There was a whole friendship history here before Yael and Phil’s Rock Wall Winery wedding. We dressed up as Santas and went bar-hopping through San Francisco for SantaCon. We went to Giants’ games. We celebrated birthdays. We partied and ate late-night shawarma in Israel at (the other) Yael and Or’s Tel Aviv wedding. We danced and clinked many glasses at Katie and Roman’s Morgan Hill wedding and Lana and Chad’s Burlingame wedding.
The People
Yael is the one who is ALWAYS smiling, always happy, always enthusiastic and someone who loves her friends like family. She has been a bridesmaid many, many times for all her amazing friends because she is loved so much (and honestly everyone knows the party will be a lot more fun if she’s in the middle of it). We all wondered who Yael would someday find who could hang at her pace, who could let her shine and be able to shine right there alongside her, who could be as uplifting as she is to others. When Phil entered the picture (thanks to some legendary Jewish-mom matchmaking), everyone knew this guy was the one.
Phil exudes kindness and warmth, and does not shy away from the dance floor. He embraces the joy and hilarity of life, just like Yael. Meeting him for the first time is like meeting an old friend – he makes you feel appreciated and known.
Rock Wall Winery Wedding
Yael and Phil were married in a former airport hangar, which is now the home of Rock Wall Wine Company. It was a day of friends coming together on a beautiful, sunny day in a unique location. It was a day of witnessing two people receive the kind of love they have long waited for and deserved. Ben and I were guests this time, and Mauricio and Ryan were the photographers. Their photos from this wedding blew us away, and did justice to a day that was treasured by so many.
I’m sure Yael will continue to be a bridesmaid for many years to come, but at least now she has her forever date locked in.