The Modern Bride's New Wedding Must-Have? An Etsy Witch
Getty; Design by Leah Romero
I've bought spells from witches before. I won't tell this story as if I haven't, so let me get that out of the way. Purchased at my favorite witchy store in the East Village, my spells came in the form of little vials of colored oils and look like roll-on perfumes. One's for health, one's for clarity, and one's for heart healing. What? I grew up on
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
and
Practical Magic
. Plus, have you seen the world out there? Can you blame me for indulging in a little mysticism?
But even with tendencies such as mine, I had little idea about the online
to me
was the playful admission that she had hired an 'Etsy witch' to cast a spell for good weather on her wedding day, which did, in fact, come to fruition.
Jaz, I soon learned, is far from alone. You'd be surprised by
how many brides seek out magical intercession. And, it turns out,
In the comments section of Jaz's video, I found numerous users sharing their own testimonials for spells they bought online from other practitioners. 'Marysmagicshop literally work
[sic]
every time no joke,' wrote one user. 'YUHH MARY ON TOP,' replied another, one of many who seconded the recommendation.
Ally Dossick, a 33-year-old occupational therapist from Philadelphia, hired the same witch as Jaz for her own wedding just one week after the influencer's. After seeing the viral clips, Dossick placed the order for a custom spell requesting no rain in Allentown, New Jersey, on
Saturday, May 31. It cost her $12. 'Like, why not?' she
tells me. 'It worked for [Jaz]. It can't hurt, especially when it's not expensive.' In response, she got a message saying, 'I've successfully completed your order. Please allow 3-4 weeks for the full manifestation.' With a purple crystal ball emoji, naturally. Dossick could only allow two days for full manifestation, but the spell still worked—mostly. That Saturday, it rained a bit, but only at 'good times' like during the ceremony, which was planned for indoors. It cleared up in time for the wedding party to take photos outside. All things considered, she was pleased. When I asked what her friends and family thought about the spell, she tells me
that they were just confused. 'They were like, 'What's an Etsy witch?'' Fair enough.
Getty + Design by Leah Romero
On the very same day, 199 miles away in New Lebanon, New York, Caroline Mullen, a 30-year-old writer based in Jersey City, also got married, except the spell she bought from a different Etsy witch didn't work. (Jaz's witch became so inundated in the aftermath that she removed all her listings.) 'It was really bad,' Mullen says. 'It was torrentially downpouring. Parts of the venue were flooding. The power went out the night before, and they had to turn on the generator.' To her credit, the newlywed isn't mad about the $15 spent on the spell. 'It was a shot in the dark. I just appreciate her energy towards it. Not everything works.'
And anyway, it might not have been the hired witch's doing. 'My mother-in-law had her church friends praying for good weather, and I kept joking that them and the Etsy witch were counteracting each other and creating a cyclone. I think next time I'll pick one or the other.'
Unlike Dossick, Mullen had the idea long before Jaz posted. 'A friend of a friend had used an Etsy witch for a revenge spell a couple months ago, and [my friend group] thought it was the most amazing thing in the world,' she explains. 'So, I had been waiting for a reason to use one, and this was the perfect time.'
'That's how we manifest: belief. If you focus on something, you put energy into it—it's physics—you're going to change its vibration.'
When I ask about what happened with the friend who bought the revenge spell, Mullen says she isn't sure how the story ended. Such ambivalence is a theme here; results are almost irrelevant. The wish will or won't come true, but it's more about the effort, the intention. A handing over of worry and concern, an acknowledgment that something is out your control. That alone, it seems, can be magic.
According to
'Say I find someone on the internet who guarantees that for $5 she's going to make some horrible things happen,' Dabrowski poses. 'Do I think it's a real spell? No. But do I think there's some energy that releases from that? I do.' Sometimes, a little directed energy is all it takes.
I found
'We usually advise [non-believers] to not get spells, because that kind of negative mindset, that lack of belief, is usually quite detrimental.'
