Cantor Bryce Megdal and Marc Tanne were married on Sept. 1, 2019, at Maple Country Club in Maplewood, New Jersey, with Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz officiating. Megdal is the daughter of Ronald and Sharon Megdal, Ph.D., of Tucson. Tanne is the son of Robert Tanne, D.M.D., of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and Susan Tanne Oliner, M.D., of West Orange, New Jersey.
Megdal, 29, was ordained as a cantor at the Academy for Jewish Religion California on May 27, 2019, receiving a master of Jewish sacred music. Previously, she received a master of Jewish studies with an emphasis in music in Jewish life from AJRCA in May 2015. Her undergraduate bachelor of arts degrees from the University of Arizona are in Judaic studies and studio art. Currently, she works as a b’nai mitzvah teacher at Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Synagogue of the Pacific Palisades, where she has been teaching for over six years. She also teaches b’nai mitzvah candidates on Sundays at Valley Beth Shalom, and substitutes for cantors in and around Los Angeles.
Tanne, also 29, graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He then went to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in pursuit of becoming a dentist and taking over his father’s practice; however, about a year and a half into his graduate schooling, he realized dentistry was not the right profession for him. A year later, he moved to Los Angeles to live with his good friend, James Frankel, and taught himself computer code. Since then, he has been working as a software engineer. For the last two years, he has worked for start-up company ROG Security.
How they met:
The couple met in Los Angeles on Oct. 26, 2014, at a Halloween party put on by J-Café, a Jewish organization that no longer exists. It was held at a bar in Beverly Hills that was closed for the special event. Megdal attended the party with a group of friends; Tanne went with Frankel, who was a best man at the wedding. A bunch went out to In-N-Out Burger afterward.
The proposal:
On April 1, 2018, while visiting Tucson, the couple went for a hike on Dove Mountain. “With a beautiful view of the desert, Marc got down on one knee and asked me, ‘Bryce Emily Megdal, will you marry me?’” Megdal recalls. “Well, not only was the view beautiful, but the ring was spectacularly sparkling and shiny, and the box was out of this world! Marc had it custom made out of walnut wood with a Jewish star engraved in it, which was very meaningful to me. The ring design was also custom made. I wasn’t completely surprised that Marc proposed then, as I had a feeling it was happening due to multiple indicative signs. After I said ‘Yes,’ we FaceTimed with our parents and Marc’s older sister, who all were eagerly awaiting to congratulate us. Though it was the first day of April, our engagement was not an April Fools’ joke!”
Wedding planning challenge:
Planning the wedding from afar was a challenge, but they knew from the start that they wanted to have the wedding in New Jersey for practical reasons. “We are very grateful for all of the help Marc’s mom provided since she lives not far from the wedding venue,” Medgal says.
Special memories of the day:
Bryce: The “First Look” with my dad. I wanted my dad to fasten my necklace, which originally was a ring his deceased mother wore every day. Aside from trying the pendant on after putting it on a chain, I had waited to wear my paternal grandmother’s heirloom for the first time on my wedding day. Marc’s sister, Erica, suggested to have a “First Look” with my dad, during which he could put the necklace on me. I was intrigued and accepted her suggestion. My dad actually saw me before Marc did. He shed a few tears, and I was close to doing so as well. It was a very special moment that I will cherish forever. Another memorable moment was when Marc and I were alone after the ceremony. We took selfies and put on our official wedding bands. We tried to embrace what had just happened and what was about to happen — the party!
Marc: The First Look. I cried when I saw Bryce for the first time in her wedding gown with her bouquet. It was very emotional for me.
Honeymoon:
The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii toward the end of October, after the High Holy Days and the Jewish holidays that follow concluded. They spent a week in Kauai and a week in Maui. “It was wonderful,” says Megdal.
