Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

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Top 5 Ketubah Trends for 2026 {with Ketubah.com}

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Joy Papercut by Enya Keshet

Here at Smashing The Glass, we get so many couples coming to us looking for the ketubah of their dreams – and in the years we’ve been in business, we’ve been thrilled to see how much the ketubah world has grown. Long gone are the days when a ketubah was just a formality – today, for most couples, it’s so much more: a tangible record of the commitment they made on their wedding day that they carry with them through the rest of their lives – and a piece of art to boot. So what’s new for 2026? We sat down with our friends at Ketubah.com to find out. 

Concentric Circles Papercut I Ketubah by Shell Rummel

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Ketubah.com (as are our couples), THE go-to online ketubah emporium featuring designs to suit all styles, budgets, and types of wedding. They’ve got multiple text options from traditional to egalitarian to  interfaith to LGBTQ+ and more, and each ketubah is made to order by independent artists and calligraphers. 

Another reason we love Ketubah.com is their top-notch customer service. The team provides hands-on, personalized support throughout the entire process, including digital proofs and guided assistance from selection through delivery. Over the years, we’ve heard so many stories from STG couples about how they’ve has gone above and beyond to make their ketubah dreams come true. 

Celestial Vision by Susanne McGinnis

With 30 years of expertise, Ketubah.com has been at the forefront of the ketubah world for decades, combining deep knowledge of tradition with a modern design sensibility. They’ve recently published Ketubah Renaissance: The Artful Modern Revival of the Jewish Marriage Contract, a definitive resource on the evolution and artistry of the ketubah. And they even offer a 10% discount to members of our Brides Club!

In addition to ketubahs, Ketubah.com supports couples with thoughtful educational tools, including their free Jewish Wedding 101 ebook, designed to help couples understand traditions and plan with confidence, and HebrewNamer.com, a trusted resource for exploring and choosing meaningful Hebrew names.

Sun Kissed by Jennifer Rozbruch

Without further ado, we bring you the top 5 ketubah trends for 2026 – from nature-inspired romance to modern minimalism and bold artistic expression and beyond.

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A Lee Petra Grebenau Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding at Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic

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Rachel and Jakub, Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic

This is an exciting day in STG history: it’s the very first time we’re publishing a wedding set in Prague! One of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities, Prague is such a special place if you’re looking for a more urban destination wedding spot – and we’re thrilled that Rachel, a labor and delivery nurse, and Jakub, an equity research analyst in finance, shared their special day with us!

The couple opted to wed at in Troja Chateau in Prague because the groom’s extended family lives in the area – and to help make their wedding dreams come true long-distance, they worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Andrea Haman, who Rachel describes as “the absolute most incredible wedding planner.” Andrea helped Rachel and Jakub source the perfect vendors for their day and worked with them to create an elegant and elevated vibe – just check out the wonderful photos by Jenny Ovsyannikova and video byMartin from Kaco Films for proof!

We love the way the duo incorporated both Jewish and Czech traditions – so in addition to the ketubah signing, chuppah, and smashing the glass, they followed the Czech practice of smashing the plate – read through Rachel’s wonderful writeup to find out all about it!

Before we turn you over to the bride, we’ve got to say a few words about her stunner of a gown by Israeli designer Lee Petra Grebenau, a custom creation by the designer blending two of her gorgeous styles!

Rachel and Jakub, Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic Rachel and Jakub, Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic Rachel and Jakub, Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic Rachel and Jakub, Troja Chateau, Prague, Czech Republic

How We Met

Rachel, the bride: We met via the dating app, Bumble in 2020.

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The Ultimate Jewish Wedding Glossary

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Camila and Benjamin, Tintswalo Atlantic, Cape Town, South Africa

Camila and Ben‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Nikki van Diermen

One of the most beautiful things about Jewish weddings is how rich they are in ritual. There’s so much meaning and so many centuries of tradition behind just about every step of the day, and there’s something so special about that.

There’s no denying, though, that there’s a lot of lingo to wrap your head around if you’re new to the Jewish wedding world (or even if you’re not!). 

That’s why we created our ultimate Jewish wedding glossary. Whether you’re planning your own Jewish wedding or attending your first one  as a guest, we’ll take you from aufruf to yichud in no time flat. 