While she does work with brides, it's usually for trouble-shooting. To help ease tension between feuding in-laws, she might provide a special sourdough loaf
to be shared. Or, for a bride who's worried about fidelity, Dabrowski might make a gris to be sewn into the wedding gown.
And, by all standards, business is booming. She says she had to leave her job as a Medicaid fraud investigator just one year after launching her Etsy storefront back in 2020. Now, she's in such high demand that she's recruited her two daughters (seventh generation, no biggie) and two other practitioners to assist.
Getty + Design by Leah Romero
Searches for 'spell casters' are even up 85 percent compared to this time last year, according to my sources at Yelp. Theia, one of the witches at
These Etsy storefronts also aren't just for those looking to summon a sunny day or a dose of revenge, or make a quick buck. At my local mystical shop, the in-house witches tell me that, in fact, it's a useful platform for sourcing rare or exotic herbs, tonics, crystals, or otherwise necessary ingredients.
When I started working on this story, I wasn't sure where it would lead. What conclusion would I come to? Are these customers being fooled, or did I just learn about the best life hack of all time? The truth is somewhere in between, I think. Actually, I'm glad some mystery remains. 'Belief is very important,' Theia says, noting that magic is best served to those who trust it. If someone is skeptical or suspicious, they might not be a good candidate. 'We usually advise those people to not get spells, because that kind of negative mindset, that lack of belief, is usually quite detrimental.' So, I think I'll choose to believe. On Sunday, I'll be celebrating my best friend's birthday with a picnic at her favorite park. And if the sun is shining, it'll be the best $12 I've ever spent.
Associate Fashion Commerce Editor
Cosmopolitan, Town & Country,
Harper's Bazaar
, and
Good Housekeeping
, among many other outlets. Her personal passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and gardening. You can find her in New York, where she lives, or on
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Elle
14 hours ago
- Elle
The Modern Bride's New Wedding Must-Have? An Etsy Witch
Getty; Design by Leah Romero I've bought spells from witches before. I won't tell this story as if I haven't, so let me get that out of the way. Purchased at my favorite witchy store in the East Village, my spells came in the form of little vials of colored oils and look like roll-on perfumes. One's for health, one's for clarity, and one's for heart healing. What? I grew up on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Practical Magic . Plus, have you seen the world out there? Can you blame me for indulging in a little mysticism? But even with tendencies such as mine, I had little idea about the online to me was the playful admission that she had hired an 'Etsy witch' to cast a spell for good weather on her wedding day, which did, in fact, come to fruition. Jaz, I soon learned, is far from alone. You'd be surprised by how many brides seek out magical intercession. And, it turns out, In the comments section of Jaz's video, I found numerous users sharing their own testimonials for spells they bought online from other practitioners. 'Marysmagicshop literally work [sic] every time no joke,' wrote one user. 'YUHH MARY ON TOP,' replied another, one of many who seconded the recommendation. Ally Dossick, a 33-year-old occupational therapist from Philadelphia, hired the same witch as Jaz for her own wedding just one week after the influencer's. After seeing the viral clips, Dossick placed the order for a custom spell requesting no rain in Allentown, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 31. It cost her $12. 'Like, why not?' she tells me. 'It worked for [Jaz]. It can't hurt, especially when it's not expensive.' In response, she got a message saying, 'I've successfully completed your order. Please allow 3-4 weeks for the full manifestation.' With a purple crystal ball emoji, naturally. Dossick could only allow two days for full manifestation, but the spell still worked—mostly. That Saturday, it rained a bit, but only at 'good times' like during the ceremony, which was planned for indoors. It cleared up in time for the wedding party to take photos outside. All things considered, she was pleased. When I asked what her friends and family thought about the spell, she tells me that they were just confused. 