A spring Cleveland Jewish Wedding

Cleveland Jewish Wedding

Kailey and Robbie’s Cleveland Jewish wedding was full of tradition and fun.

Please enjoy, Scott Shaw Photo | Cleveland Wedding Photographer

Cleveland Jewish Wedding

Kailey is an English teacher and wrote so much about their day and relationship I’m going to share almost all of it and there was A LOT! I loved reading it and hearing about their relationshp and their Cleveland Jewish wedding day:

“March 21, 2026 was the best day of both of our lives thus far. We both describe it as the perfect day. We will never be able to thank my mom and dad, Randy and Dana Edelman, for throwing us the perfect wedding. They went above and beyond anything that was EVER expected or asked of them. They made all of our dreams come true—and we appreciate them more than words will ever begin to explain! Without them, none of this would have been possible!

Our Cleveland Jewish weddinglove story started just as all modern love stories start these days: Hinge!

Even with Cleveland Jewish geography working in our favor, our paths never crossed. Growing up in the same hometown of Solon, Robbie and I never knew one another — with him being 4 years older than me. He was always at least one building ahead of me. After high school— Robbie went off to college, vowing never to live in Cleveland again. I was the opposite. Being close to my family was a must, so after graduating at THE Ohio State University, I returned back to Cleveland, as all good Jewish children do! As fate had it, Robbie landed back in Cleveland “momentarily”. That was, until he met me!

I made Robbie pick a place close to home, because you never know who you may be meeting from the internet these days! I suggested Pinecrest and Robbie decided that we would go to Pinstripes, so he could show off his killer bowling skills. Unfortunately for him, he never made a reservation, and the place was booked out for a corporate event. I laughed it off and suggested we go to Condado instead. Robbie always says that he had a good feeling about me after that. He liked that I was so easy going, and willing to roll with the punches. He also liked that I called the waiter over to correct his messed up food order. For me, Robbie’s unusally deep voice had me swooning immediately. We were hooked from the first date!

Robbie and I are the perfect pair – he is the calm to my chaos (although in all truth, we both enjoy the chaos life throws at us). Robbie pushes me to be more adventurous and to take risks. I do my best to make sure he stays alive! Believe it or not, Robbie and I fall in love with each other more and more each day—our imperfectness and all!

We are just two big goofballs who try to embrace life’s curveballs with teamwork and grace, and if we are being honest—a lot of laughing.

Neither of us were nervous for the “BIG” day. We kept joking with one another that we were looking forward for it to be over with so we would never have to make another wedding-related decision ever again.

For our first look, I was told to walk over to Robbie and tap him on the shoulder. You know—normal “must get” moments of the big day. . Instead, in true “us” style, I went rogue and tapped Robbie on his booty. Was he shocked? Not in the least! But that’s because that’s who we are. A couple of grown ‘kids’ who fell in love, and have a knack for doing life our way!

Robbie had it in his mind that he wanted to build our chuppa—and build our chuppa he did! The enigneer in him knew that he could build the chuppa of our dreams, letting me help where I could. Neither of us fully understood how large of an undertaking it would be, but we feel great pride that we built our “first official Jewish” home together. Our chuppa—the place we became husband and wife. Where I entered as an Edelman and left as a Hirschsohn. The place he entered with a fiancee and left with a wife.

When looking for a venue, we wanted to find a place that did it all — mouthwatering food, beautiful views and most importantly, a yes woman running the show! We wanted to know we were in good hands, and the moment we met Whitney at Stonewater, we both instantly knew that she was the best in the business!! The venue was a beautiful mix of everything we were looking for — classy yet modern. Open yet intimate. Not to mention — Stonewater had the greatest food we could have ever dreamed up! Pair Whitney from Stonewater with THE Melissa Miller, our can-do woman from Pink Gorilla Balloons, we knew we would have absolutely no worries on the biggest day of our lives.

When figuring out who we wanted to marry us, I had only one allowable answer in my head — Laurel Barr. Robbie didn’t know it yet, but my suggestion of “possibly” having Laurel marry us was more of a final answer. Thankfully, he fell in love with Laurel after our first phone call with her and we made sure she was ours for the big day!

She had been the one to marry my sister years earlier, as well as the one who handled many other major Jewish milestones that had made their way into our lives. For those who know Laurel Barr, which is quite a large number of Cleveland Jewish natives, she’s as good as it gets. She goes beyond the normal “lets make sure you two seem like a good match!” She dives in deep, making sure to get to know Robbie and I both on a personal level, never shying away from asking those hard, uncomfortable questions, to make sure Robbie and I were TRULY in love, with shared values, prepared to take on the very wonderful, yet complicated world of marriage.

