One Bride’s Challenge: Finding a Modest Wedding Gown

June is traditionally the month for weddings . . . and speaking of June and tradition and weddings, I was fascinated to learn about a traditional Orthodox Chassidish Jewish wedding held in Lake Mary on June 20.

The bride was Angela Hillis of Casselberry, a student at Valencia Community College who works at the Chabad of Greater Orlando synagogue. Her groom was Sam Shtulman of Coral Springs, a 4th-year student at the University of Central Florida who works at Cohen’s Kosher Deli in Clermont. The couple now live in Casselberry.

Mother-of-the-bride Lonni Hillis shared some of the fascinating details.

For her daughter, she says, finding an appropriate gown was a bigger challenge than for most brides. According to tradition, the gown had to be tznius (modest). In this era of strapless, backless, low-cut wedding dresses, where would a bride turn for a design with a high neckline and long sleeves?

There are websites that offer modest dresses for special occasions, but Anglea decided to have hers made at Imperial Design in Casselberry. The tailors at Imperial also made dresses for the mother-of the-bride and maid of honor, and for the groom, a kaputa, the coat Orthodox Chassidish men wear for weddings and special holidays.

Having the bridal gown, mother’s and maid’s dresses custom-made wasn’t too expensive, says Lonni. And it meant Angela could get married in the (modest) dress of her dreams, above. (For a closer look, see the image at the end of this post.)

Fashioned from stretch satin, the white gown has a high, round neckline, three-quarter sleeves and a long skirt with a small train and crinoline. Ruching adds interest to the drop-waist bodice , which is embellished with crystals and beads. A simple white veil completes the ensemble. Altogether beautiful, don’t you think?

Also according to tradition, the groom arranges the veil over the bride’s face. She wears it to the part of the service conducted under the chuppah (wedding canopy), which is conducted outdoors, then moves it off her face after the prayers are concluded.

A few other traditions, of which I was ingorant: While the couple is under the chuppah, the family walks around them seven times, they drink wine and then the groom crushes the glass under foot.

The reception was held at the Marriott Hotel in Lake Mary, which had their kitchen koshered for the occasion. The glatt (strict) kosher meats and parve (containing no meat or milk products) desserts were shipped in from areas with large Orthodox communities. During the reception, the room is divided by a mechitza (head-height partition), and the men and women eat and dance separately.

“We do traditional dances. We go crazy — the women are screaming, their friends lift up the bride and groom so they can see each other over the partition. It goes on for hours,” says Lonni. Two photographers are used – male for the men, female for the women. And for six days after the wedding, instead of heading out on honeymoon, the couple attends a party each night at a different home in the community.

Angela’s dress may have been modest, but it seems the wedding was an exuberant and joyful ooccasion all the same!