'They were like, 'What's an Etsy witch?'' Fair enough. Getty + Design by Leah Romero On the very same day, 199 miles away in New Lebanon, New York, Caroline Mullen, a 30-year-old writer based in Jersey City, also got married, except the spell she bought from a different Etsy witch didn't work. (Jaz's witch became so inundated in the aftermath that she removed all her listings.) 'It was really bad,' Mullen says. 'It was torrentially downpouring. Parts of the venue were flooding. The power went out the night before, and they had to turn on the generator.' To her credit, the newlywed isn't mad about the $15 spent on the spell. 'It was a shot in the dark. I just appreciate her energy towards it. Not everything works.' And anyway, it might not have been the hired witch's doing. 'My mother-in-law had her church friends praying for good weather, and I kept joking that them and the Etsy witch were counteracting each other and creating a cyclone. I think next time I'll pick one or the other.' Unlike Dossick, Mullen had the idea long before Jaz posted. 'A friend of a friend had used an Etsy witch for a revenge spell a couple months ago, and [my friend group] thought it was the most amazing thing in the world,' she explains. 'So, I had been waiting for a reason to use one, and this was the perfect time.' 'That's how we manifest: belief. If you focus on something, you put energy into it—it's physics—you're going to change its vibration.' When I ask about what happened with the friend who bought the revenge spell, Mullen says she isn't sure how the story ended. Such ambivalence is a theme here; results are almost irrelevant. The wish will or won't come true, but it's more about the effort, the intention. A handing over of worry and concern, an acknowledgment that something is out your control. That alone, it seems, can be magic. According to 'Say I find someone on the internet who guarantees that for $5 she's going to make some horrible things happen,' Dabrowski poses. 'Do I think it's a real spell? No. But do I think there's some energy that releases from that? I do.' Sometimes, a little directed energy is all it takes. I found 'We usually advise [non-believers] to not get spells, because that kind of negative mindset, that lack of belief, is usually quite detrimental.' While she does work with brides, it's usually for trouble-shooting. To help ease tension between feuding in-laws, she might provide a special sourdough loaf to be shared. Or, for a bride who's worried about fidelity, Dabrowski might make a gris to be sewn into the wedding gown. And, by all standards, business is booming. She says she had to leave her job as a Medicaid fraud investigator just one year after launching her Etsy storefront back in 2020. Now, she's in such high demand that she's recruited her two daughters (seventh generation, no biggie) and two other practitioners to assist. Getty + Design by Leah Romero Searches for 'spell casters' are even up 85 percent compared to this time last year, according to my sources at Yelp. Theia, one of the witches at These Etsy storefronts also aren't just for those looking to summon a sunny day or a dose of revenge, or make a quick buck. At my local mystical shop, the in-house witches tell me that, in fact, it's a useful platform for sourcing rare or exotic herbs, tonics, crystals, or otherwise necessary ingredients. When I started working on this story, I wasn't sure where it would lead. What conclusion would I come to? Are these customers being fooled, or did I just learn about the best life hack of all time? The truth is somewhere in between, I think. Actually, I'm glad some mystery remains. 'Belief is very important,' Theia says, noting that magic is best served to those who trust it. If someone is skeptical or suspicious, they might not be a good candidate. 'We usually advise those people to not get spells, because that kind of negative mindset, that lack of belief, is usually quite detrimental.' So, I think I'll choose to believe. On Sunday, I'll be celebrating my best friend's birthday with a picnic at her favorite park. And if the sun is shining, it'll be the best $12 I've ever spent. Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, Harper's Bazaar , and Good Housekeeping , among many other outlets. Her personal passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and gardening. You can find her in New York, where she lives, or on
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Apollo Theater Renovation: Behind the Scenes at the Historic Harlem Venue
