Press
WONDERFUL WEDDINGS
Local business adds personal wedding touch
When Margery and Eli Langner were married in 1989, the two artists decided to design their own huppah, or wedding canopy, rich in Jewish symbolism, combining the words of the Baal Shem Tov with 32 flames—the number that corresponds with the Hebrew word for "heart. " The huppah was so admired by guests that the Langners immediately created a new business, Original Design Huppah, and began making personalized huppot for clients around the world.
The huppah, a symbol of a couple's first home together, is a reminder of the tents of our nomadic ancestors. It is also a physical reminder of the couple's commitment to one another as well as a piece of Jewish artwork with special meaning to its owners. Creating a customized huppah can give a couple the opportunity to reflect on the history of their relationship and the places, objects and people that add meaning to their lives. For many of the Langners' clients, the huppah also serves as a family heirloom. Some couples incorporate the huppah into baby-naming ceremonies for their children or use the fabric to create a bris pillow. Others send their huppah back to be adapted for their children's weddings, sometimes having the names of each new family member embroidered onto the fabric. "It's like a fabric record of the important events that happened in the family," says Margery.
To add a personal touch, couples often incorporate pictures of family members or materials that have sentimental value to the bride and groom, such as a piece of clothing, fabric from a mother's or grandmother's wedding dress, or in the case of one groom, a square cut from his baby "blankie."
Jacob Friedman and Marcy Subrin, a Tucson couple whose wedding is coming up in June, have eight friends and family involved in making their huppah. Each person will help design a square with embroidery, hand drawings or transferred pictures. "It's a great way of having everyone's blessing for the wedding," says Friedman. The couple was drawn to the concept of a huppah that will become a lasting part of their home. "We decided it would be nice to have something to hang up in our home afterward," says Friedman.
Often, couples choose to combine personal elements with traditional Jewish symbols and verses, including images of doves, the city of Jerusalem or lines from the biblical Song of Songs. Friedman and Subrin's huppah, for example, will include the imagery of a Tree of Life.
The Langners each bring their own talents into the process of creating a huppah. Margery, a former schoolteacher who also trained at the Parsons School of Design in New York, typically discusses ideas with clients and works on the embroidery. Eli, who majored in drawing at New York's Pratt Institute, where he received a degree in fine arts, does the sketches. "It's a great joy" to be able to work so closely together, says Eli.
In addition to serving local clients, Original Design Huppah works with couples worldwide through its website, customjudaica.com. One of her most enjoyable experiences, Margery says, was traveling to Tokyo, Japan, where she met three couples for whom she had designed huppot. In each couple, an American businessman had married a Japanese woman who had subsequently converted to Judaism, and the couple wanted a huppah that blended Jewish and Japanese symbols.
The Langners also design religious artwork for synagogues, including Torah covers, tallitot, ark curtains and bris chairs. For Margery, creating the items is both artistically and spiritually significant. "I feel very honored and blessed to have the ability to make objects that get to be used in such an important and spiritual way," she says.
Margery appreciates the opportunity to become part of a family's process of marking important events and creating a legacy. "It really means a lot to me," she reflects, "because I become part of their family tradition."
For more information, contact Margery and Eli Langner at (800)517-1965 or (520)749-8111, or e-mail margerylangner@comcast.net.
Valerie Saturen received her M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Arizona in 2007. She lives in Tucson.
|
Testimonials
Many thanks for helping to make our daughter's wedding lovely and unique. We wish you could have heard the guests' gasps of delight when your huppah was walked down the aisle. We'll send you a picture soon -- the huppah is being framed to hang in Amy & Josh's home.
-- Allen & Genie Kutchins
We cannot thank you enough for your hard work and for helping to make our wedding day so special and beautiful. We really can't thank you enough for your patience and thorough attention to detail. We have been receiving many compliments and are delighted by the coverage in Moment magazine.
-- Danielle & Mark Rosenberg
Thank you for the picture [of our huppah] in The Complete Jewish Wedding Planner [by Wendy Chernak Hefter]. We are honored to be included in this book. Margery: Michael and I truly loved working with you and Eli. The huppah will always bring to mind the fun and excitement of planning our special, unique design. You and Eli truly reflected our feelings for each other and for our families. Your patience, talent and judgment led us to become involved in our special keepsake -- thanks so much!
-- Stephanie & Michael Kaplan
Your head would be spinning if you heard the compliments on the wall hanging! Thank you very much for trying to meet our time schedule. It worked out splendidly.
-- Harriet Friedman
The huppah is absolutely beautiful... it helped make for a unique, loving wedding ceremony and we now have a family heirloom! Thank you for your talent, ideas, help and tolerance!
-- Judy K.
Just a short note to tell you how simply beautiful and special our huppah was at our wedding. Your talent and care was apparent, and the continuous compliments were a testimony to that. Thanks again for all you and your husband have done.
-- Susan Berger & Alan Schwartz
We love the huppah you made for us, and want you to know it's one of the nicest memories of our wedding. Thank you for doing it for us on such short notice.
-- Monica & Chuong Dang
Thanks for doing such a great job with our huppah. We received so many compliments on the "Jerusalem" scene. It added warmth and meaning to our ceremony.
-- Robyn Levy & Jamie Weisz
Michael and I wanted to tell you how pleased we were with [the] "White Wedding" [design], and how many guests commented on the beautiful huppah. It made our ceremony a very festive event -- and it came out beautifully in the photos!
-- Bonnie Newman & Michael Slavin
We continue to receive multiple compliments on the beautiful huppah hanging in our home! Thanks again...
-- Shelley & Josh Klainberg.
We're sorry you couldn't see how beautiful your huppah looked at our wedding! Without a doubt, the most breathtaking we've ever seen! The whole affair seemed to take on a certain elegant simplicity which the huppah just enhanced all the more. We've been flooded with praise. You're truly talented, and you made our service personal, memorable and beautiful!
-- Andrea & William Boyle
A belated but heartfelt THANK YOU for your amazing huppah! What a feeling, with those nearest and dearest walking down the aisle holding it -- it was such a noble, dignified and pure feeling! And then, to be "held" underneath it, with the belongings, sentiments and symbols of lost loved ones and our cultures during the most meaningful event of our lives -- there are no words to express the magnitude of it! You are truly gifted artists and the world is lucky to have you. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
-- Andrea Frisch & Gary Hara |