Congregation Sons of Israel

Wedding Day

Wedding

Grand Marquis

Reception

Our Wedding

Both Allie and Adam had some awful luck in the love department and had almost given up all hope when Adam saw Allie's picture on Coffee Meets Bagel. He didn't know her name, but he thought he should take a chance on her and see if she liked what she saw as well... and she did! After not speaking to each other for a few days after saying hello because Allie never got a notification that Adam sent her a message, they have not stopped talking since. The first time they met in person, they knew there was something special about the other one and their first date lasted six hours!

How We Met

When Adam and I first started dating, before we were in an actual relationship, we were casually talking about wanting to travel. Adam told me he would catch himself daydreaming at work about trips we would take in the future. I asked him where he dreamed about us going and he responded with the typical, "Italy, France, England, Ireland..." and then he said, "but there would be one trip in particular we'd have to take before we could go to any of those other places." I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "You don't know?" I said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said, "You're going to make me say it, aren't you..." I said, "I don't know what you mean!" He said, "OF COURSE we have to go to Disney World first because obviously I have to propose to you there and THEN we can travel the world together." I was speechless. That, of course, was my biggest wish when it came to getting engaged... and of course, I hadn't told him that. I asked him how he knew that was one of my dreams and he said, "considering your love for Disney, it wasn't that difficult to figure out." That's when I knew he was the one for me.Fast forward a year and a couple months and we finally made it to Disney World after counting down for over 200 days when we booked the trip! I had that first conversation in the back of my mind, but was trying not to get my hopes up in case it wasn't going to happen. I had no idea when he would have had time to get a ring, or when he would have spoken to my dad, or where he would have packed it, or anything! he was incredibly sneaky about it... He then proceeded to throw me completely off guard. He asked me questions about which ring I liked the best out of four on an ad for a jewelry store in the airport terminal, and then FLAT OUT TOLD ME HE WAS NOT PROPOSING. I was convinced he was not going to propose to me on that trip, so we went through Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with no changes. Tuesday morning we got to Magic Kingdom at 7:45 AM to see the new Welcome Show in front of Cinderella Castle. Before the show started, Adam commented he needed to tie his shoes, so I told him to go ahead. He proceeded to get down on one knee and tie one shoe, stood up and said he needed to tie the other one. He then got down on the other knee to tie his other shoe and.... that was it. He tied his shoes. Mind you, I was not expecting ANYTHING at this point in the trip. I was positive if he was going to propose, he would have done it on our first day there, and he didn't.So we watch the Welcome Show and Adam turns to me and asked if we could take some pictures in front of the castle since there was barely anyone in line. I agreed to take some pictures and we headed over to a photopass photographer next to the Partner's Statue in the center of the castle hub. They snap some photos and when they were done, Adam asked if we could take some more further down Main Street. By this point I was really hungry because we didn't eat breakfast, but there was literally no line for the photographer, so I agreed. The photographer had us do some poses and took some pictures and when the photographer took the camera down, I waited for Adam to go have her scan his magicband. Instead of approaching the photographer, Adam asked if we could take one more picture. I turned to him with disbelief. He knew I was hungry and we had JUST taken pictures in another place on Main Street. What did he need one more picture for?! He put his arm around me and said, "Hon, we're in the Happiest Place on Earth, it's the most beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, there's only one thing I could imagine to make this day even more perfect." I stood there looking confused as he said all of this to me and then I saw him reaching in his pocket. My first word out of my mouth was, "NO," then I said, "YOU LIED TO ME?!" I kind of blacked out after that I was in such a state of shock. I heard him ask, "Will you marry me?" and I screamed, "YES!" I was crying and hyperventilating because I could not believe that he surprised me the way he did. It was such a wonderful and magical moment that I will remember forever.

The Proposal from Allie's Point of View

A long, long time ago, living in my parent's house after matching with Allie on Coffee Meets Bagel...

 

We had talked for a while texting back and forth as most internet dating people do and one night we ended up talking about the "what if's" we end up together forever. We were talking about traveling the world and I bring up the fact that before we go anywhere, we would have to go to Disney World, because I hadn't been there in almost a decade at the time and also it would be the perfect place to propose to her since we were both Disney fans.

 









One year later...

