The fates were obviously at work when Rose Goldberg’s family selected the small Caribbean island of Nevis for their winter vacation. While there, Rose’s older brother was amazed to bump into the fraternity brother of a friend, and they decided to meet at a beach bar after dinner. Although Rose had casually met Joshua Feinberg before, this time there was a bit of a “vibe” between them.
Thrown together again on New Year’s Eve, they were both too shy for a midnight kiss. On the ight back to New York City, Rose learned that Joshua would soon return to medical school in Israel. With a little assistance from matchmaking friends, he asked her out and they spent the rest of his break together. “When he left, we knew we’d stay in touch,” says Rose.
“HE SPOKE OF OUR STRONG ROOTS AND HOW AS A TEAM WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.”
Joshua sent owers and a cake for her birthday, and Rose’s father en- couraged her to follow her heart and visit him in Israel. There, love blos- somed. Two years after Joshua came back to New York for his residency, he asked her father’s permission to marry her.
A birthday celebration for Rose’s father served as diversion for the surprise proposal. At the last minute, Joshua requested Rose join him for a drink with colleagues before the dinner party. She resisted. “I was being so dif cult,” says Rose. They met in front of Joe’s Pizza, her favorite West Village place for a slice.
“Out on the sidewalk, Josh started saying all these sweet things,” remembers Rose. “I was so distracted I actually asked if we could talk about this later.” Then, Joshua got down on one knee and a heart-shaped pizza was brought out from the kitchen. “Rose was completely shocked,” says Josh- ua, remembering the look on her face as family and friends converged to congratulate them.
As the planning would be long distance, it was fortunate that this bride-to-be knew the time of year, venue, band and caterer she wanted for her wedding. When Joshua and Rose left in July for his year-long research fellowship in Oxford, England, her mom stepped in. “I couldn’t have done it without her,” says Rose.
The couple ew home for their December wed- ding at The Pierre in Manhattan where the bride’s parents had wed 37 years before. The groom’s uncle, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, performed the ceremony. “His words to us were so personal,” says Rose. “He spoke of our strong roots and how as a team we can accomplish anything.”
For the reception, Rose created a winter ro- mance ambiance in white and gold. The new- lyweds entered the ballroom to an already full dance oor and the high energy continued throughout the evening. “The toasts, the band and the dancing were all incredible,” says Joshua.
To ensure her wedding was not the blur that so many other brides describe, Rose was mind- ful of her surroundings. “We consciously took in the night, acknowledging each moment as it happened,” she says.
Three months later the couple honeymooned at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives. “The clear waters for snorkeling and the chance to ful ll my dream of swimming with whale sharks made this a perfect location,” she notes. “Between living in the United Kingdom and getting married,” says Rose, “this has been an amazing year for us.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel New York, NY
Planner: Parties by Ellen Adelsberg New York, NY
Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Groom’s Attire: Lanvin
WEDDING TALENT
Location: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York, NY; Planner: Parties by Ellen Adelsberg, New York, NY; Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier; Groom’s Attire: Lanvin