Sophie-and-Jonny-Nobu-Portman-Square-London-UK

Sophie and Jonny‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Liam Collard Photography

AUFRUF: A short ceremony during the Shabbat synagogue service that normally takes place on the Saturday morning before the wedding. The groom (and sometimes the bride) are honoured in front of their community. This is often followed by a small party or lunch.

ARAMAIC: A semitic language related to Hebrew. The traditional ketubah text is in Aramaic.

ASHKENAZI: Jews of Eastern and Central European descent.

BADEKEN: A short but meaningful ceremony where the groom covers the bride’s face with her veil. It occurs just before the actual wedding ceremony and is a custom that derives from the biblical account of Jacob’s first marriage, when he was deceived into marrying the heavily veiled Leah instead of Rachel, his intended bride. The badeken is often emotionally charged as the bride and groom may not have seen each other for 24 hours or longer (as much as 7 days) until this moment.

Jade and Adam, Sopwell House, St Albans, UK
Jade and Adam‘s badeken | Photo by Milda Vasile Photography

BENCHERS / BENCHING: A small booklet containing the Jewish blessings for a meal. Couples will often make personalized benchers for all of their guests to use and then take home as a souvenir.

Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK

Shera and Jared‘s benchers by Oy Vey Studios | Photo by Devon Shoob

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5 Reasons We Love Kimpton Fitzroy London More Than Ever in 2026

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If you’ve been following Smashing The Glass for a while, you might recall that we’re pretty massive fans of Kimpton Fitzroy London for Jewish (and Jew-ish weddings). Ever since its opening in 2018, we’ve been recommending Kimpton Fitzroy London to stylish brides looking for a one-of-a-kind venue where 19th-century charm meets 21st-century luxury. It’s the kind of venue that wows you from the moment you step into the lobby and just keeps going. 

Kimpton Fitzroy London quickly became a favorite with STG couples, and now, nearly eight years on, this stunning Bloomsbury property is going stronger than ever. Here are five reasons we’re falling in love all over again. 

  1. Stunning Spaces for Every Step of Your Day

One of the things we love most about Kimpton Fitzroy London is the way it seamlessly hosts every part of your wedding day.

The show-stopping ballroom is a dream for your chuppah and dinner reception. With its high ceilings, dazzling chandeliers, and wonderful natural light, it’s ideal for a seated dinner and dancing for up to 200 guests or a standing reception for up to 350.

For your drinks reception (and beyond), the Palm Court is a total scene-stealer. Think lounge meets conservatory meets members club. It’s stylish yet relaxed, perfect for mingling and creating a true wedding “hang-out” atmosphere. The Palm Court is really one-of-a-kind, and the vibe is truly unparalleled among London hotel venues. 

There are also wonderful options on site for your tisch, badeken, and yichud.

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A Claire Pettibone Bride for a Jewish Wedding Centered on Family at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

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Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

We love that Jennifer, a clinical social worker, and Michael, who owns an  engineering and construction Firm, made their Jewish wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa all about family.

The couple’s kids – Jennifer and Michael have six boys between them – were with them under the chuppah, and the cantor who officiated is one of the duo’s best friends and crafted an ultra-personal ceremony – including a moment for a family hug! Jennifer’s four boys walked her down the aisle, and all six of the couple’s sons gave speeches – which were followed by a family dance! Don’t miss the ultra-emotional photos by Heidi Green.

Shortly after Jennifer and Michael met, they hired an Israeli tattoo artist named Gabriel Wolff to design an infinity sign with their names in Hebrew. They never ended up getting the tattoos, but they did use the design as the basis for their beautiful bespoke ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Once Upon A Paper, who brought their vison to life.

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

Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York Jennifer and Michael, Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Milton, New York

How We Met

Jennifer, the bride: We met on Match.com. We were both divorced and I was dating a lot. Michael says he knew when he saw my photo on the site. I hadn’t even dated anyone from Match and was seeing two other Michaels when we met. I didn’t really pay him much attention.

I’m a big sports fan and he wanted to take me to see the Rangers, the Yankees and was offering great seats. I kept saying no. But he was persistent! I finally said ok to just meet for a drink. Well we met at a restaurant near me. I was sitting at the bar and he walked in the door and walked up the length of the bar and I thought. Oh shit. I’m done. We had a drink that turned into dinner and we never went a single day since then without each other.

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