 









So, before this trip happened, I had mentioned to Allie that I should take her ring shopping, but everytime she talked about going,&nbsp;I always turned her down, saying I was tired from work or was just feeling lazy (yeah I know I'm not that creative.) I had asked her what her ideal engagement ring would look like&nbsp;and she told me in great detail,&nbsp;along with showing me all of the Pinterest rings she bookmarked. I kept saying to her that I had no opportunity to go shopping with her and buy one as she was always with me when we weren't in work and I wanted it to be a surprise.&nbsp;About 1 month prior to the trip, it was my Dad's birthday, and we decided to go into the city to see a Broadway show, but Allie wasn't able to go because she had family in town&nbsp;that she doesn't&nbsp;get to see very often. I see my opportunity and ask my dad if we could go to the diamond district in NYC to see if we can find a ring. Of course he says yes, indicating I&nbsp;have his blessing to ask Allie for her hand. So we go to a couple places but all they had were&nbsp;Halo engagement rings, not what Allie was looking for at all. So we go to one more place, and the guy brings us to his other shop across the road. Here is where I eventually find her ring. I looked at 3 separate stones and 2 settings. I haggle a bit and eventually the shopkeeper has me look at a slightly smaller stone, but was a better stone overall. My dad also at the same time found the perfect setting that was exactly what Allie wanted. Everything comes together after a bit more haggling (and a bit of attempted trickery from the jeweler) and I leave having purchased a ring. Allie was suspicious that I had gotten her a ring since I was in the city without her and with my parents. I took a picture of the extremely long TKTS line and tell her it was impossible to be getting her a ring as I had been waiting in this line all day for a show for my dad. The first step towards the surprise...

 









The Monday before our vacation was my last chance to ask her dad for permission to marry Allie, and as luck would have it, I got off from work early and at this point I had not gotten her dad's phone number to see if he was at home. Luckily he was there and after some conversation, I asked for Allie's hand and he said yes. I made sure that he kept this a secret from Allie to continue the surprise...

 









So the vacations to Disney finally arrives. We slept over my parent's house so they could drive us to the airport. I get to look at the ring for the last time until we get to Disney and of course it has a brand new black spot on it after being set by the jeweler. I started freaking out and actually almost got caught by Allie as she had called for me to come brush my teeth and I pretty much yelled at her that I would be there soon. What was I&nbsp;to do? I was distraught! My mom, being clever as she is, washes the ring under scalding hot water and the black spot came off. Phew! The next morning we get to the airport, Allie being slightly upset that we never went ring shopping and was losing hope that I even got a ring, much less spoke to her dad. When&nbsp;we got through security, there was an advertisement for engagement rings, one of which is almost exactly the ring I got for her and another was a Halo ring. I asked her which of those rings she likes the best and she picks my ring. Excellent! She gets really down now that she thinks I'm still looking for a ring. We get to Disney and she is so happy! We get to Magic Kingdom and we have an amazing time. We met with her friend Courtney and we had dinner together, where I told Courtney that I would be proposing to Allie on Tuesday, but that it was a surprise. The next day we spend&nbsp;time&nbsp;at EPCOT with Courtney and her sister with both of their fiancés. Allie makes a comment that she feels self-conscious about being the only non-engaged couple in the group. I&nbsp;pretend to get upset and ask her what would she like me to do? I had no time to go shopping with her or ask her dad for permission. This almost completely obliterates her hope of being proposed to on this trip. We have a spat about it during dinner where she says that I got her hopes up and she is just disappointed that it won't be happening. I swear I deserve an Oscar for my performance during these 3 days. Monday is uneventful in terms of anything ring related but I have to keep the facade up. It's so difficult seeing the woman I love that upset but trying&nbsp;to have a good time. We go to sleep that night... at least Allie does...

 









