What are your names?
Becca and Jordan Itkowitz
What is your anniversary date?
3/11/06
How long have you now been married?
March will be 8 yrs
We’d love to share with everyone how you met, can you tell that story?
Jordan and I met through mutual friends going out in Scottsdale. Funny enough, I met my Jewish raised Hubby through a Catholic singles group! I looked terrible from arranging furniture in a showroom all day but managed to say something pretty funny and converse with him a while. When my best friend and I were leaving he shook my hand longer…We knew we’d meet again- a couple of weeks later we arranged to go to First Friday Art Walk in Phoenix. There, we just clicked. We knew we’d be together & have ever since. (He is a much better writer than I am… Maybe I should get HIS side of the story! lol)
And of course we have to tell everyone how you got engaged… it’s our favorite part; please share!
Again… I’d had a long day of rearranging a furniture and accessory store. Messy pony tail, disheveled office clothes (I wasn’t prepared to spend the day in the store).. I pulled up to my condo in Tempe and was so confused- there was all of this glowing light coming from my living room window. I thought maybe my Jewish boyfriend was excited to try out some Christmas lights and was perplexed. I unlocked my door and walked in, expecting to see him untangling strands of white lights and a little worried he’d started with out me! haha! – Instead- my ENTIRE living/dining room area was covered in white candles (on foil squares so as not to mess up furniture- how thoughtful!). This massive glow was him having put out white candles everywhere- shimmering off the foil squares and mirrored wall. It was beautiful! And warm- poor guy was getting warm in there! I was so totally surprised I couldn’t speak. I finally managed a Jordan! Yes!
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Please tell us about your wedding? What were some of the details? Where was it? What were your favorite parts?
Our wedding was at the Desert Botanical garden in Phoenix. We looked at several venues but this one seemed to fit us. Even with Scottsdale’s beautiful resorts and golf clubs, the red rocks and nature spoke to me and luckily Jordan liked it too! We had originally planned on having the ceremony with the red rocks behind us. However, March 11, 2006 was the day the 150-ish days of zero rain broke. Boy did it rain. From 12am until about11pm. North Scottsdale had SNOW! Saguaros dusted with SNOW! INSANE! Needless to say, our forethought to have a back up plan paid off and we were able to offer or plan A room to another couple that was having their wedding under a pavilion in the garden while we moved to plan D. Yep, Plan D folks. Freezing rain drove us INSIDE at the beautiful botanical gardens. It was still so lovely. The deacon couldn’t read his words in the dim light under the chuppah, the girls dresses matched the tapestries in the room PERFECTLY (happy accident), the hand held flowers were beautiful- I skimped on the tables using large candles in jars since we were going to be out in nature but it was fine… Everyone looked beautiful and was happy to celebrate with us. I loved our vows. I loved that my grandparents made the trip from Missouri, and I LOVED that people danced and partied!
What is the best memory you have from your wedding day?
Standing under the chuppah, seeing our friends and family around us. Laughing through tears during our vows.
Of course we have to hear about your pictures, since we were your photographers. What was it like having Kimberly photograph your wedding? What do you remember most about your photography? What is your favorite picture to this day?
We were so THRILLED to have Kimberly shoot our wedding. She braved our nerves and the crazy weather. We got fantastic photos in the rain! Kim got out out there in dresses, heels, and hair- I’m glad we did too because I’m not one to shy away from getting wet in the rain normally- so why not go have fun on our wedding day?! Some of my favorite photos are of us during our vows. I remember crying (expression emotions = tears for me) and laughing. Kimberly caught those emotions- at the alter and walking in the rain too. Photos of laughter. I love those! SO MANY great pictures… The ones we have framed are the ones of Jordan and I walking and laughing in the rain. love it.
Now that your wedding is over, what is the one thing you look back on and are so thankful that you did?
Oh gosh. I think we are both so thankful we had a plan D! Renting the additional room at the botanical garden was such a good idea and Jordan gets all the credit for that move. The rain was beautiful, symbolic and romantic but it was also COLD. I think having our guests warm and dry helped them party all the more. They were comfortable and relaxed and seemed to have a blast.
How has life changed since your wedding day, please fill us in on all the details (moves, kids, new houses, promotions, etc).
Holy Moley… Do you have time? haha. a few days before our wedding we were doing final walks on our newly built home. We were getting married a couple days later and moving in after our honeymoon! In July 2007 we welcomed Max Asher into our home. Kim was there to take photos before and after his birth and along his first milestones. Shortly after Max turned 2 we moved to Colorado, an area just outside Boulder. 3 months after our move, Evan Julian was born (Hence his rooting for the Broncos!). We LOVED living in Colorado (and would go back!), but… after nearly 2 1/2 years in Colorado (and having started building another house) we moved to the East Bay of San Francisco. We now live in Moraga, CA. We have been here 2 years and are curious to see where life takes us next! Who knows?!. Jordan is still working in the game industry and enjoying what he does. After nearly 7 years at home I’m exploring how to get back into work!
If you have kids can you please share with us about them… we LOVE to hear fun kid stories.
Max, age 6 is a creative little director. Always focused on what comes next. He is a first grader this year and loves to torment his younger brother, sometimes loving him too rough. He is a master minecrafter and LEGO constructor. Evan, age 4, keeps us in stitches. He reminds us all not to take ourselves too seriously. He is beginning to attempt minecraft too and of course loves LEGOS too. We try to keep a book of their hilarious quotes. You *think* you will remember but you don’t… like right now… *crickets* But I swear, the say some funny funny stuff (don’t all kids?!)
Do you have any updated pictures? Tell us about this picture that you are sending to us.
I will see what I can add… we’ve not had professional pics in AGES 🙁 I hope to have an updated pic of the two of us (maybe even the 4 of us!) this weekend… I’ve attached Jordan and Max: cubscouts, Max & Evan kayaking under the Tetons this summer, Jordan and I in Austin, TX, and the boys at Disneyland.
When you were newly weds did you picture this would be your life, this many years after your wedding?
I’m not sure I imagined too far into the future as a newlywed. I imagined having a couple of children- and we do! We still have our dog Sedona too. We are entering the world of t-ball, soccer, scouting.. So a lot of things i expected ARE coming true. I think the one thing that hasn’t is the closer knit community… probably because we’ve moved every 2 years for the last 8…building your tribe takes time!
If you were to go back in time and tell your newly engaged selves one thing, what would it be?
I’d tell us not to worry so much about what everyone else wants us to have and do what speaks to our hearts. Choose what you love. Choose the people you love.
Do you have any advice for new bride and grooms?
This is good- I wish I’d have had more advice! That said- I’m not sure what I have to offer other than what I said before. Follow your heart and your gut. Make choices that are best for the two of you.
by kimberlyjarman