Here it is, our last real Jewish wedding of 2025 – and have we got a special one to share with you today! Like so many couples, UK-based Sarah and Daniel dreamed of getting married in Israel, but due to the war they ended up pivoting and relocating things to Cyprus.
With the help of their fantastic wedding planner, Noam of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kai Wedding Planners, Sarah and Daniel were able to bring so much of what they love about Israel into their big day. Being Israeli himself, