FAQs

Question

SATURDAY: What is an Aufruf? Should I go to it?

Answer

Aufruf literally means "calling up." During a traditional Saturday morning service, Sarah and David will be called up to say a blessing in front of the Torah, and then the Rabbi will give a short blessing to Sarah and David on the occasion of their wedding. The whole thing will be quick - maybe a few minutes total. If you've ever been to a bar or bat mitzvah, this is like a much more toned-down version of that. We won't be leading any of the service, we won't be speaking, and we won't be actively participating in the service beyond our short blessing. We love our synagogue, Adas Israel, and we invite anyone who wants to join us for a traditional Shabbat morning service. But, if you're not inclined to sit through a few hours of services almost entirely in Hebrew just to see us for one blessing, we totally get that. If you do come to the service, there is a prize at the end: a bagel kiddush (reception).

Question

SATURDAY: How do I get to Adas Israel?

Answer

Some wedding weekend events are at Adas Israel Congregation, located at 2850 Quebec St NW, Washington, DC 20008. For those familiar with DC, this is in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, and just a few steps from the Cleveland Park stop on the Red Line. Because there is no parking lot at Adas Israel, we highly recommend either ubering or taking the metro (red line - get off at Cleveland Park). For those staying at the Omni, Adas Israel is a short walk away (~1 mile). Wedding events at Adas Israel will be located in the Gewirz Beit Am. When you walk into the synagogue, take your first left. This is NOT the main sanctuary.

Question

SATURDAY: What are we doing on Saturday night?

Answer

Everyone is invited to join us on Saturday night for Havdalah and an ice cream party! Havdalah is a very brief service (less than 10 minutes) where we say goodbye to Shabbat by singing, lighting a candle, drinking ceremonial wine, and smelling some spices. We'll then get to hang out, schmooze, and eat ice cream. What could be bad? The havdalah and ice cream welcome event is located on the roof of the Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Press “PH” in the elevator to get to the correct floor. We'll be there from 7-9 PM, but feel free to come and go as you'd please, especially if you have a coveted DC dinner reservation.

Question

SATURDAY: What is the dress code for Saturday night?

Answer

Completely casual! Seriously, come in whatever you were wearing Saturday during the day. Jeans are perfectly acceptable.

Question

SATURDAY: What should I do during the day? Where should I eat?

Answer

We're so glad you asked. Even though we've lived in DC for years, we still love playing tourist. We highly recommend spending time walking on the National Mall, seeing the monuments, and going to the Smithsonian museums - all of which are free. David's favorite Smithsonian is the National Museum of American History, Sarah's favorite is the Hirshorn Museum of Art. But really, you can't go wrong. For those staying at the Omni, the National Zoo is amazing and just short walk away - we just got new pandas from China! Tickets are free, but need to be reserved in advance. You're also right in the vibrant, fun neighborhood of Adams Morgan. We couldn't possibly list all of our restaurant recommendations. Check out the "Where to Eat" page of our website for some of our favorite spots in walking distance to the Royal Sonesta.

Question

SATURDAY: Are my kids invited to havdalah and ice cream?

Answer

Yes! Kids of all ages are welcome to join us for havdalah and ice cream on Saturday night at the Royal Sonesta.

Question

SUNDAY: How do I get to/from Union Station?

Answer

The beauty of having a wedding in a train station is that there are a million ways to get there. Those staying at the Royal Sonesta are just a short walk (5-10 minutes) from Union Station. You are also always welcome to Uber. At the end of the night, there will be a shuttle going from Union Station to the Royal Sonesta, since we don't want to make people walk in the dark. From anywhere else in DC, we are strong advocates for the Metro. Take the Red Line to Union Station, and you'll be right at the wedding! You can also certainly take an Uber. There is technically a (paid) parking garage at Union Station, though it can be hard to maneuver and the area immediately surrounding Union Station can be filled with traffic. We recommend against driving yourself if you can avoid it.

Question

SUNDAY: Your invitation says there is a "tisch" at 3 PM and a "chuppah" at 4 PM. What does this mean? When does the wedding actually start?

Answer

For all intents and purposes, the wedding starts at 3 PM, but don't feel like you have to arrive at 3:00 on the dot. The wedding will begin with a "tisch," which means "table" in Yiddish. We'll all be able to sit and eat and drink together, and participate in lots of joyous singing, in both Hebrew and English. At some point, David will try to give a D'var Torah (short speech about Jewish text), but everyone will interrupt with whatever song comes to their mind. We will also sign our ketubah, or Jewish marriage contract. The "chuppah," which starts at 4 PM, is what you might think of as a wedding ceremony: a processional, a Rabbi, rings, vows, blessings, stomping on glass, mazel tovs, the whole thing. You definitely don't want to arrive after 4 PM.

Question

SUNDAY: What is the dress code?

Answer

The dress code is "formal attire." We expect most people will be in suits and ties or dresses (no length requirement). That said, David loves a tux, so you definitely get bonus point if you wear one. And Sarah loves comfort, so you get bonus points if you're comfortable. (Clearly we give out bonus points pretty freely.)

Question

SUNDAY: Do I just walk into Union Station like I'm getting on the train?

Answer

Not exactly. We will be using a private entrance that is only for our wedding guests. If you're looking at Union Station from the street, the entrance is all the way to the right and will be clearly marked. (The entrance is just across the street from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Judicial Conference of the United States - isn't DC great?!)

Question

SUNDAY: What if I have dietary restrictions/preferences?

Answer

The wedding is a fully kosher meat meal. That means no dairy (so anything you see that LOOKS like diary is fake dairy). In honor of David's allergies, the wedding is also tree nut-free. If you listed other dietary preferences/restrictions on your RSVP form, we noted them and the caterer is aware. Feel free to ask any member of the staff for additional information.

Question

SUNDAY: What time will the wedding end?

Answer

The wedding will be over at 10pm. If you want to keep the party going, the Dubliner nearby is a good option.

Question

MONDAY: What's the deal with brunch?

Answer

We invite everyone to join us at the Royal Sonesta's "Bistro du Jour" for brunch on Monday morning before you head out of town (or, if you work in DC, before you head to work)! Brunch will be served from 8 to 11 AM. Come for as long or as short as you'd like. We fully expect that you've just rolled out of bed - there will be plenty of coffee!

Question

What happened to the RSVP page?

Answer

RSVPs are closed. Please call, text, or email us if your plans have changed.