For Zach and Corinne Stroum, the local Jewish community was central to their relationship.
“We used to go to a lot of Jconnect events together,” says Corinne. “It framed all of our dates.”
They attended a class for engaged couples offered by Hillel at the University of Washington, which “got the hard questions out of the way early,” she says.
“When we got engaged it was a no brainer that Rabbi Oren [Hayon] would marry us.”
Corinne and Zach were married August 17 at the Arboretum, and they tried to include as many elements from the community as possible — local Jewish band the Debaucherantes performed at the reception, and a Jewish friend designed knit tablecloths with circles symbolizing gematria. The wedding itself was traditionally Jewish, as well.
“So many generations back, this is how they got married,” says Corinne. “We incorporated all of it. I look forward to my kids doing the same thing.”
— Emily K. Alhadeff