Hen Mazzig

This week on Weddings-ish with Jove, we welcome author, global educator, activist, and newlywed Hen Mazzig for a conversation that beautifully blurs the lines between love story, cultural reflection, and personal manifesto. This episode unfolds slowly and intentionally—much like Hen and Mark’s relationship—revealing how a wedding can become a living expression of identity, history, and joy.

Hen shares how his relationship with Mark began as a modern, cross-continental love story: a Tinder match that turned into a first date in London, followed by years of long distance between Tel Aviv and the UK. What could have felt like an obstacle instead became the foundation of their partnership. Time apart forced them to build intimacy through conversation, curiosity, and emotional presence, rather than proximity alone. When COVID separated them physically, it further reinforced the depth of their bond—proof that connection doesn’t rely solely on being in the same room.

Photos by: Yotam Schwartz

Eventually, Hen made the decision to move to London, choosing closeness and partnership over geography. From there, their lives began to merge in quieter, more domestic ways—sharing a home, navigating cultural differences, and learning each other’s rhythms. That sense of intentionality carried directly into their engagement story. Hen proposed first, on a boat in Greece, in a moment that was equal parts romantic and chaotic—complete with Mark learning how to swim mid-proposal. The ring itself was a placeholder, chosen with humor and honesty, knowing Mark’s deep connection to aesthetics and design. Later came a counter-proposal, also in Greece, this time with three rings and the understanding that love doesn’t have to follow a single, traditional arc.

Their wedding in Greece became the culmination of all of this intention. Set against the sea and surrounded by family and chosen family from across the world, the celebration was deeply rooted in Jewish ritual while refusing to be constrained by expectation. Hen speaks about what it meant to stand under the chuppah as a queer Jewish man—honoring tradition without performing it, adapting ritual so it felt truthful rather than inherited by default. Both partners broke the glass, a symbolic rejection of hierarchy and a conscious choice to share sacred moments equally.

Photos by: Yotam Schwartz

The ceremony itself was staged like a fashion show, an unmistakable nod to Mark’s background in fashion. Instead of a traditional aisle, guests delivered blessings by walking a runway-style path, transforming ritual into movement, presence, and spectacle. It was joyful, theatrical, and deeply personal—proof that reverence and play can coexist. Throughout the day, smoke effects, fireworks, and music heightened the sense of celebration, while moments of stillness and reflection anchored the experience emotionally.

Fashion became one of the most powerful storytelling tools of the weekend. Mark curated not only his own looks—ranging from a sharply tailored suit to a sculptural dress layered with symbolism—but also guided guests through a color palette inspired by the surrounding landscape: sea, sand, stone, and foam. Rather than enforcing uniformity, the palette invited participation, creating a visual cohesion that felt organic and expressive. Hen’s own look carried spiritual meaning as well, with details that referenced Jewish philosophy and the idea that faith and identity begin from within.

Photography by: Yotam Schwartz

Beyond the aesthetics, Hen reflects on the deeper emotional weight of the wedding. Growing up, he never imagined marriage as a possibility for himself—let alone a public, celebratory one. For him, this wedding represented not just love, but survival, continuity, and pride. In a time when Jewish identity and queer joy can feel politicized or under threat, choosing to celebrate openly became an act of resistance. Guests described the weekend as healing—a collective exhale, a moment of communal care and affirmation.

The episode also explores Hen’s broader work and the launch of his show And They’re Jewish, a project rooted in humanizing Jewish stories through humor, creativity, and everyday joy. That same ethos carried through the wedding: rejecting monoliths, embracing nuance, and allowing contradiction to exist beautifully.

This conversation is ultimately about permission—the permission to rewrite scripts, to adapt tradition, to center joy, and to let weddings be expansive reflections of who we are. Hen and Mark’s story reminds us that weddings are not about perfection or performance, but about presence, intention, and the courage to be seen exactly as you are.

On Ask Jove, a guest asks Jove advice on what to do when their wedding venue double booked their date!

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