Brides by the Fall was the place that made all my childhood wedding dress dreams come true. My wedding dress still gives me butterflies and goosebumps and child-like giddy whenever I think about it. I know most brides probably feel this way, but I truly think my wedding dress was the most breathtakingly stunning dress I’ve ever seen. I actually had my eye on a different dress, but once I tried on this show-stopper wedding dress, that was it. I had one of those cliche moments like you see in the movies. Time slowed down. Everything got quiet. My heart stopped as tears made it nearly impossible to see the look on my mom’s face (which apparently she was tearing up herself). Even Jennifer, the owner of Brides by the Falls gasped. The dress was MADE for me. This dress made me feel like a woman. (Dare I say, with a bit of sex appeal as well??)

We got our ketubah where most Jewish couples do — ketubah.com of course! Robbie and I genuinely looked at every single design they had well over one thousand designs! Then we came across the one we chose called Starry Night. It was a perfect mix of who we were both as individuals and a couple. Pretty yellow flowers, geometric shapes, a star-filled sky-scape and timelessness. Artwork that would last through all seasons of our marriage.

When it came to the ketubah signing, we wanted to be surrounded by those we loved. In the Jewish faith, once you sign the ketubah, you are actually “officially” married, so it’s a pretty big deal. You can sign your name in English or Hebrew — and I was determined to sign in Hebrew. When the big moment came for me to sign my name, my hands were shaking so badly from all the adrenaline, that I barely signed my name in English. It looked like a two-year-old grabbed hold of the pen! My longest, oldest friend Abby Jinks acted as my witness. She’s been through it all with me! Alex Cohen was the witness for Robbie — they had met in Israel; where, after a few exchanged words they knew they’d be friends for life. Our ketubah signing was so special – being surrounded by those we loved most. It’s a moment neither of us will forget!

I was so excited to finally make my way down the aisle, I had completely forgotten to grab my bouquet – the very thing I had spent months designing with the help of Erin at The Budding Tree. It genuinely was the most stunning bouquet — I decided to get it preserved so it could live on forever!

Scott Shaw. The Man. The Myth. The legend. When it came to who we wanted to take our wedding photos, there was not a single discussion that took place. I had my mom book him before even discussing his work with Robbie. In most instances, Robbie and I had equal say on what or who we wanted for each aspect. Not when it came to Scott. He had been the photographer for my sister’s wedding and WOW does Scott go beyond the line of duty for what’s expected.

He is not a photographer — he is an artist. Scott has a process when he takes photos and that was what I wanted. I wanted someone who looked beyond what fit in the lens and looked at what was possible if no restrictions applied! We wanted a photographer that we could connect with as not only someone who would force us to smile all day, but instead, make us smile by the personal connection we had formed with him. We had a blast with Scott taking our engagement photos, so when it came time for the big day, we couldn’t wait to see what that mind of his would think up!

After the ceremony, we wanted to be on the dance floor the ENTIRE night! That was our goal! We know weddings all run in different ways, but we always hated when there was a big lull of nothingness, so the moment we could hit the dance floor, we did!!

Am I surprised that Robbie’s pants came off? No! Not one bit! I knew who I was marrying! Was I surprised my dad joined in? Again—NO! This wasn’t the first time his pants had made an exit when music and alcohol were involved! I loved it, and was honestly jealous I couldn’t join in! His groomsman Davis also joined them.

When it came to the traditional mother and son and father daughter dance, I had something up my sleeve. I feel as though the mother of the bride gets jipped! My mother was the one who put her entire heart and soul into making sure we would have the perfect day, yet traditions don’t call that she gets her own dance with her daughter? Not on my watch! So I planned a secret dance with our DJ, Eric, the Bearded DJ, and surprised my mom with her own dance. I wasn’t finished there. My Nana, also known as Maddie Dwosh, is the matriarch of our family. She too deserved her own moment! I called her up to the dance floor and honored her and my mother so they too could have their own moment they never got when my mom got married. My Aunt Hilliary ended up dancing along with them as well, which made my heart smile more than words will ever be able to describe!”

Okay that was quite a story Kailey shared. She’s such a fun person as those of that know her are aware!

On the wall is a photo I made of her sister Morgan and Mark’s wedding at her parents home.

Officiant: Laurel Barr
Ceremony: Stonewater Golf Club and Venue
Reception: Stonewater Golf Club and Venue
Catering: Stonewater Golf Club and Venue
Wedding Planner: Whitney Neidus, Stonewater Golf Club and Melissa Miller, Pink Gorilla Balloons and Events
Ceremony Music: Roseann Canfora, Celestial Strings Quartet
DJ: Eric Smith, Cleveland Music Group
Cake: Mother of Groom, Ruth Hatchuel
Ice Cream: Mitchell’s
Florist: The Budding Tree
Dress: Brides by the Falls
Suit: Ticknors
Engagement ring: Robert and Gabriel Jewelers
Bride’s ring: Gottlieb & Sons
Groom’s ring: Sesto Synergy
Hair: Cleveland Bridal Hair—Caitlin Seither
Assistant: Andrea Hallgren