Our story
Though we went to a college of 50,000 people (namely UT Austin, the greatest school ever), in the 2023 fall semester Jordan and I ended up in the same small Hebrew class that met Monday through Friday, six hours a week. The class was very close-knit and we all became friends, and I found myself laughing at Jordan’s jokes, competing with him for grades, and thinking that he was a bit of a cutie. He would buy me coffee when I was stressed out, sit with me at shabbat dinners, and get ice cream with me in the middle of the night. One day, he asked if I’d like to come on a frat trip to Dallas for OU weekend with him “as a friend,” and the rest is history.
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When we met we had both been toying with the idea of becoming more serious about Judaism (despite how exciting grammar is we hadn’t signed up for “Intensive Hebrew” just for the fun of it), and once we became a team we gave each other the strength to go for it. We turned our lives upside-down and swapped frat parties and football games on Saturday for long shabbat walks, board games, cooking sessions, and (hopefully) some Torah learning. The journey brought the two of us even closer, and when it was time to graduate we both went to Israel to study more seriously in yeshiva/midrasha. I finished my conversion to Orthodox Judaism in December after two years of studying, and three months later Jordan asked me to marry him (with the most perfect proposal ever). I can’t wait to introduce you all to my best friend in the entire world, or (if you’re with Jordan’s gang) to meet you!
Before starting college, I had never met an Orthodox Jew. And yet, as I flew halfway across the country for my freshman year at UT Austin, I decided that I was going to become one. Having no clue whatsoever what that meant, I got off to a slow start, filling my freshman year with cup pong, football games, and late-night Buc-ee's trips. After spending the summer working at a Jewish camp in rural Massachusetts, I came back to UT with a renewed drive to connect to my Jewish roots. Spending more time involved in the Jewish outreach organizations on campus, it wasn't long before I found the one other person on the entire campus who also wanted to live an observant Jewish life. And if she happened to be a cute blonde with an irresistible Southern drawl- not to mention the smartest girl in my Hebrew class- I figured that couldn't hurt. So what did I do? Invite her to a multi-day fraternity trip, of course!
We had a ton of fun, and decided that we were dating. The next year and a half was a bit of a wild ride as we went from two college kids who enjoyed each other's company to two partners who were trying to figure out together how this whole "Jewish" thing worked, whether it meant planning Shabbat excursions, prepping kosher meals together, or learning about myriad Jewish laws and customs. As Gracie graduated and left for Israel to finish her conversion, I had one last semester hanging around in Austin. Whiling away the time by studying Torah and cooking up melava malka meals in between bouts of thesis-writing, I eventually made it to yeshiva in Israel six months later.
We started dating again, this time with marriage in mind. So, not long after Purim, I took her to Montefiore Windmill and asked her if she would be my wife. Believe it or not, she said yes!
-Gracie
-Jordan
Travel & Stay
Getting Here
Fly into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Parking downtown is limited and parking at the hotel is expensive, so you might want to forgo renting a car and use our readily available rideshare services. Downtown Austin is accessible with options like electric bikes, scooters, and even driverless rides from Waymo! If you want to get out of downtown and explore the city then you will want to rent a car.
Where to Stay
Rooms have been set aside under Abrams Gum wedding at the following hotels:
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Austin Proper Hotel
600 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
This is the closest hotel to the library
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Hyatt Regency Austin
208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Just across Lady Bird Lake from the library
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Guests can also call the hotel at
512-480-2079 to make a reservation referencing the group code G-GGJA.
Last day to book at the group rate: 07/16/2026
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Local Tips
Some of our favorite outdoor activities include walking, running, or biking on the Lady Bird Lake hike/bike trail, swimming at Barton Springs pool, and
standup paddleboarding, kayaking, or canoeing on Lady Bird Lake.
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Some of our favorite indoor downtown activities:
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The Blanton Museum of Art on the UT campus features an impressive mix of modern, contemporary, Latin American, and classic art in a beautiful space.
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The Bullock Texas State History Museum offers interactive exhibits, fascinating Texas history, and a large-format IMAX theater.
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The LBJ Presidential Library is a fascinating stop on the University of Texas campus where visitors can explore immersive exhibits on the 1960s, civil rights, the space race, and presidential history, along with a replica of the Oval Office and rotating special exhibits.
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The Texas State Capitol offers free guided and self-guided tours available daily.
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The Elephant Room is a cool basement jazz club!
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South Congress Avenue, just south of the Hyatt Regency, is filled with unique boutiques, local shops, boot stores, art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants. You can even find live music!
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Restaurant suggestions coming soon!
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Things to do and places to eat
Weekend & Ceremony Details
Friday, August 7
The Abrams Family will host a welcome reception on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Hillel building on the UT campus for those guests already in town. Details and RSVP forthcoming.
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Gracie and Jordan and some guests will observe Shabbat from sunset on Friday until nightfall on Saturday so there are no formal wedding activities during this time. Enjoy Austin's many offerings with family and friends in town for this joyous occasion!
Saturday, August 8
Start the day with a walk or jog around Town Lake with the Gums. Meet up info coming soon!
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Spend Saturday shopping on South Congress Avenue (SoCo), visiting one of our many museums, touring the Texas State Capitol, or swimming at Barton Springs...and of course eating some delicious Tex Mex and barbeque!
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For those guests observing Shabbat, please stay tuned for information about shared meals and services.
Join us on Saturday at sunset at the Hyatt Regency's Ripple & Roots Bar & Patio, where you will be able to see North America's largest urban bat colony, with 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging at sunset!
We can't wait to celebrate with you!
Thank you for being a part of this momentous day...
we are SO grateful for our family and friends!
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6:30 p.m. The Kabbalat Panim or pre-wedding reception will take place in the Special Event Center of the Austin Central Library. Guests are invited to give and receive blessings and well- wishes to the bride and groom.
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7:30 p.m. The groom is escorted by friends and family to greet the bride and veil her in a ceremony known as the Bedeken, which serves to confirm the bride's identity, a nod to Jacob marrying Leah instead of Rachel. It also emphasizes the importance of inner beauty over external appearance.
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The ceremony will take place immediately after the Bedeken. Please plan to be at the library no later than 7:30 p.m.
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Following the ceremony, guests are invited to the Garden Rooftop of the library for food, drinks, dancing, and fun!
We will not be eating until after 8 p.m., so please eat a bite before coming if need be. The party ends at 11 p.m.!
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Sunday, August 9
!יום ×—×Ş×•× ×” שמח
Happy wedding day!
Frequently asked questions
Gifts
Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all!
If you wish to honor us with an additional gift, a registry will be available soon.