Rachel and Jakub’s Elegant Jewish-Czech Wedding at Troja Chateau in Prague

Rachel and Jakub’s wedding at Troja Chateau brought together Jewish ceremony traditions, Czech customs and a polished palette of purples and greens. The Prague venue was meaningful for the couple: Jakub’s extended family lives nearby, giving grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins—many he had not seen since before the pandemic—the chance to attend.

Planning from a distance, Rachel, a labor and delivery nurse, and Jakub, an equity research analyst in finance, worked with planner Andrea Haman to shape the day and find local vendors. Their celebration paired the chuppah and ketubah signing with Czech traditions, including breaking a plate together and cleaning up the pieces as partners. Here’s how they brought the details together.

A family connection to Prague

The couple met on Bumble in 2020. When they chose Troja Chateau, the location offered more than an impressive setting: it brought Jakub’s family together in a place connected to their lives. For couples considering a destination wedding, that kind of family tie can help guide the choice of city and make travel feel purposeful.

Design shaped around the chateau

Andrea Haman helped the couple develop an elegant, elevated style using their favorite colors, rich purple and green. Mirrored tables reflected the artwork across the chateau’s ceilings and walls, while flowers in purple, white, pink and green carried the palette through the ceremony, reception and after-party. The arrangements included roses, lilacs, hydrangeas and peonies.

Veronika of Frezia Fleur Weddings created the flowers and also supplied tables, chairs, plates and dinnerware. Rachel, Andrea and Veronika worked together on a chuppah intended to feel timeless without competing with the venue’s backdrop. A string quartet played during the ceremony and cocktail hour; gourmet catering and a DJ carried the evening into the party.

For stationery, Rachel’s sister and brother-in-law helped design electronic invitations through Paperless Post. The couple used The Knot for their wedding website and registry, appreciating the customization options.

A gown combining two designs

Rachel’s custom dress from Israeli designer Lee Petra Grebenau blended details from the Esther and Capri gowns. She first tried on the Esther in August 2023 and loved its fitted-flare silhouette. Rather than decide before the next collection arrived, she waited to try on the new styles. The Capri had details she wanted, but she remained drawn to the Esther’s shape, so the designer combined elements of both into a single gown with a lace underlay.

A matching lace, open-backed bodysuit completed the ceremony look and came off for the reception. Rachel wore a Lee Petra Grebenau veil, accessories from Untamed Petals and platform heels by Gucci. For the bridal party, eight attendants wore black-tie dresses in shades of lavender, each choosing their own dress.

Hair and makeup artist Alina Vagner worked with Rachel across all three wedding-weekend events: the rehearsal dinner, welcome party and wedding. For the wedding, Rachel chose a hairstyle change instead of a new outfit. During cocktail hour, Alina changed her sleeked-back ponytail into long, cascading half-up curls. Eliska Matejkova and Laura Berisha joined the beauty team for the rest of the bridal party.

Jewish ceremony, Czech customs

Rachel’s brother-in-law Adam officiated the ketubah signing and ceremony, making the service personal to the couple. Their ketubah, designed by Israeli artist Noa Attias, featured hand-painted blue and purple peacocks with gold trim. It was a gift from the brother-in-law’s parents and had two witnesses close to the couple: Rachel’s stepfather and Jakub’s step-grandfather. Rachel recalled that a ladybug appeared on the frame before the signing, which they took as good luck. Her stepfather signed the ketubah; he passed away 10 days later.

Friends and family read the seven brachas during the ceremony. Rachel especially treasured Adam’s account of the only love story in the Torah, the biblical Rachel and Jacob, and its connection to their relationship. After the Jewish ceremony, the couple also took part in Czech customs: breaking a plate and cleaning up its pieces together as a partnership. They were then handed either water or vodka without knowing which, a tradition symbolizing who would “wear the pants” in the relationship.

Music, food and photographs

The Aristoquartet played classical arrangements of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” for Rachel’s walk down the aisle and Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to close the ceremony. After cocktail hour, DJ Bertolucci took over. Rachel and Jakub’s first dance was to Sting’s “Fields of Gold”; the evening’s music also included Rufus du Sol, Klangarussel, Daft Punk, The Killers, ABBA and Michael Jackson.

Maximum Catering provided the meal. Rachel said caterer Petr listened thoughtfully to their feedback and supplied what they requested. The cake, made by Pavlína Loučková of Klobouckovic Dortiky, matched the couple’s brief for an elegant design and delivered the flavor they wanted.

Andrea drew on a list of vendors she had worked with over 25 years in the industry, helping the couple narrow down whom to meet based on their priorities. Photographer Jenny Ovsyannikova and videographer Martin of Kaco Films also joined the couple for a pre-wedding photo session around Prague. Rachel said the shoot was enjoyable despite freezing temperatures, and appreciated that the team’s presence felt natural throughout the weekend.

Advice from Rachel

“Try to be as present as possible,” Rachel advises couples planning their celebrations. The months of preparation can pass quickly once the day arrives, she says, so protect your peace and make time to enjoy the experience with your partner.

Rachel and Jakub’s wedding team

Photography: Jenny Ovsyannikova
Videography: Kaco Films
Planner: Andrea Haman
Ketubah: Noa Attias
Venue: Troja Chateau
Dress and veil: Lee Petra Grebenau
Shoes: Gucci
Accessories: Untamed Petals
Hair and makeup: Alina Vagner, Eliska Matejkova and Laura Berisha
Flowers: Frezia Fleur Weddings
Music: Aristoquartet and DJ Bertolucci
Catering: Maximum Catering
Cake: Klobouckovic Dortiky
Invitations: Paperless Post
Website and registry: The Knot