The Bride Designed Her Own Dress for Her Cliffside Wedding in Israel 

In 2016, Ross Belfer, the owner of Xhibition PR, noticed a photo of Maya Reik taken by a mutual friend and was immediately smitten. He got her information and proceeded to boldly, blindly reach out, not expecting a reply. But Maya wrote back, and after a lengthy exchange over email, they met in person for tea. Two-and-a-half years later, Ross proposed in the Seychelles. 
“We were on a sailing trip with my family for a week when it happened,” explains Maya, the creative director and owner of fashion label Marei 1998.

“I decided if I could snag her for a night alone at the end of the trip, that would be the perfect place to ask for her hand in marriage,” Ross says. “The ring was already in my possession—I just needed to find the ideal moment!”

In anticipation, Ross booked a private villa at Raffles Seychelles and informed the hotel staff there that this was where and when he was going to propose. “We convinced the skipper to sail toward the island of Praslin, where the hotel was located,” he says. “The view from the hotel is spectacular, you feel like you are in some sort of paradise.” After popping a bottle of bubbly, they lay in bed listing to their favorite song: ““S Wonderful” by Joao Gilberto. “Ross had hidden the ring box under the bed, so that he could reach for it and ask the big question without hesitation,” Maya remembers. “And that’s exactly what he did—and I, of course, said, ‘Yes!’”

Just one day after the proposal, the two began planning. They already knew they wanted to host the wedding at Maya’s childhood home in Beit Yanai, Israel, where her mother still lives. “The concept for the wedding was very clear to us,” Ross says. “Our place is Italy and the Mediterranean Rivera. We even have a dream to live there one day. The design, the aesthetic, the food, and the nature brings us a lot of inspiration and joy—so we combined this feeling with the Mediterranean atmosphere of Beit Yanai, one of the most special places in Israel.”

As an homage to the landscape, Ross wore a bespoke sand-color cashmere and linen two-piece suit. He traveled to Portugal to work with Ayres Gonçalo at his atelier. “Once the suit was ready, Ayres flew to Tel Aviv to deliver it to Ross and do the final fitting at our apartment,” Maya says. Meanwhile, the bride designed her own look. “I always dreamed of creating something very clean, elegant, simple, and sophisticated to wear on my wedding day,” she explains. “All of the fabrics I used were sourced from Italy, and the sewing process took place over several months with a seamstress in Israel who is very dear to my heart.” The dress was made from silk and crepe materials and was designed to be one continuous structure.

The ceremony took place on a small cliff in front of Maya’s house, overlooking the Mediterranean. The couple’s family arrived first, followed by Ross, who waited under the chuppah until Maya arrived with her veil over her face, in keeping with Jewish tradition. A live rendition of Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” played as Ross walked down the aisle, followed by The Beatles’ “And I Love Her” as Maya made her walk down the aisle. “We had both of our friends on either sides of the pathway on the cliff, creating a parting-of-the-Red-Sea-like effect when the two of us walked down the aisle, just as the sun was setting and dusk fell over the sea,” Ross says. Rabbi Eliyahu performed the ceremony, and Maya and Ross recited emotional vows. “Tears of joy poured down our faces during the ceremony,” Ross remembers. “It was incredibly special for us to have our families under the chuppah, and even more so for Maya to be joined by her grandmother Miriam, who is 88 years strong. The ceremony was the most special moment in our lives thus far. We will never forget that feeling!” After the rings were exchanged, Ross stamped on the glass with his right foot and sealed it all with a kiss.

Cocktail hour followed, and guests in “Mediterranean chic” attire were whisked away in vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages, and on Vespas to an Italian-style marketplace with a flower stand and a traditional taboon with gourmet pizzas, tables of cheeses, fresh figs, and other treats. Everyone mingled while samba and bossa nova music played in the background.

Dinner was served at long tables, with friends and family intermixed so everyone could get to know each other better. Erez Komrovsky, one of Israel’s pioneering chefs, and his partner, Hanan Azran, catered the meal, served family style. After dinner, DJ and producer Idan Gabriel took over the entertainment, spinning hip-hop, house, soul, and pop hits throughout the night. “We surprised our guests with a special performance by a legendary Israeli band, Balkan Beat Box, who brought the high-flying vibes to the forefront of the dance floor,” Ross says. “These performances all led into the after-party on the beach below the cliffs, where DJ Yotam ‘Yogo’ Goldman spun records until morning and guests swam in the sea under the moonlight, while others lounged on pillows and bean chairs—it was like a party right out of the movies.”