NEED TO KNOW
- Law & Order star Odelya Halevi married luxury real estate agent Aaron Mazor in a destination wedding at Ronit Farm in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, May 30
- The Israeli actress tells PEOPLE that getting married in the country where she was born and raised “felt natural,” explaining, “It holds some of my most cherished memories”
- Halevi and Mazor, who got engaged in August 2023, incorporated the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass in their ceremony
Odelya Halevi said “I do” in a place that’s close to her heart.
The Law & Order star, 36, married Aaron Mazor at Ronit Farm in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, May 30, surrounded by 180 guests. She tells PEOPLE that Israel, where she was born and raised, was a “natural” choice for the couple’s multiday wedding celebration.
“For me, Israel isn’t just a place; it’s home. It holds some of my most cherished memories. The people, the energy, the land — it’s where my heart always returns,” she explains, noting, “Aaron, who’s also Jewish, has come to love it deeply as well.”
Halevi says the pair always envisioned having a destination wedding where all of their loved ones would gather and spend time together over several days. They also saw it as an opportunity for their friends to get to explore “a place that means so much to us.”
But juggling the wedding planning with their busy careers wasn’t always easy, she says. Halevi joined the Law & Order franchise when the original series returned in 2022, playing Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun. Mazor works as a luxury real estate agent on the Hudson Advisory Team at Compass.
“To minimize the challenges, we started planning a year in advance and hired Liraz Weiman, who’s an incredibly talented event planner,” Halevi says. “When things got stressful, I tried to give myself grace and let go of things that were out of my control. The challenges only brought us closer.”
They landed on Ronit Farm — which features acres of lush gardens, a lake, a greenhouse, gazebos and more — as their wedding venue because they wanted to be immersed in the area’s stunning natural scenery.
“We chose to marry in the afternoon, surrounded by nature — trees, water and the quiet serenity of the landscape. It felt like a fairy tale,” Halevi says. “The earth tones we picked were meant to reflect that setting — natural, warm and grounded.”
The wedding festivities kicked off in style on Thursday, May 29, with a henna-themed welcome reception, hosted by the bride and groom.
“I come from a Middle Eastern background, and honoring my heritage and culture was incredibly important,” Halevi notes.
The actress wore a dress by one of her favorite designers, Dror Kontento, for the occasion. “The dress reminded me of the desert, which was the right vibe for our henna,” she says.
Halevi then surprised her guests by changing into a second dress, which was designed by Kineret. She accessorized with jewelry from KERENWOLF.
For the big day itself, Halevi chose two different dresses by Israeli designer Lihi Hod. She says she immediately knew Hod was “the one” — fashion speaking, that is — when the pair first met in New York City.
“Her dresses are renowned for their fusion of timeless elegance and modern romanticism. And above all, comfort,” Halevi tells PEOPLE.
Her ceremony dress had the perfect “vintage feel,” she says, while her second look was “a blend of old Hollywood glamour” and “contemporary flair.”
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Adding the perfect finishing touches to her bridal style statement, she wore a collection of jewelry pieces custom designed by Bichachi Jewelry’s Sefi Bichachi, including earrings, a bracelet, a pearl necklace and her wedding band. “These were meticulously crafted from gorgeous materials,” Halevi says.
The bride walked down the aisle to a Hebrew song called “Shlemeem,” which means “whole” in English.
“Aaron has been studying Hebrew, and this song has been playing on repeat in our home. We felt like this song could’ve been written for us,” Halevi says. “The words ‘come to me’ were playing as I walked down the aisle, and it was a feeling that I will never be able to describe in words.”
The couple recited handwritten vows in a ceremony that was officiated by a rabbi and included the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass. “We plan to keep those glass fragments and create something beautiful out of them,” the actress notes.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds treated their guests to the tastes of Israel with a buffet filled with tempting local delicacies. “The food in Israel is some of the best in the world, and we wanted our guests to have the ability to try it all,” Helevi says.
And because the groom has “an insane sweet tooth,” they went all out with seven different desserts rather than just a single wedding cake.
Following the meal, guests danced the night away to music from multiple DJs, including Adidor, Jenia and Eyal Hen.
The wedding weekend wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with a casual gathering at the Hilton Bayz Beach Club. Halevi wore yet another custom look for the occasion: a sheer beach cover-up with sparkly silver detailing by Shani Shemer.
The newlyweds and their guests relaxed, soaked up the sun and enjoyed time on the beach. “It was a wonderful way to end a magical weekend,” Halevi says. The sunset was truly a perfect farewell to send us off.”
Halevi and Mazor first met when they were each invited separately to see their mutual friend, comedian Andrew Schulz, perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. “We met briefly during intermission and sparks flew. After the show, we headed to the afterparty where we fell into a meaningful conversation. Aaron thought I was a little kooky, and I knew right away that he was a keeper,” she recalls.
They got engaged in August 2023 in the picturesque French village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in Provence. Mazor proposed in a secluded garden at an 18th-century residence that’s now a hotel. “It felt like we were the only people on the planet,” Halevi recalls of the romantic moment.
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Now that the two have tied the knot, they are looking forward to sharing life’s adventures together.
“Our love will continue to grow through daily choice, shared purpose and lasting romance,” Helevi says. “And we truly can’t wait to start a family.”
But first on the agenda is a honeymoon in Africa — with an incredible itinerary.
“[We’re] starting with a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. From there, we’ll journey to Tanzania to witness the Great Migration across the Serengeti, staying at a few incredible camps along the way. By design, we are ending the trip by unwinding in the turquoise waters of Zanzibar,” the actress says.
Additional Credits:
Hair and Makeup: Shay Halaly Ziv @shay_shaz
Videography: Genadi Fumm @genadi_fumm
Florals: DNA House of Design @dna_houseofdesign
DJs: Dor Adidor Adi @djadidor, Jenia Tarsol @jeniatarsol, Hype @hypemusic.co.il
Event Planners: LW Events by Liraz Weiman @lwenents_, Daniella Eckshtein @daniellaeckshtein
Social Media Photographer: Avia Achrak @avia_ackrak
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