Get ready for a seriously joyous Jewish wedding! Sophie, a nail technician, and Joe, a chartered surveyor, had the most wonderful celebration at The Queens Hotel in the bride’s hometown of Leeds.
The couple’s vision for their big day was romantic elegance with a modern, summery twist – and tons of personality and warmth. We love their Perspex chuppah, adorned with soft florals in shades of pink, white, and peach, and how special is it that Sophie’s 91-year-old grandpa read the couple’s ketubah aloud?
Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor XS Showband brought the party to life in their inimitable signature style, and Guy Barzily’s incredible voice sounded all the right notes during the chuppah and the Israeli dancing – in Sophie’s words,
From start to finish, XS Showband were phenomenal, the energy was electric, and the dance floor was never empty, even during dinner and benching!
We were thrilled to hear that the couple found their photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, right here on Smashing the Glass. As Sophie says,
Her photography style is so natural and full of emotion, and she was absolutely perfect for us. From our very first meeting, we knew she would capture our day beautifully, and she did just that. Kate caught every angle, every moment, and every emotion, creating the most stunning gallery that allows us to relive our wedding day over and over again.
Read on for all the details from Sophie – who looked simply smashing in her Caroline Castigliano gown…
How We Met
Sophie, the bride: We first met through mutual friends when we were 11, but we really got to know each other when we started at the same school in Year 8, aged just 12!
Venue
We got married at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, Sophie’s hometown. It was the perfect venue for us: an elegant, modern hotel with a stunning grand ballroom and plenty of space for every part of our celebration, including the chuppah, tisch, reception, and party. With Joe from Manchester and Sophie from Leeds, it was the ideal spot for guests from both sides to come together and stay under one roof.
Theme
Juliet Shenderey from Shenderey Events was our wedding planner.
We wanted our wedding to feel unique to us, elegant, but with a modern, summery twist. The flowers were a mix of soft, warm tones, pinks, peaches, and a touch of hot pink, creating a vibrant yet romantic look that perfectly suited our August celebration. My bridesmaids wore stunning deep pink dresses that tied in beautifully with the flowers and overall theme.
Every detail, from the decor and signage to the table settings, was carefully designed by me to add a personal touch. The bridesmaid bouquets were especially unique, nothing like I’d ever seen before, and helped bring our vision to life. We really wanted the day to feel fresh, modern, and warm, reflecting both the season and our personalities.
A Caroline Castigliano Dress
My dress was from The Harrogate Wedding Lounge, designed by Caroline Castigliano. It was truly perfect, it was the ideal balance of intricate detail and subtlety. The moment I tried it on, I felt like a princess, and I instantly knew it was the one.
Ceremony & Chuppah
We had a traditional ceremony, and walking down the aisle to see each other for the first time in days was one of the most exciting and emotional moments. Our favourite part had to be having Sophie’s 91-year-old grandpa read our ketubah, a truly special and unforgettable part of the day that meant so much to us.
For the chuppah, I wanted a blend of elegance and warmth. I trusted our florist to bring the vision to life, and they did just that, creating the perfect design to complement the beautiful perspex chuppah we had chosen.
Our music choice
We had XS Showband at our wedding, and wow, they truly brought the party to life! Our chuppah was made even more special by Guy Barzily, whose incredible voice filled the room with emotion. He then joined the band for the Israeli dancing, which was one of the most unforgettable moments of the night.
From start to finish, XS Showband were phenomenal, the energy was electric, and the dance floor was never empty, even during dinner and benching! For our first dance, we chose “Yellow” by Coldplay, and it was such a magical, captivating moment with everyone singing along around us. It honestly couldn’t have been more perfect.
Flowers
My bouquet had a modern, romantic feel, a beautiful mix of pastel shades with subtle mid-tones of peach, pink, soft coral, and pale lemon. The bridesmaids carried simple yet striking bunches of pale pink stocks, which were so unique and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. The buttonholes featured classic roses that perfectly complemented the bouquets and tied the whole theme together. For the table centres, we chose a mix of grouped arrangements and mass floral arrangements, creating an elegant, balanced look that brought the room to life.
I left a lot of the design to the brilliant ladies at Leafy Couture, and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer was Kate Swerdlow, who I first discovered through Smashing the Glass, and I instantly fell in love with her work. Her photography style is so natural and full of emotion, and she was absolutely perfect for us. From our very first meeting, we knew she would capture our day beautifully, and she did just that. Kate caught every angle, every moment, and every emotion, creating the most stunning gallery that allows us to relive our wedding day over and over again.
Our videographer was John from New Venture Wedding Films. He did a brilliant preview!
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Don’t sweat the small stuff! On the day, it’s easy to get caught up in every little detail, but what really matters is being surrounded by your family and closest friends. Those are the moments you’ll remember, the fun, the dancing, and the love in the room. Focus on enjoying it all!
SOPHIE & JOE’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Kate Swerdlow Photography {offers 15% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videography – New Venture Wedding Films
Venue – The Queens Hotel
Planner – Shenderey Events
Bride’s dress – Caroline Castigliano found at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge
Flowers – Leafy Couture
DJ – XS Showband
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.
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