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Apollo Theater at 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in the night. The Apollo Theater at 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in the night. Osmany Torres Martín/Getty Like any New York City neighborhood, Harlem is in a constant state of change, wrestling with gentrification while seeking to protect its history. In among that flux has been a constant—the Apollo Theater. First opened under a different name as a vaudeville and burlesque venue which excluded African Americans, the Apollo emerged in 1934 as a place for variety revues targeted at Harlem's growing Black population. It became a cultural cornerstone, with artists including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Sammy Davis, Jr. among the early career stars to take to its stage, which has also been graced by comedians, actors and the man who would go on to be the first Black U.S. president, then-Senator Barack Obama. Now, the Apollo is about to close its doors, but just for a while, as it embarks on the next phase of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment and expansion, which leaders hope will help it last beyond what they say is a challenging time for the arts and Black history. "We have lived through periods of segregation, political unrest, the pandemic. So much of the richness of what has made the Apollo what it is, is steeped in its history and legacy," Joy Profet, chief growth officer at the Apollo, told Newsweek. That legacy will be honored in multiple ways in the coming months and years: in the physical changes and preservations about to take place at the 91-year-old theater, a recently opened performing arts venue in the former Victoria Theater next door and in a new streaming platform with hundreds of pieces of archival footage and photos from decades past. 'It Has Stood for the Best in Black Music' On Wednesday, June 4, the Apollo gave its current form a glittering send-off. Stars including rapper Busta Rhymes, actress Kym Whitley and fashion designer Dapper Dan walked the red carpet beneath the theater's brightly lit sign on Harlem's famous 125th Street for the venue's annual Spring Benefit. Many spoke of the Apollo's place as a vital cultural institution for the Black community, with Rhymes telling reporters that future generations needed to continue to have access to the venue's historic and nurturing environment. "It's not only important in this moment, but it's also necessary that they get that education so they know how to evolve the culture, the way they need to contribute to the history," the rapper said. A legend and a newcomer were among those honored during the evening, symbolizing the venue's ongoing commitment to fostering new talent and acknowledging its past. (L-R) Larry Jackson, Clive Davis and Busta Rhymes attend the 2025 Apollo Theater Spring Benefit at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on June 04, 2025 in New York City. (L-R) Larry Jackson, Clive Davis and Busta Rhymes attend the 2025 Apollo Theater Spring Benefit at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Shahar Azran/Getty Record producer Clive Davis, now 93, was given the Apollo's Legacy Award, having launched and nurtured the careers of many Black artists, from Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys to Earth, Wind & Fire. "When you think of all the artists—Stevie [Wonder], Ella, Thand the Supremes, Gladys Knight—it has stood for the best in Black music," Davis told Newsweek after being inducted into the theater's Walk of Fame. "So, it has symbolically been the real thing, it is the real thing. So, I look forward to it freshening up and resuming being the real thing." In a new award for 2025, Harlem's own Teyana Taylor, a singer, songwriter and actress, was handed the inaugural Innovator Award. "Many of the quotes say that this is where stars are born and dreams are made," Profet said. "And that's really what has kept this institution so relevant." Apollo Theater's Refurbishment and Future As the party got started at the event, there were signs of work underway, with the Apollo's lobby already walled off for construction, which fully begins in early July. While upgrades have happened piecemeal over the decades, this will be the theater's first top-to-bottom refurbishment. "The lobby, as currently built—I think it was done in the 1980s—it is fairly dated, really not up to a landmark building, which the Apollo is," Chris Cowan, principal at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, or BBB, told Newsweek. But in seeking to reflect the original 1914 building, all the team had to work with was a grainy black-and-white photo. So BBB delved into the records the theater has, while also seeking to create a space that is viable for the coming decades. The lobby will be expanded to twice its size, allowing