A New York Jewish Wedding at Nine Orchard Built Around Dinner, Dancing and Personal Style

Gabby and Daniyel’s New York wedding took its cue from a night out: guests mingled over food and cocktails, a jazz trio set the mood, and dancing carried on into the early hours. Their celebration at Nine Orchard Hotel paired a Lower East Side setting with Jewish details and choices that reflected the couple, from a simple draped chuppah to latkes served with caviar.

The couple chose a cocktail-style format instead of a formal seated dinner, with two long tables and soft seating. They also kept the evening’s schedule and traditions flexible, guided by a straightforward question: did each familiar wedding moment feel like them? Their answers offer useful ideas for couples who want a celebration shaped around how they actually like to spend time together.

A venue chosen before the engagement

Nine Orchard had been on Gabby and Daniyel’s minds well before they were engaged. They had visited the roof for a friend’s birthday and said then that they could imagine getting married there. The hotel’s history helped make the choice feel personal: the building opened in 1912 as a Jewish-founded bank and remains connected to the Jewish stories and owners that shaped the Lower East Side.

For the couple, the venue’s blend of old-world character and modern city style reflected their aim to honor Jewish roots while building a marriage and celebration of their own. The building’s existing design also informed their décor. They wanted to add color and warmth without competing with a space that already had plenty of visual character.

They held an afterparty at nearby Carriage House, making it easy for guests to continue the night. The plan echoed one of their favorite early dates, dancing until late at Club Space in Miami. Gabby says the venue’s flexibility helped them keep the party going.

Keeping the reception in motion

Gabby initially thought she could plan the wedding herself, drawing on her experience as an account manager. The process taught her otherwise. Support from vendors and the team at Nine Orchard helped bring the plans together, while a day-of coordinator from Mostest gave the couple room to enjoy the event.

They made the reception feel less formal by limiting the amount of seating. Two long tables sat along one side of the room, with soft seating elsewhere. Food was served buffet-style, without an announcement, so guests could move between the meal, conversation and dancing at their own pace.

This setup suited their goal: a night that felt like stepping into a New York jazz club, complete with cocktails, food and dancing, with a wedding woven into the evening. Couples considering a similar format can use the same guiding question Gabby and Daniyel did: which traditions and details fit the way you want your guests to spend the celebration?

Personal choices, from beauty to attire

Gabby felt anxious about hair and makeup because she had worn a similar look since middle school. After seeing the work of Galina, she booked a trial. Galina spent hours working through Gabby’s ideas and refining the details until they found a look that felt glamorous yet natural to her. Gabby says the experience left her feeling more beautiful than ever.

The couple asked guests to dress “to the nines,” aiming for black tie with a playful, stylish twist. Gabby found her Kyha dress at her first appointment. She wasn’t drawn to it on the rack, but a sales associate encouraged her to try it on; once she did, she knew it was the one. Accessories helped her change up the look through the evening. Nadin Fashion Alteration handled the alterations.

For the afterparty, Gabby wore a Retrofete dress that Daniyel helped choose. He had a custom tuxedo made with Thom Sweeney, settling on midnight blue and changing into a velvet jacket later. His look also included a 1970s-style shirt with a pleated bib.

Gabby opted not to have bridesmaids. She wanted her friends to rest, hydrate and save their energy for dancing, rather than join her for a morning of breakfast and getting ready. She loves being a bridesmaid, she says, but for her own wedding she preferred a different way to include her friends: they stayed up with her dancing until morning.

Jewish ceremony details and music for each moment

The ceremony was intimate. Gabby and Daniyel read their own vows, and only siblings and grandparents who could attend walked down the aisle. They chose a simple draped chuppah to suit the pared-back ceremony room. Jin of Tovert brought it to life.

Their ketubah, designed by Israeli artist Enya Keshet, featured a hamsa, gold leaf and layers of papercut detail. Each element added personal meaning while keeping the ceremony’s overall look simple.

Music shifted with the evening. Mike D on Violin played during the ceremony, bringing energy and learning songs the couple requested in advance. As guests entered the party space upstairs, TrioNYC played jazz. The live trio gave people time to mingle, get drinks and take in the room before the dancing began.

Later, DJ Duane Harriott, hired through 74 Events, played music that kept guests of different ages on the dance floor throughout the night. That progression—from ceremony music to jazz during arrivals and then a dance set—helped the couple build the atmosphere gradually.

Florals, food and candid photography

Because Nine Orchard already had an eclectic, design-rich interior, the couple kept additional décor measured. Tovert’s Jin added green, wintery flowers in colors that warmed the room and felt in step with the venue. Gabby describes the arrangements as fun and unexpected, with careful attention to how they connected to the space.

Nine Orchard provided the catering. To bring Jewish food traditions into the menu, the couple also sourced latkes from a local Jewish deli in Philadelphia. They were served with sour cream, apple sauce and a large tin of caviar. Black-and-white cookies appeared on the dessert trays. With Hanukkah beginning the following day, the food offered a personal seasonal touch.

Gabby connected with photographer Ari of Daystar Visuals through Reddit. A trial engagement session helped them see that Ari understood their preference for candid images over formal, heavily posed shots. Her approach mixed flash, film and motion, and Gabby appreciated her calm presence and light guidance. For video, the couple chose TMT Weddings; Gabby says Max was wonderful on site.

Advice for couples planning their own way

Gabby’s advice is to resist adding traditions simply because they’re expected. Couples who want a big celebration can embrace one; couples who don’t can shape a different kind of day. She suggests letting go of plans that don’t suit you, whether that means skipping a Friday night event or choosing not to have bridesmaids.

Her wedding shows how a few decisions can work together: a venue tied to family and community history, a flexible reception, meaningful food, and music that changes with the pace of the night. The practical takeaway is to choose the elements that help your guests share the celebration in a way that feels like your relationship.

Gabby and Daniyel’s wedding team

Photography: Daystar Visuals
Videography: TMT Weddings
Ketubah: Enya Keshet
Venue and catering: Nine Orchard Hotel
Bride’s dress: Kyha Studios
Dress alterations: Nadin Fashion Alteration
Afterparty dress: Retrofete
Groom’s attire: Thom Sweeney
Hair and makeup: Makeup by Galina
Flowers: Tovert
Music: Mike D on Violin, TrioNYC and Duane Harriott with 74 Events
Day-of coordination: Mostest