September 21 in Budva turned out to be a genuinely hot day, even though September here is usually gentler than July and August. And it was in that heat, right by the water, that one wedding brought together two cultures and two traditions, Jewish and Arabic.
Scroll through the frames of this day: getting ready in the Dukley villas, the moving tish, portraits of the bride and an aperitif on the terrace overlooking the sea and the Old Town of Budva, the ceremony on the pier, the breaking of the glass to cries of “Mazel tov!” and a dizzying hora.
A Jewish-Arabic wedding by the sea in Budva: one day at Sumosan (Dukley)
This was a wedding that brought together two cultures and two traditions at once, Jewish and Arabic. Pulling all of it into a single day was hard and truly beautiful, and around eighty guests came from all over the world. Let me walk you through how the day unfolded, from the first morning preparations to dancing well past midnight.
Getting ready in the Dukley villas
The morning began in the Dukley villas, which, honestly, have quite a few staircases between them, so we walked them more than once over the course of the day. The bride was getting ready in her own villa. First we photographed the details, the dress, the rings, all those little things that later shape the mood of the shoot, and then we took a few portraits in her robe while the gown was still waiting for its moment. At the same time the groom was getting ready with his friends, and that unmistakable, easy pre-ceremony excitement was already in the air.
The tish: the most powerful morning
And then came the tish. This is a Jewish tradition: before the ceremony the men gather at a big table, and there are speeches, toasts, and traditional songs. For me it turned out to be the most emotional part of the morning. The guests were crying, singing, and laughing all at once, and there was so much genuine feeling in it that you simply cannot stay on the sidelines with a camera in your hands.
Portraits of the bride in her gown
After the tish I went back to the bride, now in her gown. We deliberately shot the portraits before the ceremony and before the worst of the heat, while the light was soft and the makeup fresh. This is the best time to catch her mood calmly, without rushing, before the main moment of the day.
The aperitif on the terrace
Meanwhile, the aperitif was starting up on the upper terrace. Guests were arriving little by little, picking up refreshing drinks and taking in the view, and from up there you get a stunning panorama of the sea and the Old Town of Budva. It was easy to shoot reportage here, the candid faces, the hugs, the first hellos, everything that happens on its own, while a live saxophone played on the terrace.
The ceremony on the pier
The ceremony was set right by the water, out on the pier, looking out over the sea. We photographed the decor, the laid tables, and the arch, including from a drone, so that all that warm, vivid atmosphere would be captured from above too. A friend of the couple officiated, which made everything even more heartfelt. The groom walked down the aisle first, with his father and mother, then the bride’s children and sisters, and only then did the bride herself appear. It was incredibly moving. There were jokes and laughter throughout the ceremony, and at one point the groom’s father broke into song, which was funny and goosebump-inducing all at once. Then the newlyweds exchanged rings.
Breaking the glass and the first kiss
At the end the groom, following tradition, broke a glass with his foot, and the guests shouted “Mazel tov!”, which is a wish for happiness. They were pronounced husband and wife, there was the first kiss, and then, to applause and a whole sea of confetti, the newlyweds left the ceremony spot.
What stayed with me most was the moment when, in the middle of the ceremony, the groom’s father suddenly started to sing. It was funny and goosebump-inducing at the same time, the kind of thing you just never forget.Maria
The hora and the evening by the sea
Next we took the group shots and the portraits of the couple alone, by the arch and on the upper terrace, in the soft light of sunset. The couple’s entrance to their guests was loud and joyful, and it flowed straight into dancing. And then the hora began. This is a dance where the newlyweds and the guests are lifted up on chairs to the lively “Hava Nagila”, the guests spin, climb onto each other’s shoulders and jump, and the fun seems to have no end. After that came toasts and dinner, a short pause before the main party, and then cocktails and dancing again, now with a DJ.
Bringing two cultures, the tish, a ceremony by the water, and an evening hora together in one day takes a good wedding planner, and that is exactly the kind we would gladly recommend to you through us. If you are planning a wedding by the sea, take a look at our guide to a Sumosan (Dukley) wedding. And if you are looking for someone to photograph your whole day, write to me: I, Maria, am a wedding photographer in Montenegro.