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A Groundbreaking Same-Sex Orthodox Jewish Wedding with Tons of Personal Touches at Rochdale Town Hall, UK

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Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK

We have a really special Jewish wedding to share with you today! London couple Jay, who runs a scientific consultancy business, and Michael, a chartered accountant working in risk management, were the first same-sex couple to be married by an Orthodox rabbi in the UK, and we are here for it!

It’s so exciting to see the rise of same-sex Orthodox Jewish weddings, and we loved hearing about how Jay and Michael crafted their entirely bespoke halachic ceremony. When the pair were planning their wedding, they joined our Brides Club (yes, guys can join too!), and we’re so thrilled to hear how much they valued our own Karen Cinnamon’s advice throughout the process.  

Jay and Michael’s wedding was absolutely chock full of wonderful personal touches. For starters, inspired by their shared love of musical theatre, Jay and Michael commissioned a wedding booklet designed to replicate the Playbill programs distributed in Broadway theatres, featuring illustrations of the couple in their wedding attire, a “cast list,” and a five-act synopsis of their love story. Don’t miss it in the wonderful documentary-style photos by David Stubbs!

And we love that Jay and Michael chose a ten-piece band (accompanied by a chuppah singer) from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Twentysomethings for their entertainment. The couple loved working with the band, and they couldn’t get enough of the Israeli dancing set. Also, how awesome is it that their first dance was to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis in Yiddish, sung by one of the pair’s best women, accompanied by the band?!

There are so many more wonderful details of this beautiful and meaningful day – read on for the full story in the grooms’ own words…

Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK Jay and Michael, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale, UK

How We Met

We met thanks to the “shadchan of the 21st century”, the dating app Hinge.

Our early romance was complicated by geography, as Jay was dividing his time between London, Vienna and Jerusalem. Our first date took place at Tuk Tuk in London, but despite the initial spark, the practical challenges made us doubt that the relationship would develop further. An unexpected encounter at Hendon Central tube station set the relationship back on track and we both took this as a sign not to give up.

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A Jane Hill Bride for an Ultra-Personal Foodies’ Jewish Wedding at Braxted Park, Witham, UK

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Saydee and Eldar, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, UK

This Jewish wedding has it all – tons of personal touches, gorgeous countryside setting, great food, and an epic party. Londoners Saydee, a senior food buyer, and Eldar, a director at an advertising agency, worked with their planner Sophie Amor to craft the most magical celebration at picturesque Braxted Park, with so many fabulous details it’s hard to know where to start.

We could go with the couple’s stunning chuppah, inspired by the enormous oak tree on the grounds that formed the focal point of the outdoor ceremony – Saydee and Eldar wanted it to feel as though it was growing into the landscape, and did they ever! (Don’t miss it in the natural, documentary-style photos by Susie and Harley of  Barker Evans.)

Or the chuppah explanation cards the couple created to guide guests unfamiliar with Jewish weddings through the ceremony – hand-drawn by the bride’s mother!

And then there’s the food. Eldar’s family is behind beloved London restaurant group Delamina, so exceptional wedding eats were a must. Working with kosher caterer Dvash, the couple put together a menu with food inspired by Eldar’s mother’s cooking, featuring Middle Eastern-inspired dishes like short rib Delamina-style, slow-cooked with dates, pul-biber chilies, Jerusalem artichoke three ways, and roasted okra.”

Read on for the full story in Saydee’s own words…

Saydee and Eldar, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, UK Saydee and Eldar, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, UK Saydee and Eldar, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, UK Saydee and Eldar, Braxted Park Estate, Witham, UK

How We Met

Saydee, the bride: Introduced by a mutual friend but had crossed paths once that year and Eldar grew up on the road Saydee went to school!

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A Zavana Bride for a Romantic Winter Jewish Wedding at Offley Place, Hitchin, UK

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Jonny & Sophie, Offley place, London, UK

We’ve got a really special Jewish wedding to share with you today! Sophie, a media agency manager, and Jonny, a private chef, had the most beautiful romantic winter wedding at Offley Place just outside London, filled with all the best things in life: food, music, and – of course – family and community.

Given that Jonny’s a chef, the food needed to be top-notch – and he even created the menu himself! And we love that Sophie decided to have a “L-ish” (ladies’ tish) pre-chuppah. In hjer words, “The boys get a drink with their friends before they walk down the aisle, I thought why not do the same with my girls too! It was so lovely to have some of my closest friends around me before I got married, highly recommend getting your hype girlies together to have a little moment and drink before.” How fun is that?

