Then, mid-conversation, they reach out and kiss on the lips.

WEDDING ALBUM

Standing on Ceremony

The Setup

WEDDING ALBUM

My Jewish Catholic Shinto Greek Wedding

The Day Before

WEDDING ALBUM

Isn’t It Romantic?

Traditionally, June is the month of choice for getting married. It was for me. Twice. I said, “I do,” in June—20 years apart, to the same woman. The second time was as traditional as the first, with a rabbi, a chuppah, a ring and a photographer. There was one major difference—the second wedding was a complete surprise to my wife.

WEDDING ALBUM

It Used to Take a Village

My sister Elsa will marry in November, and the Mexican in me is peeved. The guy is fine: from the same state of Mexico (Zacatecas, in the central portion of the country) as we are, fully bilingual and bicultural like she is, with a steady job and straight teeth. Times are tough, so they’re planning a small wedding—I understand. But what Elsa is setting up is so low-key, so muted...so, well, white.

WEDDING ALBUM

Better Living Through Chemistry

“Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me a find. Catch me a catch.” Even though I’m single, I’ve never hummed the tune or thought of asking a matchmaker to find my dream man. But I must admit I was more than a little curious when asked to explore the updated art of matchmaking. After all, it’s been a while since the ’80s, when all I had to do was put on a short skirt and hit the dance floor.

FASHION

Wedded Bliss

A new generation of cutting-edge bridal couture fuses traditional craftsmanship with a daring, modern sensibility

FEATURE STORY

Wedded Bliss: Details

Stylist: Tiina Laakkonen

FEATURE STORY

The Kindest Cut

Why is it in this day and age, when weddings are more and more an expression of a couple’s individuality, wedding cakes remain stubbornly predictable towers of white wrapped in insipid icing and topped with toys representing the guests of honor?

FEATURE STORY

Happily Ever Laughter

When you first meet Mavis and Jay Leno, it’s the electricity between them that gets you and their long-lasting love that makes them the anomaly. Two strongs can make one—they fit.

SHADES OF GREEN

Vowing to Be Vert

As Kermit the Frog famously said all those years ago, "It's not easy being green." Well, take it from someone who is in the thick of it, it's doubly hard to be green while planning a wedding. Think of all those eco-diehards simply decrying the mere idea. A dress that's worn only once! Cut flowers! Empty bottles and cans! Guests gas guzzling to travel from the four corners! Reams of wrapping paper! An electric band! Oh, the carbon footprint!

BY THE GLASS

Chardonnay Lives!

Don't blame California chardonnay for becoming a fashion victim. It's not the grape's fault but rather what was done to it. Just when I'd almost given up hope that chard would return to its senses, some noble vintners came to its rescue.

GOOD SPORT

All in the Family

Being the most successful owner in sports history isn't what Dr. Jerry Buss planned. His intentions were actually far more modest. "His goal was to always have enough money to own season tickets," Buss' daughter Jeanie says. "He never thought he would own a team."

MY BEST STORY

A Certain Grace

If I'm going to write about Ben and Ione's wedding in India—which was, let me just say from the start, intensely profound and beautiful—there's no way around it: I have to write about Amma. Amma was the whole reason we were there, after all.