Bride Turns Wedding Dance Floor Disappointment Into Nationwide Volunteer Support Initiative
Hila Krugman, a 37-year-old bride from Israel, recently experienced a painful moment when her wedding dance floor remained empty, leaving her feeling isolated on what was supposed to be a joyful day. Three weeks after her wedding, she shared her emotional experience in a heartfelt Instagram post that quickly went viral, revealing a common but rarely discussed issue among couples in Israel. Krugman described the emptiness of the dance floor as a deep wound and an ego blow, admitting it was difficult to publicly acknowledge feeling socially rejected on such a significant occasion.
The viral post sparked widespread empathy and support, with many women offering to attend a new celebration for her and others expressing similar feelings of trauma related to their own weddings. Recognizing the broader need, Krugman launched a volunteer initiative called "Ba'ot Leharim" (Come to Lift Up), which organizes volunteers to attend weddings and ensure no bride feels alone on the dance floor. Within a day, the initiative attracted 600 volunteers, and it has since grown to nearly 3,500 participants from diverse backgrounds, including men, women, and couples from various sectors of Israeli society.
Volunteers discreetly join weddings under cover stories such as being coworkers or neighbors to avoid embarrassment for the bride. They stay as long as needed to provide emotional support and joy, sometimes until late at night. Krugman emphasizes that the project is not about seeking personal redemption but about creating a lasting community resource. The service is offered free of charge to any couple in need, and Krugman remains actively involved in coordinating volunteers through social media.
This initiative sheds light on a sensitive social issue in Israel, where many couples have felt unable to discuss the loneliness they experienced during their weddings. Krugman's openness and proactive response have transformed a personal disappointment into a nationwide movement fostering connection and celebration on couples' happiest days.