Tuesday morning comes and I have to sneak the ring out of a pouch that was hidden in&nbsp;a pair of socks in my backpack, put it into the ring box, and sneak that into the drawstring&nbsp;backpack we take to the park. That was nerve wracking enough, but&nbsp;then I had to get through park security without Allie noticing anything. We go inside the park and watch the welcome show and afterwards Allie says that she's very hungry and wants food. I naturally say that we should take pictures in front of the castle since the park is the&nbsp;most empty it's going to get. She agrees, but warns me that she is starving. As we're waiting on line to take the pictures, I secretly take the ring out of my bag and slide it into my pocket. There it would stay, surprisingly undetected, until the moment it was needed.&nbsp;We take the pictures and she says it's time to go get food. I convince her that I would like to take the pictures a little further back so we can&nbsp;get the entire castle behind us and centered in the frame. The look of hatred that&nbsp;was in her eyes, the man who wasn't proposing to her, the man who knew she was hungry and was denying her food, wanted to delay her more from her goal! But, she agrees after I tell her we got the photo plan for a reason. She begrudgingly agrees as long as it's the last set of pictures until food is given to her. I agree, knowing it would be all worth it. We take the routine pictures with all the poses and as the photographer asks to see my magic band to send the pictures to our account, I ask if we can take 1 more photo. Allie's eyes scream with hatred, this woman was officially HANGRY! I put my arm around her and say, "Honey, it's a perfect day outside, there is not a cloud in the sky, and we're in the most magical place on Earth. There's only one way I can imagine making this even more perfect." I slide&nbsp;my hand in my pocket. Allie's eyes bug out as all she can say to me at this point in time is, "YOU&nbsp;LIED&nbsp;TO&nbsp;ME!" I take out the ring from my pocket, get down on one knee and ask the big question, "Allison Gayle Wertheim, will you marry me?" I caught her so off guard, she is stunned and to this day still doesn't remember me using her full name. All the fake arguments, the looking and sounding sorry for not getting her a ring, not being able to ask her dad for permission, and ultimately leading her on was all worth it (and finally off my chest). She says "yes" through her tears and she also says she hopes her father would like the ring and if he would be excited to hear the news. I tell her he did like the ring and he knew this was happening today. The look on her face was priceless, I had successfully surprised her with every aspect. Oh, and she wasn't hungry for at least an hour and a half after she said yes. :D

The Proposal from Adam's Point of View

Our Story

Details

Photos

Bryan is Adam's best friend from college. They saw each other across a crowded classroom and the bromance of the century developed from there. Adam wishes Bryan was closer so they could see each other more, but is ecstatic that Bryan will be coming to NJ for the second time in two years to stand by his side. (It just means he has to go to Arizona two times in a row.)

Bryan Boklund

Allison is Allie's big in Kappa Kappa Psi. From the moment they met they knew they were destined to be best friends! They were partners for Marathon Theatre their freshman year which led to them being scene partners for their Senior Showcase in New York City in 2014. Since graduating they constantly keep in touch and Allie tries to go see Allison perform in shows whenever she can!

Allison Bloechl

Jeremy is one of Allie's best friends from Muhlenberg. They became super close when they discovered that they lived so close to each other! Since Jeremy lives in the area, Allie invited him over to her apartment to meet Adam. Adam and Jeremy got to talking about computers and video games, and the rest is history. Now Jeremy comes over for pizza and video games and Allie is so happy one of her best friends and her fiancé get along famously and are now great friends themselves!

Jeremy Borut

Heather is Allie's soon-to-be sister-in-law! Allie and Heather both love to sing and talk about musicals and they love the fact that they get to bond over something they're both passionate about! They're so excited that they get to be family especially since Heather told Allie that she already felt like they were family just from all the time they've spent together thus far.

Heather Cohen

Adam and Marty met while working at GfK. They bonded over their love of gaming and even played Halo in the office one time. Marty and Adam also have an epic bromance, so Allie is happy to give them some space when they want to have a pizza, scotch, and gaming night.

Marty Drag

Shelly and Allie (or Bob and Joe) have been each other's best friend since first grade. These two and Arielle Halpern come as a package as the three musketeers! Shelly is Allie's honorary sister. As only children, they adopted each other as family since they were 6 years old. Throughout the last 20 years they've done photoshoots, gone on adventures, talked each other through rough times, and shared plenty of great times and Allie is so excited to celebrate another amazing occasion with Shelly by her side!

Shelly Cohen

From the moment they met in a classmate's dorm room the first week of the second semester of their freshman year, Courtney and Allie knew there was something special about the other one. They bonded over their love of theatre and Disney and shared all their milestones in college together since they were roommates their sophomore, junior, and senior years! (Except when they studied abroad in different countries and missed each other terribly!) Allie was so excited for Courtney when she got into the Disney College Program and has gone to Disney to see Courtney many times since then. Allie is so excited to be by Courtney's side for her wedding and can't wait for Courtney to return the favor.

Courtney Dupre

Joe is Allie's best friend and brother from theatre. The first show they did together was in 2006, but they didn't become friendly until 2007 when Joe played Allie's Dad's son in Bye Bye Birdie. They started hanging out non-stop. Joe is who everyone has to thank for Allie's Disney obsession. It all started when he brought her with him to his family vacation in 2009. Since then they've had endless adventures and made a ton of music videos. Allie was so excited when Joe told her he was moving back to New Jersey and they love hanging out together just like the old days!

