Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Magical Summer Evening in London with Tony Page at The Dorchester’s Penthouse and Pavilion

by Leave a Comment

I was so thrilled to be invited to the newly reimagined Penthouse and Pavilion at London’s iconic Dorchester Hotel for a beautiful dinner hosted by Tony Page, one of the UK’s most beloved kosher caterers.

I’ve known Tony and his team ever since I started Smashing The Glass back in 2013, and over the years I’ve seen him craft the most exquisite Jewish weddings (some of which we’ve been lucky enough to publish) time and time again.

And The Dorchester – what a dream venue! This iconic Mayfair address has long been one of the capital’s most glamorous addresses and the site of many a gorgeous London Jewish wedding (including a few we’ve featured here on Smashing The Glass over the years), but this dinner gave me an opportunity to experience part of the property that most guests don’t get to see: The Penthouse and Pavilion, a magical gem of a space hidden away on the top floor of the hotel.

When my husband, Jeremy, and I arrived at The Dorchester, after taking a few moments to appreciate the elegant lobby we made our way straight up to the Penthouse and Pavilion, where we were greeted with drinks as we stepped out onto the gorgeous terrace to chat with the other guests.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Magical Jewish Wedding at Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

by Leave a Comment

Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

Today’s Jewish wedding takes us to one of Liverpool’s most magical venues: Sefton Park Palm House. For bride Alex, a physiotherapist, and groom Mark, an optician, this iconic glasshouse had always been a dream setting – and it’s not hard to see why.

With its soaring Victorian glass, lush greenery, and light-filled botanical beauty, the Palm House has that rare quality of feeling both grand and intimate at the same time. It made the most breathtaking backdrop for Alex and Mark’s chuppah, and later transformed into the perfect space for an unforgettable reception.

Music was a huge part of the atmosphere, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Twentysomethings absolutely delivered. From Jesse singing the couple’s dream songs at the chuppah to keeping the energy going all night long, the band helped create the most incredible party atmosphere.

We’re also so delighted to feature the beautiful work of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, who captured the day so perfectly. With her deep knowledge of Jewish weddings, Kate knew exactly where to be for every key moment – from the emotion of the chuppah to all the joy of the evening that followed.

Now over to gorgeous bride Alex…

Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

How We Met

Alex, the bride: Mark and I met on J Swipe.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Caroline Castigliano Bride for an Elevated Cocktail Party Jewish Wedding with a View at ERIA Sausalito, California, USA

by Leave a Comment

Sarah and Joe, ERIA Sausalito, Sausalito, California, USA

Stunning venue alert! Sarah, an attorney, and Joe, an engineer, live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which isn’t exactly short on gorgeous views. But they found something really special in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ERIA Sausalito, just across the Golden Gate Bridge. The space overlooks the water with sweeping views of the city, which formed the breathtaking backdrop to the couple’s chuppah. Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Victoria Kurkina.

Sarah and Joe can’t stop raving about their experience with ERIA. In the bride’s words, “ERIA isn’t just a venue—it’s a fully immersive experience. Having so much handled in-house made everything feel effortless, cohesive, and incredibly well-executed. We worked with Nikita Khandheria, founder of ERIA Events and owner of the venue, and she was truly extraordinary. From the very beginning, we felt an immediate connection—she intuitively understood our vision and brought it to life in a way that felt effortless. Her level of creativity, organization, and taste is incredibly rare.”

We love that Sarah and Joe went for an immersive cocktail party vibe for their big day, full of rich plum tones and dark, romantic florals—and, of course, delicious food. Instead of a seated dinner, the duo opted for an interactive dining experience with multiple stations. How fun is that?!

We’ll turn you over to Sarah, who looked so chic in her ivory silk gown by Caroline Castigliano, for the rest of the story…

Sarah and Joe, ERIA Sausalito, Sausalito, California, USA Sarah and Joe, ERIA Sausalito, Sausalito, California, USA Sarah and Joe, ERIA Sausalito, Sausalito, California, USA Sarah and Joe, ERIA Sausalito, Sausalito, California, USA

How We Met

Sarah, the bride: We met the old-fashioned way—through wonderfully meddling Jewish aunties. A mutual family friend set us up despite us living in completely different places at the time (Texas and Portland). Our first date was in Sausalito at Bar Bocce, and we dated long distance for several years, including a stint when Joe moved to Switzerland for work. Eventually, we couldn’t stay apart—I left my role at the Justice Department, moved to be with him, and we got engaged in Ticino near Lake Como. We’re now back in San Francisco, living the dream.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Pronovias Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding by the Ocean at Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel

by Leave a Comment

Diana and Craig, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel

There’s nothing like a Jewish wedding in Israel – and we absolutely love Diana and Craig’s! The American couple knew they wanted a destination wedding by the ocean, and naturally Israel was high on their list.

They found the perfect venue in Caesarea’s Caesar Yam, where they were able to have the most stunning outdoor chuppah at sunset with the Mediterranean as their backdrop – and the fact that they were able to gather their friends and family for not just a few hours but a whole weekend of events to celebrate was an added bonus.

When it came time to choose their photographer, Diana and Craig went for Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, who did a fantastic job not only delivering their vision but also organize all their extended family on the day.

We’ll let the bride – who looked absolutely stunning in her dress from Pronovias – fill you in on the rest…

Diana and Craig, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Diana and Craig, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Diana and Craig, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Diana and Craig, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel

How We Met

Diana, the bride: We met during Covid. We were both living in NYC.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Essense of Australia Bride for a Foodies’ Jewish Wedding at One Marylebone, London, UK

by Leave a Comment

Rachael and Jason, One Marylebone, London, UK

We always love seeing what event industry pros choose when it comes to their own Jewish weddings – and today’s bride Rachael, who works for Melanie’s Catering, had the most fabulous foodie Jewish wedding to groom Jason!

The London couple opted to wed at One Marylebone, and they turned to their friend Lara of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Uptown Events to bring their vision to life. Needless to say, Rachael reports that “the whole team at Uptown couldn’t do enough for us and put all their effort into making our day everything we wanted it to be.”

Choosing a caterer was obviously a big decision, given the bride’s professional background. Rachael’s own colleagues were all guests at the wedding, so the couple needed to look elsewhere to source exceptional food for the big day. Enter Eat Me Events, who worked closely with the couple to make all their culinary dreams come true – and it really does look incredible, just check out photos by Alex Wysocki and video from Tete-a-tete Films.

Read on for all the magical details of this very special day in Rachael’s own words…

 

Rachael and Jason, One Marylebone, London, UK Rachael and Jason, One Marylebone, London, UK Rachael and Jason, One Marylebone, London, UK Rachael and Jason, One Marylebone, London, UK

How We Met

Rachael, the bride: With not much to do in lockdown, we both found ourselves on hinge and matched the day before Rosh Hashanah. He had me at ‘Shana Tovah’ and the rest is history. Eventually when we could, our first date was a drink in a pub outside and Jason actually proposed that very night with a paper straw.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading