Michelle & Jason | Northern Valley Affairs | Closter, NJ

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

The Wedding of…
Michelle Segev & Jason Gottlieb

Their Vendors
Ceremony & Reception: Northern Valley Affairs
at Temple Emanu-El, Closter, NJ
201.750.0333, northernvalleyaffairs.com
Gown: Justin Alexander at RK Bridal, NYC
Tux: My.Suit, Chiwon Booker
Photographer & Cinematographer: Matthew Adam Photography
Band: Chaim Dovid Berson, Luxe by Hank Lane
Makeup: Rachel Shusterman
Hair: Nicole Berger, Stylemeuppretty
Florist: Lilac Florist
Cake: Northern Valley Affairs
First Dance Instructor: Oscar Sanchez
Havana Dance Center

“Above & Beyond”

Jason: On our first date, we grabbed drinks at Bodega 88, a bar on the Upper West Side, where we checked off Michelle’s two favorites: margaritas and pickles. The conversation was flowing as we both told stories of travel, family backgrounds, and our interests. We had so much in common and didn’t want the date to end. We were actually cut short when we noticed the bar was closing and we were the last to leave! I am now in real estate and Michelle is in operations.

For Michelle’s birthday, I gave her a custom made sudoku puzzle (her favorite) and later that day, I asked Michelle to join me on my apartment balcony to see the  “sunset” on a drizzly New York evening. I sang a song I’d written for her and finished by getting down on one knee.

 

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Michelle: Jason had been to several weddings at Northern Valley Affairs, including his sister Allison’s wedding, and each time he was blown away by the venue’s ambiance. Every time we visited, we were welcomed so warmly by the team, which was a true reflection of the wedding we wanted to have. Their food is also second-to-none and makes for a truly complete wedding.

It was a pleasure working with Les Friedman, owner, Marty Maged, general manager, and Marc Palazzolo, manager, and everyone at Northern Valley Affairs. Their attention to detail and thoughtful recommendations ensured that our day was perfect. They went above and beyond, staying with us throughout the day to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible. We couldn’t be more thankful for all they did.  

Our long-time family friend, Rabbi Raphael Butler, officiated the ceremony. Vocals were led by Chaim Dovid Berson. Our chuppah had beautiful blush and white flowers over textured greenery and included a talit from Jason’s late grandfather and Holocaust survivor, Joseph Harcsztark.

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Jason: To utilize both the venue’s indoor and outdoor spaces, the team helped us design the cocktail hour so there was a “free flowing” feel between the patio and indoor areas. We wanted to include dishes we grew up with and love and the chef was able to make a special “Persian” station with Ghormeh Sabzi, a traditional Persian stew, and various kinds of rice to pair. Our favorite dishes included shredded duck cigars with purple plum sauce, sweet potato pancakes with dried cranberries, a deluxe sushi station, Romanian BBQ, and a dim sum bar.
    
From the moment we saw the ballroom, we knew it’s where we’d get married. It had the biggest dance floor and largest ballroom we saw at any venue. The beautifully draped fabric around the lighting, as well as the addition of string lights, framed the room elegantly.
Our incredible band, Luxe, had our guests moving the entire evening. Our first dance was a medley of songs as opposed to one slow dance with a classic box step. Our wonderful dance teacher, Oscar Sanchez, worked with us weekly to choreograph a routine incorporating multiple styles — foxtrot, swing, salsa, and freestyle. It was an absolute hit!

Here are the songs and our corresponding styles of dance: “Beyond” by Leon Bridges (Foxtrot), “Lisztomania” by Pheonix (Swing),” Don’t Go Yet” by Camila Cabello (Salsa), and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen (Freestyle). Everyone was up and dancing, genuinely happy to be there, and there was so much love in the air throughout the celebration.

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Michelle & Jason's Wedding at Northern Valley Affairs

Michelle: We had floral centerpieces with three different arrangements of white flowers of different heights and textures, hydrangeas, roses, spray roses, lisianthus, stock, calla lilies, mini calla lilies, and dendrobium orchids. Each centerpiece was surrounded by votive candles.
The chef curated prime rib, a big crowd favorite, lemon chicken, pistachio-crusted salmon, and portobello mushroom dishes to ensure that all our guests had options that met their dietary needs. We had mini, “pass-around” style desserts so our guests could float in and out of the dance floor while the music kept playing! One of our special requests was a self-serve tequila shot bar and the team laid out shot glasses on a bed of ice alongside a variety of top-shelf tequilas.

Michelle & Jason: We want to thank all the venue personnel and our vendors, who went above and beyond to ensure we were stress-free and on Cloud 9 the entire wedding. We are so thankful we were able to celebrate our special day surrounded by such wonderful family and friends. We are extremely thankful to our parents, without whom the wedding would not have been possible. They are such incredible role models and we are excited to start our lives together with them by our sides. We’d like to thank them for giving us the foundation of a marriage filled with love and happiness. We can’t wait to celebrate many more smachot (joyous occasions) together!

Northern Valley Affairs
Closter, NJ, 201.750.0333, northernvalleyaffairs.com