Rock Around the Clock
Daniella Levin & Alex Goldstein
San Diego, California
September 27, 2008
Photography by Jennifer Dery
ALEX GOLDSTEIN AND DANIELLA LEVIN’S romance is a tale of first love everlasting. The two met in elementary school, united as best friends, and then fell in love during high school. After eight years of dating, Alex surprised Daniella by proposing on his birthday in the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. Set on a short engagement, they started planning right away, excited to create a celebration that would reflect their high-energy, youthful relationship.
The couple, both in their 20s, desired a nontraditional affair and agreed on the hip Hard Rock Hotel as the perfect setting. As a staff member at Botanica, a trend-setting event design company in Little Italy, Daniella knew she could rely on her co-workers to turn her vision into a stunning reality. The ceremony, held on the rooftop of the hotel, was anchored by an extraordinary iron chuppah illuminated by candlelight. City lights and skyscrapers served as the backdrop. Inside, the giant ballroom was transformed into a chic New York locale with white floral sculptures, glistening crystals hanging from iron trees and endless votives.
Five hundred guests gathered and watched the gorgeous bride in a cascading champagne-colored gown by Carlos Miele approach her true love, who sported a black Zegna tuxedo.
“The most amazing moment of my life was when I saw my wife in her gorgeous dress walking down the aisle,” Alex says. “She looked stunningly beautiful and all I could think was, ‘Is this really happening?’ I saw our life together moving fast-forward in my head—us having kids and growing old together. I know it sounds cliché, but that moment was the best feeling I have ever had.”
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After the groom shattered the glass and kissed the bride, the newly married couple ran down the aisle and disappeared into their room for a few precious moments to soak it all in. Their best friends then joined for a toast with the twinkling cityscape in view.
Then it was on to their vibrant reception, for which music played a key role.
“We wanted a band that could keep up with our high energy all night,” says Daniella. “Our unique background combines Mexican culture that is animated and loves to party with a Jewish heritage comprised of many beautiful traditions. We went as far as Mexico City to find a 14-member band called Golden Gate that understood the intensity of a Jewish-Mexican wedding. We didn’t leave the dance floor the entire night, and neither did our 500 guests,” she says, laughing.
Attention to detail and out-of-the box ideas made the wedding even more memorable. At first the couple’s parents were reticent about some of their unique ideas, but when put into action, everyone agreed they were a huge hit. Each place card held a lottery ticket with the wedding date and the message: “Hope you hit the lottery, too.” The first dance, set to an upbeat remix of “When You Say Nothing at All” and “Rock This Party,” sent the bride and groom into freestyle moves and break dancing, a harbinger of the animated evening to come. Alex’s sisters and a close friend even got on stage for a surprise performance of Abba’s “Dancing Queen” in full regalia. The party soared.
Another Mexican wedding custom calls for late-night food to fuel partygoers, so at 3 a.m. playful snacks appeared, including mini-gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mac ’n’ cheese, and milk and cookies. The after-party continued until dawn. Thankfully Alex and Daniella left the following day for some well-needed R and R in Thailand.
Caterer: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. Ceremony location: Woodstock at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. Ceremony music: Caprice Strings. Coordinator: Miryam Seid. Decor/Furniture and flowers: Botanica, Inc. Gown: Carlos Miele. Hair: Rebecca Hyde-Edwards, Hyde Edwards Salon. Makeup: Basilio. Invitations: Karla & Miriam. Lighting: Venue A/V department. Officiant: Rabbi Meltzer, Or Shalom. Photographer: Jennifer Dery. Reception location: Legends Ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. Reception entertainment: Golden Gate. Videographer: Jeff Roland.
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