Love in a time of sirens: Israeli couple marries in bomb shelter during Iranian missile attacks

Most people have special dreams for their wedding that may include a beautiful beach destination or a romantic venue dotted with candles and floral arrangements. Iranian missiles? No, that’s usually not on anyone’s radar. But for one Israeli couple, that’s exactly what changed their long-awaited plans.

When Lior Lasry and Michael (Misha) Marianof had to call off their ceremony, they decided to pivot instead of postpone. The couple swapped their venue in Petah Tikva for an unlikely location: the parking garage of Dizengoff Center, a popular shopping mall in Tel Aviv.

Marianof’s family had flown in from Argentina, and they were determined to celebrate with family and friends despite the circumstances. While some relatives were understandably anxious as sirens sounded and uncertainty hung in the air, Lior and Misha helped reassure them.

Safety remained the top priority, so the couple arranged to hold the ceremony beneath a chuppah four stories underground in the garage, which also serves as a bomb shelter.

Dozens of Israelis who had been using the shelter as a safe space throughout the week also joined the celebration, according to the Times of Israel.

The couple later shared on Channel 13’s morning show that only about 30% of those present were family and friends.

“Everyone else just came to celebrate and make us happy,” they said. “It was moving and really unique – a moment we don’t even have words for. We still don’t fully understand it.”

During the celebration, several sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area, but the couple and their loved ones continued to enjoy the party, safe in the confines of the shelter.

Choosing to relish the joy of the moment, Lasry told the TV network that the experience was “crazy, it was incredible.” She continued, “We’re happy that despite everything, we did it, and we did it in this manner, and it was moving and fun.”