Hopak/Kozatsky Dancing Ramps Up Wedding

Samantha Morton met Billy Schlesinger at a Shabbat dinner in Toco Hills. Their journey led them to the industrial setting at Midtown’s Bishop Station on June 23 where 120 guests toasted to their marriage.

Samantha said, “We were so lucky to have our best friends fly in from all over — even as far as Brazil. They propped us up the entire weekend and especially on the wedding day. We felt very loved.”

Rabbi Ari Sollish explains the beauty and meaning behind the chuppah.

The venue was one upon which the parents could all agree. Samantha values old buildings, and Bishop Station was perfectly renovated to showcase its original barrel ceiling. She was also drawn to the courtyard, particularly “feeling enclosed while still being outside.”

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Samantha’s dress was a bespoke tailor-made gown. Post-ceremony, she changed into a dress by Zimmerman. Billy also had to change clothes part way into the dancing after the crowd encouraged him to tear open his shirt. At one point, Billy’s dress shirt was hanging from the ceiling rafters. “I wanted to set the tone and bring the energy to the dance floor,” said Billy.

Guests leave messages for the bride and groom on a rotary phone.

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman served as the Mesader Kedushin and Rabbi Ari Sollish narrated the Jewish traditions as master of ceremonies. The couple valued the spiritual energy created with the help of so many rabbis and community members.

With temperatures hovering above 90, Rabbi Schusterman opted to forgo a traditional speech under the chuppah. Later, he sent the couple his prepared thoughts relaying how the week’s parsha was about the spies not being allowed to enter the Promised Land. The notes read, “As a result, they had to wander in the desert for another 38 years. Billy and Samantha, you have been on your own journey, but now, you both have courage in you. You have the maturity — enter into the Promised Land with joy, faith, confidence and fun.”

The hora got the guests fired up!

Rabbi Schusterman paid a special acknowledgement to the bride’s grandmother, Belle Brodsky (OBM), as a hawk landed right above the chuppah. The mother of the bride, Lisa, added, “I believe that loved ones who have passed away ‘visit’ as birds.”

The couple’s first dance was to “When I’m Smiling and Astride You,” by Father John Misty, followed by a surprise choreographed dance to “Habib Galbi” by A-WA, an Israeli-Yemenite band. For the “shtick,” the men danced their hearts out.

Samantha’s brother tried his own hand at the Hopak/Kozatsky dance. A family friend, Richard Soloman, did multiple forward rolls on his head. Samantha said, “Our absolute favorite part was when the photographer put down his camera and danced for us. Another favorite detail was our guestbook – we had an old rotary phone with a built-in recording device. People then left voice messages for us – in English, French, Hebrew, and Russian.”

Mattie walking Billy down the aisle.

Parents are Drs. Lisa and Peter Morton, Mattie Schlesinger and the late Alan Schlesinger. Samantha appreciated her mom, Lisa’s, wisdom when she intervened earlier that weekend. Samantha intended to set up the rehearsal (Shabbat) dinner solo. On the to-do list was “pick up rentals, buy flowers, set linens, arrange table settings, candles and vases.”

Samantha revealed, “My mom, much more realistic than me, secretly paid the vendor to deliver the rentals and set the tables. I was left with the fun, creative task of assembling the vases. I really underestimated undertaking that alone. My mom truly saved the dinner!”

Guests took shade with parasols and umbrellas.

Samantha, 32, graduated Riverwood High School before earning a degree at the University of Georgia, and later a graduate degree at Georgia Tech. She currently works as a consultant in high-performance building technologies. Billy, 31, went to Florida State University and works in supply-chain logistics while studying for his master’s in the same subject.

Off to a honeymoon in Iceland, Billy concluded, “I finally understood the mental burden of planning such a big event the week leading up to the wedding. I was glad we got to take a vacation and absorb everything that just took place. We spent every day exploring the island. Waterfalls, rock formations, glaciers, craters, lava fields, wildlife, more waterfalls, and geothermal pools. There was endless adventure.”