it to be open day-round for visitors to grab a souvenir or use the new café/bar. Those new offerings will be surrounded by art deco-inspired finishes and set against a backdrop which has long been a fixture of the Apollo's entrance—a wall of fame showcasing photos of stars which have graced the stage over the years. But now it will be enhanced, Cowan said, with new digital experiences. "The history is so deep there, but we were able to bring in technology like touchscreen displays in the lobby. People will learn and be able to see the performers that made the Apollo what it is today, going back to the 1930s when the Apollo first started to allow African-American performers to perform there," Cowan said. The auditorium is where some of the biggest changes will take place. Standing at the back of the orchestra seating with Newsweek, as technicians got ready for the Spring Benefit, Profet explained that while much of the decoration in the space will remain, performances will be very different when the Apollo reopens. "A lot of those original landmarked pieces of the historic theater will be preserved, but this is an opportunity to really integrate interactivity into the experience, as well as technology, and to digitize a lot of what happens here," Profet said. While a wall filled with around 1,000 signatures of musicians, comedians and speakers—including former President Obama—will remain as it is, tucked in the wings, big technology upgrades are coming to a space designed in a time when electric lighting was relatively new and amplified sound wasn't imagined. "Right now, it's high volume. That's all they can do is blast sound," Cowan explained. "It doesn't get to all the points in the theater it needs to get to, so this is a way to really make a huge improvement for the patrons in terms of the sound, which is what people go to the Apollo for, right? It's to hear music and see shows." Seating, lighting and stage mechanics will all be upgraded, with the latter especially needed as scene changes are still manually driven with hemp rope—a practice most theaters have swapped for mechanics. For Cowan and the wider team working on the Apollo's next chapter, it is seen as "paramount" that the project enables the theater to survive. "With the loss of so many theaters on 125th Street, if you look at photographs from the 1930s and 40s it was lined with theaters like 42nd Street back in the day and they were all lost. All the grand old theaters were lost to development of various kinds, or just decay, and the Apollo, to me, it's like the last theater standing," he told Newsweek. Renderings of the foyer of The Apollo Theatre Renderings of the foyer of The Apollo Theatre Renderings courtesy of Charcoalblue, Flyleaf Creative, and Beyer Blinder Belle. 'It Extends Beyond Culture' All this work to expand and enhance the Apollo as a landmark arts venue in the heart of a historic Black neighborhood comes at a time when arts funding is in crisis. President Donald Trump recently targeted the Smithsonian Institution, which operates more than 20 museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in a recent executive order entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." For producer Larry Jackson, who has worked alongside Davis for over 20 years, it is vital that the Apollo remains strong. "It's a cultural church, it's a cultural mecca, it's a real sanctuary for Black culture," Jackson told Newsweek on the red carpet. "To me, maybe it's lofty and sacrilegious to say, I think the Apollo [is] on the same level as the White House. It's a landmark and a national treasure that should always remain." Profet told Newsweek she was confident in the Apollo's future, because of its past. "There were times in our history, in full transparency, where it really wasn't clear whether or not the Apollo would have survived," she said. But the Harlem and wider New York community came together, as well as city and state leaders, and those in Congress. One of the Apollo's long-time advocates was Democratic Representative Charles Rangel, who died in May. He described the theater as "like the Mecca" during an interview in 2007 and fought for its survival in the 1990s. That work is now being carried out by Harlem's current representatives at city, state and federal levels, along with community members. "We're all enthusiasts of culture, but we also recognize the unique role in the Apollo in shaping all things that have made America survive and thrive," Profet said. "It extends, in my opinion, beyond culture. It's about advocacy. It's about advocacy for humanity. It's about advocacy for the arts."