Joseph McKiernan

Arielle and Allie have been best friends since they met at Solomon Schechter. These two and Shelly Cohen come as a package as the three musketeers! Allie and Arielle have shared so many amazing memories together including seeing Wicked with the full original cast for Allie's 12th birthday! They've made fun of each other and supported each other and sang together for the past 20 years and aren't planning on stopping any time soon! They are sisters for life.

Arielle Halpern

Adam met Matt through his great friend from high school, Christina. Adam and Christina have been friends since middle school and when Christina introduced Matt to Adam, they got along greatly. Matt, Christina, Adam, and Allie love hanging out together, especially when they go for hibachi or play Jackbox games. Adam is so happy that Christina found someone as wonderful as Matt and can't wait to have him as a groomsman for his special day!

Matt Rattcliffe

Sophie and Allie are each other's "day one" from college. Fate put them in the same first year seminar and ever since that first day, they've been the best of friends. They got to perform together in their drag show for their first year seminar and also to close out their college mainstage careers in The Learned Ladies. Allie and Sophie were also roommates for their semester abroad in Arezzo, Italy and got to travel to Paris, France and London, England together where they had a blast and made hysterical music videos. They always love talking about everything and love seeing each other whenever they get the chance!

Sophie Hirsh

Daniel is Adam's soon-to-be (step)brother-in-law. It was nice having Daniel and his girlfriend Erin living across the street from Adam and Allie for a year, but they're always happy to get together at Allie's dad and step-mom's house for Shabbat dinner most Friday nights. Daniel was the most excited when he found out that Adam and Allie got engaged and were going to get married and he can't wait to stand by Adam for the wedding!

Daniel Terry

Ari and Allie have an incredibly special bond. They were essentially raised together when Ari's mom and dad took care of Allie when her mom was in the hospital. Allie became Ari and Sami's triplet from when they were 3 years old. They danced together and played together as children all the time! They had a blast seeing each other and exploring Italy when Ari was studying abroad in Florence and Allie was studying in Arezzo. It was amazing to have a childhood friend in a foreign country, making memories!

Arielle Nadler

Allie and Sami have loved each other since day one. Since their moms were best friends, they had to become best friends. They would play for hours every day as children and Sami and Ari adopted Allie as their triplet. Throughout the years Allie and Sami have done so much together including dance classes and camp and have been there for each other through good times and through bad times, and will continue being there for each other for the rest of their lives. Whether it's going to karaoke or eating sushi, these two are always having a good time together. (And Adam and Sam like each other a lot too!)

Samantha Nadler

Melissa is Allie's (step)sister. Though they met when they were already in their 20's, they are so thankful for each other. They love their sushi dates whenever Melissa comes home from Colorado and talk to each other on the phone whenever they can to catch each other up on everything going on in their lives while they're living so far away from each other. Allie always loves when Melissa comes home and she gets to see her sister and the entire family can be together.

Melissa Terry

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

We have chosen The Radisson Hotel in Freehold NJ&nbsp;for our guests to stay. If you choose to stay at The Radisson, please use the promo code 1810WC&nbsp;to book a room for our wedding weekend!&nbsp;The price breakdown is listed below:Thursday&nbsp;10/25/18: $109 plus taxes and feesFriday 10/26/18: $189 plus taxes and feesSaturday 10/27/18:&nbsp;$169 plus taxes and feesSunday 10/28/18: $99 plus taxes and feesCheck in is 4PM and check out is 11AMPlease call the hotel or visit the website to book your accommodations, and we can't wait to celebrate with you!

Radisson Hotel Freehold

When you stay at Radisson Hotel Freehold in Freehold, you'll be in the suburbs and convenient to Freehold Raceway Mall and Freehold Raceway.  This hotel is within close proximity of Monmouth County Historical Association Museum and Superior Court of New Jersey Monmouth Vicinage.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 121 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Satellite programming and video-game consoles are provided for your entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.Amenities Take advantage of recreation opportunities including an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access and wedding services.Dining Satisfy your appetite at the hotel's restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Planning an event in Freehold? This hotel has 8700 square feet (808 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.

Travel

The weekend of the wedding will be the last weekend of fright fest! For thrills and chills, visit Six Flags Great Adventure!

Allison & Adam

Allison & Adam

A&A

Wedding Day

10:00 AM

Wedding

Reception