While everyone focuses on June brides and sunny summer days, perhaps the best season in Israel deserves a second look. It’s autumn in Israel, when the weather is cooler, the days are shorter, and along with the temperature, prices tend to drop as well.
Here in Israel, we’ve just turned the clock back one hour, and fall truly is in the air, bringing with it the best news the country has had in some time: Israel is back in business! That’s right, as of November 1, Israel will be open to tourists*, so go ahead and plan that wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or family reunion!
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall – all you gotta do is…plan your event now! Here are a few tips to inspire you to have a beautiful fall event in Israel:
WEATHER THE WEATHER
While the days are generally cooler, Israel’s weather can be uneven, with unusually warm days followed by rain the next day. If your event is mostly outdoors, like a bar mitzvah at the Kotel, have a backup plan in case the forecast calls for rain. Most wedding venues offer a tented outdoor section for the chuppah beginning in the fall. Evenings in Jerusalem and the surrounding hills tend to get chilly, so ask the venue if they have outdoor heat lamps. You may consider providing colorful shawls as a party favor. These are great ways to make sure your guests are comfortable.
COLOR MY WORLD
Incorporate nature’s gorgeous fall color palette into your event – rich shades of gold, orange, yellow, green, and maroon are stunning combinations for invitations, table decor, flowers, dried leaves. Coordinate with wedding party dresses, bar and bat mitzvah outfits, and accessories such as ties and kippot.
TASTE THE SEASON
With a cornucopia of gorgeous produce and delicious flavors, it’s easy to bring the taste of fall to your event. Work with your caterer to create a menu around seasonal vegetables and fruits – butternut squash, pumpkin, persimmons, apples, pears and more. Fall is the official start of soup season in Israel. Welcoming guests with a soup bar at the welcome reception is always a hit. Serve hot apple cider with apples and cinnamon along with coffee and tea. Many Americans schedule events around Thanksgiving time and serve a traditional meal of turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings.
SUNRISE, SUNSET
With shorter days, you may want to talk to your event photographer about the best time to get those great ‘golden hour’ shots. Schedule your photoshoot accordingly, and make sure you know what time the sun sets.
GET ME TO THE CHUPPAH ON TIME
Speaking of sunset, If you want to have your chuppah before the sun goes down, for example, chances are you’ll be inviting your guests for an early wedding. In that case, don’t forget to pay attention to your event timeline. Most halls, bands allot six hours from the start of your reception before overtime charges kick in, so plan accordingly.
*Make sure you stay on top of all the current regulations as they can literally change overnight. Check with the Ministry of Health, or your event planner for the latest updates.
