Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog - Inspired Jewish Weddings

2019 Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Juliette + Matt: How They Met To The Present Day…

22/01/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 7th gorgeous bride from our crop of 2019 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Juliette, who will be marrying Matt on 9th November 2019 at Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey, USA.

THREE FACTS: (1) Juliette and Matt met in Hebrew school when they were 16 – aww! (2) Juliette and Matt are both Jewish, but they are having a Jew-ish wedding – Juliette’s dad’s side of the family is Catholic, and they want to make sure everyone feels included on the day. (3) Juliette is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club – and she calls STG her “secret weapon” in wedding planning!

How We Met

Matt and I met each other when we were 15 years old. When I was a sophomore in high school my mom signed me up for Hebrew High, which was a program my Reform temple ran for continuing education after your bar/bat mitzvah. I almost never went.

I didn’t grow up with any Jewish kids and I didn’t think it was worth my very precious time as a high school student. However, my mom in her sixth sense genius insisted I start to go more often, because you never know who you could meet. I begrudgingly agreed and sitting in a classroom on a random Wednesday night this cute boy jumped from his seat to answer a question and I was dumbfounded.

Within a week we had found each other on Facebook (see me stalking out his last name and friending him with no mutual friends) and went on a few dates. About a week later we were dating. We went to different colleges in different states, which in the end, only brought us closer. Slowly we built lives that melded together. We now work at the same company and are building our happy little life in the center of Midtown Manhattan.

A Watters Bride for an Egalitarian Jewish Wedding with Fairy Lights and Sunflowers at The Oakley Court, Windsor, UK

21/01/2019 by Karen Cinnamon 1 Comment

Is this the perfect English country Jewish wedding, or what? We are totally obsessed with Miri and Jon’s sweet sunflower chuppah – not to mention the bride’s epic flower crown (which she opted for instead of a bouquet) and the charming table centers in repurposed whiskey bottles strewn with fairy lights. It was all the work of florist Gabriella Shem-Tov, who crafted the perfect colorful arrangements to complement the festival vibes and idyllic outdoor setting.

We also love that Miri, a project manager at the British Library, and Jon, community development director for Masorti Judaism in the UK, crafted an ultra-personal egalitarian ceremony totally in step with their values, where they circled each other, exchanged rings, and both smashed a glass.

Don’t miss Miri’s beautiful writeup, or Marianne Chua’s luminous documentary-style photography… and whilst you’re at it, you won’t want to miss our amazing FREE online event for Jewish and Jew-ish Brides happening later today called, ‘The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding”. Sign up here if you haven’t already – I can’t wait to see you there!

How we met

Miri, the bride: We had been friends for a few years but then accidentally went on a date, and were engaged a year later!

The Event of the Year for Jewish and Jew-ish Brides is happening tomorrow.. Make Sure You’re IN!

20/01/2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

What have you been up to this weekend? Partying? Chilling? Wedmin-ing? In my case, it may or may not surprise you to hear that I’ve spent most of the weekend preparing for Smashing The Glass’ FREE private online event for Jewish and Jew-ish brides-to-be, happening tomorrow, Monday, and I’m SO excited!

It’s called ‘The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding’ and I’m a million percent confident you’ll walk away knowing exactly what you need to do to ensure you have an unforgettable wedding – the wedding you really want (whilst keeping everyone around you happy)

And the best news of all? The live event will be streamed directly to your computer or mobile device, so cosy slippers and a hot chocolate (or a large glass of wine!) are positively encouraged!

The free event is taking place on Monday January 21, 2019 @ 3:00 PM EST (that’s 3pm New York, 12pm Los Angeles, 8pm London, 10pm Israel)

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE AND GET A REMINDER

You’re engaged… and I get it:

You want to be different but fulfil certain expectations.
You want to be cost efficient without seeming to scrimp.
You want to involve friends and family without causing them a ton of work and stress.
You want to throw an amazing party that will appeal to quite a disparate group of people… and across the generations.

