Tamara Friedman, owner of Institut de Beaute, applies makeup on her daughter for the wedding.
"It was a truly wonderful experience and
we had the greatest time," said Friedman,
"but the planning of it was endless.
"I told Gabby that either she does it or I
do it.
"Finally, I decided to take it into my own
hands and it worked out fine," said Fried-
man. "I said, 'Gabby, this is being done
in your and Ben's honor, let me do it.' "
And so the tedious task of pulling to-
gether a wedding in a few short months be-
gan.
"I think planning a wedding could be re-
ally special, but being a woman in business,
it was very difficult," Friedman added. "I
think if I didn't have a business to run, I
would have enjoyed it much more. But, hon-
estly, I wouldn't have missed it for the
world."
Friedman said the two women spent at
least four hours looking for the "right" invi-
tations.
"I started getting dizzy just looking at
them," said Friedman. "Then it was the
tablecloths, the colors, the videoperson, the
photographer..."
Friedman chose photographer Gary
Miller; David Lever, video; The Chicago
Russian Band; party coordinators Kathy
16 •
BRIDES 1 91)5 • S'IVI-E
Mooney and Noreen Aberty; flowers by Kay
Masuda Flowers and linens by Party Linens
of Bloomfield Hills.
Black and white were chosen as the col-
or theme and luckily, things began to get
easier.
"We were in Florida and we walked into
Romano's Boutique and Gabby found her
dress right away," Friedman said. "It was
the most gorgeous dress you've ever seen."
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The invitation is classic and elegant.
Once the big day approached, Friedman
said she was elated with the perfection
shown by the Birmingham Country Club.
"This was their first Jewish wedding and
they were the most courteous, understand-
ing people imaginable," said Friedman. "It's
helpful to deal with people who understand
what you want and that you want it perfect."
Gabby Heller said the weather couldn't
have been more perfect. They held the cer-
emony outside. Miriam Jerris of the Birm-
ingham Temple delivered the most
touching ceremony, said Friedman.
As for the makeup, who else but Mom to
do the honors.
"I did all the makeup," Friedman said.
"I closed up the store and all the out-of
town guests were catered to. They had wax-
ing, lips, nails, scrubs, you name it. It was
like a big, happy family," she said.
Looking back on the event, Gabby Heller
said it was a day she will always remember.
"It's a special day, and one on which
you don't want to look like you do every-
day," said Heller. "I didn't wear your tra-
ditional wedding gown; it wasn't like the
fairytale type of gown. There weren't any
sequins; there were just roses."
"She looked absolutely breathtaking,"