Samantha Morton met Billy Schlesinger at a Shabbat dinner in Toco Hills. Their trip took them to the Bishop Station industrial park in Midtown on June 23, where 120 guests toasted their wedding.

Samantha said: “We were so lucky that our best friends flew in from everywhere – even from Brazil. They supported us all weekend and especially on the wedding day. We felt very loved.”

Rabbi Ari Sollish explains the beauty and meaning behind the chuppah.

All the parents agreed on the venue. Samantha loves old buildings and Bishop Station has been perfectly renovated to showcase its original barrel vaulted ceiling. She also loved the courtyard, especially “as you felt enclosed while you were outside”.

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Samantha’s dress was a custom-made gown. After the ceremony, she changed into a Zimmerman gown. Billy also had to change mid-dance after the crowd asked him to rip open his shirt. At one point, Billy’s shirt was hanging from the rafters. “I wanted to set the tone and bring energy to the dance floor,” Billy said.

Guests leave messages for the bride and groom on a rotary dial telephone.

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman served as Mesader Kedushin and Rabbi Ari Sollish served as master of ceremonies, expounding on Jewish traditions. The couple appreciated the spiritual energy that was created with the help of so many rabbis and community members.

With temperatures over 90 degrees, Rabbi Schusterman skipped a traditional speech under the chuppah. Later, he sent the couple his prepared thoughts, sharing that the week’s parasha was about the spies being denied entry to the Promised Land. The notes read: “As a result, they had to wander in the desert for another 38 years. Billy and Samantha, you have your own journey behind you, but now you both have courage within you. You are mature enough – enter the Promised Land with joy, faith, confidence and fun.”

The Hora fired up the guests!

Rabbi Schusterman paid special tribute to the bride’s grandmother, Belle Brodsky (OBM), as a hawk landed directly over the chuppah. The bride’s mother, Lisa, added, “I believe that loved ones who have passed away ‘visit’ us as birds.”

The couple’s first dance was to “When I’m Smiling and Astride You” by Father John Misty, followed by a surprise dance with choreography to “Habib Galbi” by A-WA, an Israeli-Yemeni band. The men danced their hearts out for the “slapstick.”

Samantha’s brother tried his hand at the Hopak/Kozatsky dance. A family friend, Richard Soloman, did several forward rolls on his head. Samantha said, “Our absolute favorite part was when the photographer put down his camera and danced for us. Another beautiful touch was our guest book – we had an old rotary phone with a built-in recorder. People would then leave us voice messages – in English, French, Hebrew and Russian.”

Mattie leads Billy to the altar.

The parents are Dr. Lisa and Peter Morton, Mattie Schlesinger and the late Alan Schlesinger. Samantha was grateful for her mother Lisa’s wisdom when she stepped in that weekend. Samantha wanted to organize the rehearsal dinner (Shabbat) on her own. The to-do list was: “Pick up loaner items, buy flowers, lay out table linens, arrange table decorations, candles and vases.”

Samantha revealed: “My mum, who was much more realistic than me, secretly paid the dealer to deliver the rental items and set the tables. I was left with the fun, creative task of putting the vases together. I really underestimated that I would have to do this on my own. My mum really saved the dinner!”

Guests can find shade under parasols and umbrellas.

Samantha, 32, graduated from Riverwood High School before graduating from the University of Georgia and later Georgia Tech. She currently works as a consultant for high-performance building technologies. Billy, 31, attended Florida State University and works in supply chain logistics while pursuing his master’s degree in the same field.

Billy concluded with the honeymoon in Iceland: “I finally understood how much mental strain it is to plan such a big event the week before the wedding. I was glad we were able to take a vacation and take in everything that was happening. We explored the island every day. Waterfalls, rock formations, glaciers, craters, lava fields, wildlife, more waterfalls and geothermal pools. There were endless adventures.”