Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog - Inspired Jewish Weddings

13 Inspirational Jewish Wedding Photos

04/07/2022 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Image: Ben Kelmer Photography

It takes someone really special to capture all the magic of a Jewish wedding. The traditions, the emotion, the dancing – a Jewish wedding day is pretty full-on from start to finish, and you want to make sure you pick a wedding photographer who can keep up!

Luckily, we know plenty of amazing Jewish wedding photographers – the kind who know exactly what a badeken is without you having to explain a thing – and we asked 13 of them to share a favorite Jewish wedding snapshot with us. So get ready to feel ALL the feelings!

1. Miki Studios

See more work by MIKI Studios

2. Herschel Gutman Photography

See more work by Herschel Gutman, who also offers 10% discount to Brides Club members.

3. Ben Kelmer Photography

See more work by Ben Kelmer Photography, who also offers 10% discount to Brides Club members.Continue Reading

How to Find the Perfect Dress for Your Jewish Wedding

30/06/2022 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Photo by Varna Studios

Wedding dress shopping… it’s one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning, yet it can also be one of the most overwhelming. For those of us who aren’t in a position to buy couture on the regular, wedding dress shopping will likely be a whole new world. There’s lots to learn – and, potentially, lots of pressures to navigate, too.

That’s why I’ve chatted with Maria Yiannikaris, cofounder of beloved London bridal boutique Mirror Mirror London, about some of her top tips for making your shopping experience as smooth as it can be. Mirror Mirror is one of the very best options for finding your dream dress in London – or even, dare I say it, the entire world!

And with over 30 years of experience running Mirror Mirror, Maria knows more about the ins and outs of wedding dress shopping than just about anyone. Plus, her ethos of helping each bride to look and feel her most beautiful, confident self on her wedding day couldn’t be any more aligned with ours here at Smashing The Glass!

Photo by Voyteck Photography

Do Your Research

Get a Sense of Your Preferred Styles

Figuring out what looks you like best -and which brands design them- will make it easier to decide which bridal salons to hit up. You can find inspo on Pinterest, in bridal magazines, in past real wedding features on Smashing The Glass, and on boutiques’ websites. And be sure to note any designers (and even style numbers) you’re particularly smitten with.

Knowing which designers you like and which don’t speak to you as much will also make it easier to figure out which shops to visit. A lot of boutiques will carry the full spectrum of styles – Mirror Mirror carries a fabulous range of 8 international designers, showcasing styles from classic minimalism to soft boho vibes or a truly opulent gow – but some have a more narrow focus.

Photo by Voyteck Photography

Shop Your Closet

Well, not exactly. But taking a look at the clothes you already own can be helpful in trying to decide what silhouettes will work best for you. If there are certain similarities in a lot of the items you already own, let those elements guide you. It can also be helpful to think about physical features you’d like your dress to highlight.

Photo by Varna Studios

Brush Up on Dress Terminology

It’ll be easier communicating your preferences at appointments if you know a mermaid from an A line.

Photo by Varna Studios

Know Your Wedding Theme and Venue

Knowing your venue and vibe before you start shopping will make it easier to choose the right dress.

Photo by Varna Studios

Find Out about Religious Restrictions

If you’re having a religious ceremony, check with your rabbi to find out if there are any attire guidelines you’re required to follow, such as covering your shoulders for the chuppah.

If you do find yourself in need of a chuppah coverup to add to your bridal ensemble, it’s smart to shop someplace where the team is experienced working with Jewish brides. Mirror Mirror, for example, has a wonderful, longstanding relationship with London’s Jewish community, and all of their stylists are well-versed in the needs of brides from Orthodox to Jew-ish.

Photo by Varna Studios

Figure Out Your Budget

Before your first appointment, figure out how much you’re able to spend on your gown – and choose where to shop accordingly. For instance, Mirror Mirror offers gowns ranging in price from £1850 – £8000.

