“On May 13, 2010, my mom said all that she wanted for her birthday was for me to join Jdate.com, a Jewish online dating service. I was very hesitant but how could I turn down her birthday wish? I briefly searched the men available and stumbled upon ‘bluesman84.’ I had just moved back to Houston after going to college in NYC to study music business. With that kind of screen name, I had to talk to him. He was the first and last guy I ever spoke to on the site and we both never logged back on after that.” They never needed to, after all. By that time, Nicole and South African transplant Daniel were well on their way to forever. With her Russian and his South African background, the couple’s wedding was full of cultural touchstones, starting with its theme: “‘L’chaim, Cheers, Na’zdarova’—all three of these words mean ‘to life,’ but are said three different ways,” explains Nicole. Along with homage to their heritages, Nicole and Daniel’s wedding at the Omni Houston Hotel was rich with music. “My husband, who plays guitar, got on stage and sang a song he wrote to me, as well as a one-song reunion with his high-school band.” A treat for the couple, their 230 guests—many having traveled from locales including Israel, South Africa, Germany, London and Australia—the wedding, we can only imagine, was an especially sweet treat for Nicole’s mom, who got her birthday wish, and then some. Congratulations to all, and sincere thanks to Morgan Lynn Photography for the pretty pix.

Photos: Morgan Lynn Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Enzoani from Brickhouse Bridal ~ Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka ~ Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie ~ Flowers & Decor: Plants N’ Petals ~ Invitations: Bering’s ~ Venue: Omni Riverway