And then there’s the music: Sophie and Jonny wanted the best of the best, and they found it in  Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The White Keys. In Sophie’s words, “their energy, talent, and incredible vocals created the most electric atmosphere.” Rounding things out were the couple’s incredible chazzan, Serge and super-talented Josh Nesbitt on the keys, who brought the ceremony to another level.

Photographer Marcus Curry captured the most wonderful images of the day, as did videographer Ayla from Reel All About It – who also created the most beautiful reels for Sophie and Jonny the very next day!

Jonny & Sophie, Offley place, London, UK Jonny & Sophie, Offley place, London, UK Jonny & Sophie, Offley place, London, UK

How We Met

Sophie, the bride: The short, not so romantic story, is Hinge! The new version of a matchmaking.

The long story is, we have always known of each other, living in the bubble, we had gone to the same school at some point and the same clubs as children.

As Jonny is slightly older than myself, he used to volunteer looking after and run sessions for younger children at a Jewish youth club called Chigwell Maccabi, ‘Chigs’ for short. My younger sister happened to be a part of this age group Jonny helped. She remembers him as the boy who used to make people laugh and run around in a monkey onesie, he remembers her as being loud and trying to keep her away from the boys.

At this very same club, Jonny’s family donated an award for volunteers each year. After his Grandpa got too old to present it himself, his dad Bradley would present the ‘Mervish award’ to those who had volunteered. My sister was the winner of this award and there has been a picture of my sister, Jonny’s dad and sister up on our wall years before we met!

I say she got the shield, but I got the trophy.

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A Caroline Castigliano Bride for an Elegantly Romantic Summer Jewish Wedding at The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

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Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

Get ready for a seriously joyous Jewish wedding! Sophie, a nail technician, and Joe, a chartered surveyor, had the most wonderful celebration at The Queens Hotel in the bride’s hometown of Leeds.

The couple’s vision for their big day was romantic elegance with a modern, summery twist – and tons of personality and warmth. We love their Perspex chuppah, adorned with soft florals in shades of pink, white, and peach, and how special is it that Sophie’s 91-year-old grandpa read the couple’s ketubah aloud?

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor XS Showband brought the party to life in their inimitable signature style, and Guy Barzily’s incredible voice sounded all the right notes during the chuppah and the Israeli dancing – in Sophie’s words,

From start to finish, XS Showband were phenomenal, the energy was electric, and the dance floor was never empty, even during dinner and benching!

We were thrilled to hear that the couple found their photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, right here on Smashing the Glass. As Sophie says,

Her photography style is so natural and full of emotion, and she was absolutely perfect for us. From our very first meeting, we knew she would capture our day beautifully, and she did just that. Kate caught every angle, every moment, and every emotion, creating the most stunning gallery that allows us to relive our wedding day over and over again.

Read on for all the details from Sophie – who looked simply smashing in her Caroline Castigliano gown…

Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UKSophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

How We Met

Sophie, the bride: We first met through mutual friends when we were 11, but we really got to know each other when we started at the same school in Year 8, aged just 12!

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A Galia Lahav Bride for a Fairy Tale Jewish Wedding in White with a Breathtaking Fabric Floral Chuppah at The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

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Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

Cool chuppah alert! Emily  and Scott wanted their chuppah to make them feel like they were floating on a cloud – and they totally nailed it. Featuring an abundance of giant fabric flowers in white, combined with white hydrangeas and delicate blossoms, we’ve never seen anything quite like it – and we’re totally smitten.

It also goes perfectly with Emily’s stunner of a gown from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav: a custom style inspired by the beloved Israeli designer’s  “Rosemary,” replete with the most exquisite 3D floral lace. It’s really something special – don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Rebecca Searle.

We’re obsessed with the epic party vibes Emily and Scott set for their day – complete with the chicest use of disco balls we’ve ever seen. We’ll turn you over to Emily for the rest…

 

Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

How We Met

Emily, the bride: My childhood best friend, Calum, worked with my now husband and after (husband’s words) fancying me from seeing me on Calum’s social media, Calum told me to meet him after work for drinks and without me knowing had told Scott to join. The rest is history…

Extra context: we dated for a few months and then Covid / lockdown started and I ended up being locked down in Scott’s family home (with Covid) for 2 weeks, a few weeks later and we’re madly in love.

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