Simchah of the week: Orli Schechter & Jeff Vulkan

Orli was born and raised in Cambridge, studied law and management and is now people and development manager for Malmaison and Hotel du Vin (Scotland/Northern Ireland). Glasgow born and bred, Jeff studied engineering and works as a buyer for a Japanese company which makes parts for Honda. He has run the London, New York and Paris marathons in support of children’s charities. They married at Thompson’s Lane Synagogue, Cambridge and live in Newton Mearns, Glasgow

How did you meet?
“In 2006 through JDate,” Orli recalls, “after my friends posted my profile, deciding it was time I met a nice Jewish boy. I should have ignored his email as I was only looking to meet people in London, but I responded for some reason. We spoke the next night, then every night for two-and-a-half weeks, and then we met. Eight weeks later I moved to Scotland.”

The proposal
“Earlier this year we bought our first home together and a week after moving in I decided to pop the question,” Jeff says. “The ring was hidden in the glove compartment in the car. I told Orli I had a surprise for her and she should close her eyes and put her hand out. When I slipped the ring on her finger, it was the first time I had made her speechless. It was great.”

Tell us about the wedding
“The chupah was amazing,” Orli reports. “Despite leaving Cambridge 14 years ago, I still feel great affection for the shul. And Jeff felt the same, having been welcomed into the community over the last couple of years. But the real highlight for me was getting married under my grandpa’s tallit, particularly as we don’t have any living grandparents. Our photos were taken at King’s College because of the spectacular surroundings. We then walked to our party at the Guildhall. It was great to walk through town on a busy day, me in my wedding dress and Jeff in his kilt. We got numerous congratulations from passers-by.”