Buzz Feed
19 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Creative Father's Day Photo Gifts
With Father's Day less than a month away, there's no time like the present to start brainstorming on the perfect gift for your dear old dad. You can never go wrong with photo-based gifts like digital picture frames, which have dominated the gifting scene in recent years. But there are plenty of other photographic gifts that are just as special and will make it easy for loved ones to relive cherished memories. Below, we've rounded up 12 photo gifts that aren't a digital frame. They're easy to acquire and design, and run the gamut from elegant traditional photos and frames to photo books, a sophisticated stone block photo holder and more. Take a look and snag one for your dad with enough time to perfect it just to his liking. He'll think of how much you love him every time he sees it! An acrylic photo frame with a walnut base If you already have photos on hand, this minimal acrylic picture frame provides a perfect opportunity for customization. The natural walnut base keeps the image at an attractive angle and makes for seamless swapping if your dad wants to switch up the featured imagery. Choose from horizontal or vertical imagery and three different sizes. Get it from Amazon for $14.99+. A sophisticated and artistic stone block photo holder If you want to get Dad something a bit more unique than your everyday photo frame, take a look at this stone block from Artifact Uprising. You can choose a red marble or or travertine finish for a block that displays ten photo prints of your choosing. This unique gift will look great at his office desk and he'll love flipping through and swapping out the images daily. You can also get this in it from Artifact Uprising for $29.75 (originally $35). A custom wood photo flip book Take your favorite family memories ansd bring them to live with this hand-cranked wooden flipbook album made by Etsy seller CraftyVibesGifts. It features a built-in light that gives it an old-timey charm and elevates the overall look and feel of this heartfelt, thoughtful gift. Choose between two kinds of wood and number of photos. Dad will love flipping through it!Get it from CraftyVibeGifts on Etsy for $25.12+ (originally $50.23+). A photo printer for analog images at the push of a button Here's a novel idea: Simply give your dad the ability to print his own pictures at a moment's notice with Kodak's instant smartphone photo printer. This reviewer-adored option is a bestseller on Amazon and has racked up 4.4 stars across an eye-popping 20,000+ reviews. Customers say it's easy to use and love how portable it is, it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in six colors). A fun photo puzzle If you have a dad who's into games, then look no further than this fun photo puzzle. Turn your favorite photo into a high-quality paperboard puzzle that your family will enjoy for years to come. You can pick from four different sizes. Shutterfly has several photo puzzle design options, but we're fond of this simple framed design. Get it from Shutterfly for $24.99+ (originally $32.99+). A sweet mini keychain photo album Made by Etsy seller MiraGiftShop, this adorable keychain photo album can keep you close to your dad while he's on the go. It features 14 photos that are printed on real Fujifilm photo paper and bound together with a beautiful leather case. You can choose from seven different colors and engrave the leather for even more personalization. It's a unique and unforgettable it from MiraGiftShop on Etsy for $16.97+ (originally $48.50+). An elegant framed photo with a personal message A timeless picture frame is always a classic gift. This beautiful solid wood frame is available in a black or white finish and comes with shatterproof acrylic glazing. You can customize it by adding a caption of your choosing to the print, whether it be a special date, a location or a loving message. It's available in two it from Papier for $69.70+ (originally $82+). A wildly soft blanket emblazoned with beloved family photos If your dad is a super cozy person who loves curling up with a blanket and a good book or show, you can't go wrong with this customized photo blanket. It displays eight different photos surrounding a personalized message and comes in a variety of materials like microfiber fleece, plush fleece or luxe sherpa it from Shutterfly for $54.99 (originally $109.98). A statement-making framed photograph Available in seven different sizes and in six different wood colors, this sleek, elegant framed photograph makes a timeless gift. You can customize it further with foil-pressed printing, matting or a float-mount setting. We're especially into the larger sizes — they'd make a great statement art piece in one's home or office. Get it from Minted for $17+. A fun photo cube Does your dad love a Rubik's cube? Then you might want to try out a photo cube like this one from Etsy seller Woodili. You can order it with or without an engraved stand to display some of your finest moments. It's a great and unexpected fidget toy a fun and creative way to display images. Get it from Woodili on Etsy for $47.25+ (originally $63+). A photo collage that is designed to look like a photo strip Turn your favorite photos into an elevated photo strip with this stylish collage photo frame from Framebridge. The internet-famous framing retailer has a variety of multi-photo frames available, but we're partial to this sweet photo strip. All you have to do is choose from 12 different frame colors and upload your favorite photos and they'll print, frame and deliver it straight to your (or dad's) doorstep. Get it from Framebridge for $75. An enamel photo mug We've never met a dad who didn't love a personalized mug, and this enamel mug is ideal for the papa who loves to go camping. It's as easy as uploading a picture and you'll be sure to make his day every time he drinks his morning it from Walmart for $14.96.
