Oakland Cemetery Comes Alive with Wedding, Circus Tent
Erin Krinsky and Kevin Ross tied the knot to confirm new life adjacent to some of Atlanta’s most illustrious grave sites.
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.
We’ve covered weddings on beaches, mountaintops, and even rooftops, but not much on cemetery grounds, which was just perfect for Erin Krinsky and Kevin Ross.
Erin Krinsky and Kevin Ross met during COVID on a dating app in Atlanta. After Erin had been staying an extended amount of time in Savannah with her family, they both felt they were in the right place in life to meet their “life” partners and did. Their first date was at the Righteous Room on Ponce.
Erin is exactly one day older than Kevin. She grew up in Atlanta, and Kevin grew up in Marietta. They both attended the University of Georgia at the same time and most likely had been in the same rooms as each other on many occasions, but never met. Erin is a labor attorney and Kevin is an insurance executive.
Like a good Jew, Kevin proposed to Erin after her family on Passover Seder in Savannah in the Spring of 2023. The wedding was planned in less than six months, because they wanted to get married in Atlanta during autumn, so that her grandmother, Barbara, who is 93, could attend.
Based on various “musts,” like being able to bring their own alcohol and vendors, the couple landed at Oakland Cemetery which is less than a mile from their house in Old Fourth Ward. They sentimentally loved the idea because they go there often on walks with their dogs. And who could resist the idea of a big outdoor wedding with a circus tent?
Historic Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s oldest public park and the final resting place of many of the city’s most noted citizens. Less than a mile from downtown, it has 48 acres known for its ancient magnolias and oaks.
On Oct. 7, 250 guests celebrated with parents Lois and Curt Ross and Rita and Fred Krinsky; Barbara Krinsky was the only grandparent in attendance. Dave Poe’s of Marietta, the Ross family’s favorite restaurant, was the caterer. Flowers were by Chattahoochee Queen and were incorporated in the chuppah made by Erin’s friends. The bride’s bouquet was tailor made by Erin’s younger brother, Jules Krinsky.
Guests were dancing (but not on graves) to the music of live band Bonnie Blue – a Southern rock jam band from Jacksonville, whom Erin and Kevin have seen numerous times over the course of their courtship. The First Dance was to “Caravan,” by Van Morrison. The cake was from Publix topped by the Atlanta Braves OutKast Bobblehead – just the touch that this fun couple would select.
It was important to Erin to have a Jewish ceremony performed by her childhood rabbi, Philip Krantz, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Sinai. Through the decades, he was close to the Krinsky family, which was very meaningful. His comments included Erin being “a memorable person, even at a young age,” which resonated with Kevin because when he first met her, he thought, “Wow, she is unlike any person I have ever met before!”
There were sentimental family heirlooms under the chuppah for the ceremony, including Erin’s grandfather, Moe’s, tallis and Kiddish cup, and grandmother Barbara’s parent’s wine decanter.
No formal lacy flowing cathedral train and veil for this au courant attorney. Erin wore a short white dress by Staud, and Kevin wore a linen J Crew suit with a button-down shirt. Attendants wore party attire.
“We really encouraged people to wear bright, colorful festive outfits!” said Erin.
Nia Thompson was the super wedding planner. Erin said, “We knew there were a lot of moving parts with an outdoor wedding, so we definitely needed a coordinator to help execute on the wedding day so we could really just be guests. I did most of the planning, but Kevin, as incredibly supportive, typically approved of all the decisions. “
Steven Eisenstein, of Classic Tents and Events out of Norcross, provided the 60-foot by 100-foot tent. Erin extolled, “They were one of the only companies that promoted using a pole tent, circus tent, which visually was so fun. Steve was a pro and made everything easy. Considering the Atlanta weather, which can be hot in October, we just felt like our plan B, for rain or intense heat, needed to be our plan A. We had the ceremony outside in front of a great oak tree, and then had the party and band under the tent.”
Thompson added, “Erin hired all vendors, while I stepped in the final couple of months to tie up loose ends and coordinate all logistical details like scheduling the tent inspection, communicating with vendors, editing timelines and diagrams, and being on site for all vendor load in. I enjoyed being a part of a unique wedding, and handling a different set of challenges than I am used to.”
Erin concluded, “The favorite thing we did was get picked up in a Cadillac by Jimmy Eldorado and driven to our after party at Underground Atlanta.
An early summer honeymoon to Sicily is planned.
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