I know most of these pressures apply to ALL weddings but there are extra levels of pressure for Jewish weddings – how much of the traditional stuff do you do? How do you cater for kosher guests? The chuppah, the ketubah, the glass, kippot, the rituals, the rabbi…

And then there’s the party itself. How do you ensure it’s one to remember without losing your mind in the process of planning it all? (And by the way you’ll benefit from the event whether you’re using a planner or not – this is an absolute must-attend for every Jewish / Jew-ish bride-to-be!)Continue Reading

A Gemy Maalouf Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding at Villa Tiberio, Marbella, Spain

18/01/2019 by Karen Cinnamon 1 Comment

Okay, can we talk about beautiful bride Olivia’s AMAZING dress for a quick sec? The elegant plunging neckline, the sleek fit, and, above all, the very modern lace – all trademark Gemy Maalouf.

It’s no surprise she’s a Mirror Mirror bride. One of our favorite bridal boutiques, this London institution – and beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor – is renowned for their wonderful selection and top-notch service (do you see how perfectly that dress fits Olivia?!).

Not that anything about Olivia and Paul’s big day was anything short of extraordinary. The couple’s planner, Dyana Dessar Simmons from STG Recommended Vendor Optimum Weddings, made sure every detail was picture-perfect – and Olivia reports, made their planning “really easy,” even with the wedding being abroad! And STG Recommended Vendor Jeremy Standley took the most incredible photos of the day – he really captures the love between these two, not to mention the dreamy setting.

We especially love Olivia and Paul’s chuppah setup: their stunning floral structure was roofless, meaning it didn’t technically fit the bill, so the pair had four of Paul’s ushers hold a tallit over their heads – no poles, just an edge of the fabric for each usher to hold on to! What a very special, personal way to involve loved ones in the ceremony.

Olivia will fill you in on the rest…

A Villa in Spain

Olivia, the bride: I picked Villa Tiberio because I thought it was so stunning. I always wanted to get married abroad and because I’ve frequently visited Spain since I was a child it seemed like the best place.

I loved how simple, understated yet timeless the venue was and thought it represented me and Paul well. I actually went to the venue a year and a half before with Paul and I said to him although we weren’t engaged, when we are, we are getting married here! He didn’t have a choice really!

Your Ketubah, Your Way: Our Top Ketubot for 2019

17/01/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Brooklyn Ketubah | Ink With Intent | From $280 | (10% off for members of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club)

One of my favourite wedding industry developments since I founded Smashing The Glass is the abundance of beautiful, lovingly crafted ketubahs to suit every style you could possibly imagine.

It used to be that your rabbi would set you up with a plain, standard ketubah – or if you really wanted to go all out, you might strike out on your own and find something a bit more ornate, maybe a traditional floral border. Even ten years ago, the range of possibilities was truly nothing like it is today.

Now, there are so many incredible ketubah artists putting their personal stamps on the ancient Jewish marriage contract. Whether you go for contemporary or traditional, whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, whether you love bright colours, pastels, or neutrals – there’s a ketubah for you. In fact, there are probably lots of ketubot for you.

And it’s not just design that can be customized to suit your style, either. So many ketubah creators offer a range of text options beyond the traditional, whether you’re looking for something interfaith, same sex, egalitarian, or just a little more modern – or maybe you even want to provide your own text that the two of you have written together! These days, the sky is truly the limit.

I’m privileged to work with some amazing ketubah artists, and I want to draw your attention to some of my very favorite pieces I’ve spotted recently – so here are just a few…

Silver Jewel Ketubah | Danny Azoulay | Price available upon request

This exquisitely elegant paper cut ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Danny Azoulay is truly a work of art. Like museum quality. It’s a true heirloom, with an incredible level of detail.

Geometric Bouquet Ketubah | Ketubata | From $125

If you’re after something with a more playful look, you couldn’t do better than to check out Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubata. Think gorgeous watercolors, sweet botanicals, and totally modern geometric shapes.