Braves + Mets Wedding with a Cheesy Tradition
The groom from Riverwood High School married a Jersey girl whose wedding dress was labeled “Georgia.”
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Joel Benjamin Feinberg and Ariel Touger married on Feb. 18 in Jersey City, N.J., long after “meeting” on the dating app Hinge, just two weeks after Joel moved to New York City from San Francisco. Their profiles both included references to loving baseball (Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets) and pasta — a match made in heaven! They dated for just over a year before getting engaged.
Joel used his social network to secure access to the ultra-exclusive Gramercy Park to get down on one knee by reaching out to a contact at the local synagogue. He proposed inside the park with a pre-arranged photographer waiting. Ariel was overjoyed, surprised; and they celebrated with a quiet dinner, and then a surprise celebration with friends and family at a local bar.
The wedding included 240 guests at Maritime Parc in Jersey City. They chose that location because of the magnificent views of downtown Manhattan, the size of the space, and its convenience. The décor leaned into a winter wedding theme with cedar branches, anemones, brunia, and cream roses, and pinecones. JR Florals of NJ brought the newlyweds’ vision to life. The couple chose to not have a wedding cake.
Classical Caterers supplied the kosher menu. The cocktail hour had five hot stations, including a carving station, poke bar, and passed hors d’oeuvres. Guests had a choice of chicken piccata, prime rib, seared ahi tuna, or portobello ravioli. Dessert included fried Oreos, cake pops, and sorbet shooters. For a unique touch, since Ariel and Joel fell in love with the Parma, Italy, tradition of sharing a cheese wheel with loved ones, they surprised guests with a mini-grater and cheese as a take-home gift. The couple’s first dance was to “Know that I Know,” by Lake Street Drive.
Bridesmaids selected their own black dresses in fun fabrics (velvet, sequins, etc.). The groomsmen wore their own black tuxedos and were gifted custom Nike Air Force One’s from the groom. Ariel wore an Allison Webb gown called “Georgia” – another sign of “meant to be” with a custom veil trimmed with lace from her mother’s veil. Other touches included Badgley Mischka shoes, her late grandmother’s earrings, and BHLDN design for her second dress. Joel wore a custom Suit Supply tux, custom Nike Air Force One’s, a Movado watch, and David Yurman cufflinks as a gift from Ariel. All jewelry was purchased from long-time friend and Atlanta jeweler, Jonathan Paz of Privée Diamonds Direct. The mother of the groom, Robyn, who owns RSVP (local Atlanta invitation studio) guided Ariel through the invitation process, asking all the right questions to help her future daughter-in-law find her vision.
Ariel and Joel were married by one of Ariel’s closest friends, Rabbi Ben Varon. “It was very special to hear a close friend reflect on how he saw our relationship grow.”
Heirloom kiddush cups and rings from both families, and the paternal grandfather’s tallit were used under the chuppah. Joel said, “We infused Jewish traditions throughout the wedding (tisch, bedeken, horah) that brought so much meaning to the day. Our friends and family really brought the love and party spirit. The band, Groove Shop, had everyone dancing all night.”
Ariel added, “We were raised in homes that both emphasized the importance of family, Jewish traditions, and, of course, rooting for your favorite sports team. Our parents’ strong relationships provided a great example of what we were looking for in a marriage.”
Ariel is a clinical social worker in early childhood at NYC Public Schools. She graduated from the University of Maryland and received her master’s degree at Columbia University. Joel is a senior product manager at Major League Baseball and graduated from GWU and Riverwood High School.
What Joel likes most about Ariel is, “Her curiosity, playfulness, and competitiveness. Every Wordle, crossword, or trivia … I love that she is so thoughtful, and I love to see her think.”
What Ariel likes most about Joel is, “How much fun I have with him. He is constantly making me laugh and even makes folding the laundry fun.”
Parents are Paula and David Touger of Millburn, N.J., and Robyn and Mark Feinberg of Johns Creek. The honeymoon is planned for summer 2024 to Japan.
Photography by Off BEET Productions
- Simchas
- Community
- Marcia Caller Jaffe
- Joel Benjamin Feinberg
- Ariel Touger
- Jersey City
- N.J.
- Hinge
- Atlanta Braves
- New York Mets
- Gramercy Park
- Maritime Parc
- Classical Caterers
- Lake Street Drive.
- Nike Air Force One’s
- Allison Webb
- Badgley Mischka
- Suit Supply
- David Yurman
- Jonathan Paz
- Privée Diamonds Direct
- Rabbi Ben Varon
- Groove Shop
- NYC Public Schools
- University of Maryland
- Columbia University
- GWU
- Riverwood High School
- Paula and David Touger
- Robyn and Mark Feinberg
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