A Personal Jewish Wedding at Rosewood London: Eli and Zac’s Details

Eli and Zac made their wedding at Rosewood London feel like a portrait of their life together: rooted in Jewish tradition, shaped by their time in Israel and filled with family, food and music. Their choices offer a useful reminder for couples planning a formal celebration: personal meaning can sit comfortably alongside an elegant setting, and the details guests remember needn’t be purely decorative.

Eli, a nutritionist, and Zac, a lawyer, met at a wedding in Israel. Zac had moved from London to Tel Aviv a year earlier; Eli was about to make the same move. After a year living there together, they returned to London to be closer to family. The couple carried pieces of that shared chapter into their wedding, from modern Hebrew songs to a ketubah illustrated with places and symbols from their life.

Photography was by Susie and Harley of Barker Evans, with video by Denee Motion. Their celebration centred on an idea Eli describes simply: timeless elegance, but with the couple’s own story visible throughout the day.

A setting with room for intimacy

The couple chose the Rosewood London for its character and sense of occasion. Eli says the hotel gave them the timeless backdrop they had imagined while feeling both grand and intimate. That balance shaped the design: formal surroundings, softened by flowers, candlelight and details with personal associations.

They wanted guests to feel joy as soon as they entered the room. Rather than rely on a single statement feature, the couple connected the room’s look to the things that mattered to them: family, their years in Israel, music and a shared enthusiasm for food.

Personal touches, from paper to flowers

Friend Alissia of Studio Alissia designed the invitations and stationery. Their floral direction informed the paper details, including cherry blossom and subtle fruit motifs, which florist Craig White later echoed in the room. This kind of visual link between invitation and reception gives guests a sense of continuity without requiring every element to match exactly.

The flowers themselves combined a romantic, natural feel with a distinctive edible detail. Craig White Flowers incorporated sliced grapefruit, lemons and green grapes, reflecting Eli’s work as a nutritionist and the couple’s shared love of food. Guests ate some of the fruit during the evening, and the display became one of the details they continued to talk about.

At the chuppah, baby pink roses, lemon ranunculus, white daisies and delicate cherry blossom suited the wedding’s early-spring timing. Candlelight around the chuppah and across the tables warmed the room. Eli and Zac stood beneath her grandfather’s tallit, bringing family history directly into the ceremony setting.

Clothing and getting ready

Eli had hoped to find her wedding dress in Israel, so discovering her gown at Israeli designer Lee Grebenau felt especially fitting. It was the first dress she tried on, and she felt it was right straight away. She says it made her feel like a princess in a sophisticated, grown-up way. For the final hour of dancing, she changed into a second dress by Self Portrait, choosing a more dance-friendly option for the late-night party.

Her Malone Souliers shoes were a gift from her uncle. For hair, Gaby Goldring brought a calm presence to the morning as well as her styling skills. Natasha De Cazalet did Eli’s makeup, which held through the celebrations and a few tears.

Eli’s nine bridesmaids included three cousins, six close friends and her sister as maid of honour. She invited each person to choose a dress in any shade of pink that felt comfortable and confidence-building. The approach gave the group a shared colour story without requiring everyone to wear the same style.

A ceremony rich in family meaning

The couple’s ketubah was designed and handcrafted by Zac’s father, an architect. Its imagery became a visual account of their relationship: date palm trees and Old Jaffa recall their years in Tel Aviv and their Saturday walks to Jaffa, while a Chanukiah, Shabbat candles and the Tree of Life connect the artwork to Jewish tradition. For Eli and Zac, it became more than a document; it held memories in a form they could keep.

Rabbi Ellituv, who had recently joined the couple’s community from Manchester, led the ceremony. Eli and Zac had spent time getting to know him and learning with him before the wedding, making his role particularly meaningful. At the ceremony’s close, he blew the shofar as a symbol of new beginnings and two lives joining.

Chazan Guy Barzily brought another personal layer to the service. For the Sheva Brachot, he learned melodies the couple had requested, including a favourite Israeli song for the final blessing. The ceremony’s music, like the rest of the day, drew on both Jewish tradition and the couple’s own musical memories.

Music that brought generations together

XS Showband performed, with Guy Barzily staying on to sing modern Hebrew favourites alongside traditional Jewish repertoire. Israeli dancing gave the evening a distinctly personal lift, while songs by Omer Adam and Alabina honoured Eli’s Sephardi heritage. Their first dance was “Amazed” by Lonestar. Eli’s best friend and her husband, both skilled dancers, helped the couple put together a few playful moves that felt natural rather than overly formal.

The dance floor stayed full throughout the night. One memory Eli treasures is seeing her 90-year-old grandfather and her grandmother dancing near its centre for much of the evening. It captured the atmosphere they wanted: high-energy, joyful and shared across generations.

The couple had no planner, but XS Showband helped with coordination during the four weeks before the wedding and on the day. Eli also worked with Fran from the team on production, including the dance floor, staging and lighting. She credits the team’s calm, professional support with helping her feel relaxed.

Food, keepsakes and the day after

Ben Tenenblat catered the wedding. Eli especially remembers the apple tarte tatin, which surpassed her memory of it from the tasting, and espresso martini shots passed around later in the evening. Shelby supported the couple throughout the catering process. They registered with The Wedding Shop.

Artist Liam Dickinson painted the chuppah scene live in oils, creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Eli’s twin cousins, Joe and George, served as MCs; she says they have always felt more like older brothers, and their humour and personality made that part of the evening feel close to home.

For photos, the couple chose Barker Evans. Susie and Harley had photographed weddings for Eli’s cousins and sister, making them a familiar choice. Denee Motion’s Denis and Max filmed the day, and Vix of Rings and Reels created additional content that arrived soon after the celebration.

The morning after the wedding, Eli and Zac headed to the Cotswolds for a mini-moon at Estelle Manor. They were also looking forward to a honeymoon in Hawaii in May.

Advice for couples planning now

Eli’s advice is to keep returning to what matters most to you as a couple. Planning brings many decisions and outside opinions, but the celebration will feel more meaningful when its choices reflect the people getting married. She also recommends looking beyond a supplier’s work to the energy they bring: calm, helpful people can shape how the day feels as much as the schedule or setting.

And leave space to pause together. The day moves quickly; small, quiet moments between the formal events and the party can become the memories that stay clearest.

Supplier details

Venue: Rosewood London
Dress: Lee Grebenau
Shoes: Malone Souliers
Hair: Gaby Goldring
Makeup: Natasha De Cazalet
Flowers: Craig White Flowers
Music: XS Showband and Guy Barzily
Catering: Ben Tenenblat
Stationery: Studio Alissia
Rabbi: Rabbi Ellituv
Photography: Barker Evans
Videography: Denee Motion
Content creator: Rings and Reels
Registry: The Wedding Shop
Live painting: Liam Dickinson
Mini-moon: Estelle Manor