Photo by Varna Studios

A Galia Lahav Bride for an Intimate Destination Jewish Wedding Weekend on the Italian Riviera at the Belmond Caruso, Ravello, Italy

27/06/2022 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Get ready to be blown away by one of the most exquisite Italian destination Jewish weddings we’ve seen in, well, ever! Travel lovers Marianna, an artist and handbag, footwear, and accessory designer, and Ari, a hospitality entrepreneur, worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Infinity Weddings to plan a truly unforgettable multi-day celebration with 50 of their nearest and dearest, making the most of the Amalfi Coast’s incredible food, vibrant culture, and stunning landscape.

Being a designer herself, Marianna wanted to be closely involved in the design process, yet she and Ari also wanted to work with a planner who could help them execute their vision with as little stress as possible. Sara of Infinity Weddings was the absolute perfect fit, executing the couple’s vision perfectly and allowing them to be fully present to enjoy the day.

We couldn’t be any more in love with the couple’s venue, the Belmond Caruso, which Marianna calls “the epitome of Italian Riviera.” The whole thing looks like a dream, and the amazing Nakutis Photography captured it all so artfully.

There’s lots more to say about this exquisite wedding – we haven’t even mentioned the bride’s unreal Galia Lahav gown – but we’ll leave it to Marianna to fill you in on the rest…

How we Met

Marianna, the bride: Ari reached out to me on Facebook when I came up for him as a suggested friend. After a few unanswered message and pick up lines about “sending me a kiss” (my last name is Senderkis), I finally replied. A few days later he surprised me by calling me through the Facebook app. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our conversation. I agreed to meet him for lunch near my office. Although we only had 20 minutes together before I had to rush back to work, we were both instantly attracted to one another. We became a couple very soon afterContinue Reading

Top 12 Ketubah Designs

20/06/2022 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

One thing I love about modern Jewish weddings is the way the ketubah – the ancient Jewish marriage contract – has become a way for every couple to put their personal aesthetic stamp on their day. There are so many mega-talented artists creating gorgeous ketubot in all different styles (and with options for all different texts – traditional, interfaith, same sex, egalitarian, or even your own custom version).

And of course the other bonus of a beautiful ketubah is that it’s one of the few wedding elements that comes home with you once the day is over. These days so many couples proudly display their ketubah in their home as a work of art – and with options this stunning, is it any wonder?

With everything out there, it’s so hard to narrow my picks down – but that said, here are 12 of my favorites for 2022…

A Martina Liana Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane, London, UK

13/06/2022 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

How gorgeous is Tash and Joel’s fabulous London Jewish wedding?! It’s 100% pure #weddinggoals… and of course it doesn’t hurt that the couple chose to work with some of our very favorite Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendors.

First off, how wonderful are the photos by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Mike Garrard?! Tash and Joel chose Mike for his natural, candid style and the way he makes everyone feel comfortable and at ease – and did he ever do a perfect job of capturing the day!

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Alexandra’s Florist was responsible for the pair’s lovely flowers – don’t miss their exquisite floral chuppah! – and they can’t praise Alexandra enough for her patience and attentiveness in taking the time to show Tash and Joel lots of different designs and collaborating with them curate just the right look and feel.

Then there was Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Totem, who got the party started in their trademark fashion. The band’s beautiful voices and incredible energy came together to create an unforgettable atmosphere that had everyone on the dancefloor throughout the night.

Smashing The Glass recommended Vendor Toastmaster Jango kept everything together, ensuring the event ran smoothly, on schedule and all done with a cheeky smile and sense of humour.

Last but certainly not least, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Just Smile took charge of Tash and Joel’s production needs, and the couple raves about how they were not only always on hand to answer questions and give advice, but on the day they made the ballroom come alive and created an epic party atmosphere with their fab lighting.

There’s so much more to say, but we’ll leave the rest to Tash, who looked uber chic in Martina Liana…