It’s been a long couple of weeks for the Jewish people. In light of Hamas’s horrific acts of terrorism, we’ve taken a few weeks off from our usual wedding content to focus on supporting Israel and each other. While we sadly can’t say things have gotten to a better place, we are feeling more than ever that we need all the Jewish joy we can get – and that includes weddings.
Hence our decision to resume publishing the joyous, life-affirming celebrations of love that are the core of what we do here at Smashing The Glass. And we’re back today with something really special: Bianca and Jordan’s beautiful Jewish wedding at The Fairmont Hotel in Windsor, just outside London – made possibly by a fabulous team of #STGvendors.
Bianca and Jordan turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J to make their enchanted garden dreams a reality. Michelle planned Bianca’s sister’s wedding a few years back, so the couple knew from the beginning they were working with the best of the best. In Bianca’s words, “She was amazing and really helped guide us through the process and really understood our vision and what was important to us… Any concerns we had Michelle would deal with it for us and we knew we were in the best hands.” You can see for yourself how exquisitely it all came together in the wonderful photos by Paul Santos and the moving trailer by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Denee Motion.
Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Big Day Designs crafted Bianca and Jordan’s invitations, featuring rose gold foiling and wax seals, as well as their wedding day stationery, and Bianca found her stunner of a gown at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Wedding Club in Knightsbridge. She chose a strapless corset A-line dress by the Israeli designer Berta – which is all the more meaningful in light of the current situation.
Do read on for more Jewish joy, in Bianca’s own words…
How We Met
Bianca, the bride: We knew of each other as we are both from Essex but we matched on J Swipe; after a few weeks of talking we finally met up and went on a date!
A Venue that Has It All
We got married at The Fairmont Hotel based in Windsor, it was the only venue we looked at as we fell in love with it straight away and knew that was the place we wanted to get married. We wanted somewhere a bit outside of London with beautiful outdoor grounds so we could have an outdoor ceremony and then have a big ballroom to fit all our friends and family in. We were lucky that a lot of our friends and family stayed over the weekend so it felt like a whole weekend of celebrations there.
A Wonderful Wedding Planner
Our wedding planner was the wonderful Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J. My family had used her for my sister’s wedding in Italy so we knew we wanted to use her again for mine. She was amazing and really helped guide us through the process and really understood our vision and what was important to us. The whole team were great on the day and made it really stress free, any concerns we had Michelle would deal with it for us and we knew we were in the best hands.
The theme was rose gold and pinks. I really wanted it to feel like an enchanted garden. Our coasters were created by my father as a gift for each guest. Unlike most other weddings, where favours are regularly left behind on the dinner tables, these were all loved and appreciated by our guests and taken home.
Invitation + Stationery
Big Day Designs designed our invitations and our wedding day stationery; our invitations were white with rose gold foiling and featured a transparent wrap and wax seal.
Hair + Makeup
For my hair I went with Hair by Slo, I was recommended her by few a people and I am so glad I went with her, she is incredible at what she does and is a perfectionist. She really understood the look I wanted and made it even better than I was expecting. I opted to go for a twisted half up half down.
For my makeup I went with Kourtney MUA. I am so fussy with having my make up done but wow did Kourtney make me look amazing, she is incredible at what she does, I went for a soft glam look with a mixture of bronze/rose gold. My make up lasted all day and did not have to top it up once.
A Berta Dress
My dress was from The Wedding Club in Knightsbridge by the Israeli designer Berta. I always imagined myself getting married in a Berta dress as I wanted something sparkly. It was the first dress I tried on and I just knew that it was the one! My face lit up and I could not stop thinking about it, we went to other places just to be sure but nothing compared! I opted for a strapless corset a line style.
Accessories and Shoes
So I wore my sister’s shoes that she wore for her wedding as something borrowed. It was really special being able to wear her shoes. My main thing was to be comfortable and they really were, and easy to walk in. They were Miu Miu and had a block heel.
Bridesmaids
I had 7 bridesmaids and they wore these beautiful blush pink multiway dresses from Lipsy. I loved these dresses as they complement every body shape and they also got to wear them in different ways so they were not all the same.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We had a beautiful outdoor traditional ceremony, I really wanted a wow factor for our chuppah and opted to have it covered in pink peonies & roses. We are lucky enough to have a lot of grandparents to be there under the chuppah with us so we made sure we had an extra big chuppah so we could fit all our loved ones under it.
Our music choice
The band we went with was Club Live, we knew straight away that was the band we wanted to go with as my family have used them previously and they are absolutely incredible. The dance floor was full all night long and they really brought so much energy to the room. They listened to the exact playlist we wanted which was current/classic to accommodate to everyone. Our first dance song was to ‘She’s the one’ by Robbie Williams which was sung so beautifully.
Flowers
We went with Flowers by Miri as a lot of my inspiration came from her page. For the centrepiece on the tables we went with a mix of high and low design, one being a candelabra with flowers on the base and the other being a tree-type look with flowers and tea light candles hanging. Our top table had a garland of peonies and roses across it with pink candles. We wanted to have a wow factor by the stage so Miri created a beautiful hanging flower display behind the stage. My bouquet was blush pink filled with peonies and roses and my bridesmaids had a smaller version to coordinate. I was lucky that it was peony season so I got to have beautiful peonies at my wedding.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer was Paul Santos. We wanted to have very modern and editorial photography. We were recommended by our wedding planner Michelle to go with Paul for the look we wanted. We absolutely loved our photos, he really captured the day beautifully and was so lovely on the day and made us feel at ease.
Our wedding videographer was Denee Motion. Our video and highlights was so beautiful and special to watch, he really captured every moment.
Food
Ben Tenenblatt did our catering.
Honeymoon
We went to Abu Dhabi for 2 weeks on our honeymoon, we wanted to go somewhere guaranteed hot weather and lots to do, we chose to stay at the Rixos Premium saadiyat island which was located on a picturesque beach. They arranged some special surprises for us on our arrival including a lovely honeymoon room set up, a floating breakfast and a couples massage. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Just enjoy all the celebrations and the build up. Try and not stress about the small things as no one notices and you will not even notice on the day. Just make sure to take every moment in and relax.
BIANCA & JORDAN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Paul Santos
Videography – Denee Motion {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Planner – Elegante by Michelle J {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Stationery – Big Day Designs – {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Bridal boutique – The Wedding Club {offers a free appointment and 10% on accessories to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Venue – The Fairmont Hotel
Bride’s dress – Berta
Bride’s shoes – Miu Miu
Bridesmaids – Lipsy
Hair – Hair by Slo
Flowers – Flowers by Miri
Band – Club Live
Catering – Ben Tenenblatt
Chazan – Jonny Turgel
Rabbi – Rabbi Brandman
Production – Powerhouse Hire
Furniture Hire – Furniture 4 Events
Toastmaster – Toastmaster James Hasler
Smash The Glass Pouch – Smashing The Glass Etsy Shop {or join Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club and get one for free!}
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
What a fun day! Captured so beautifully! Congratulations to the couple!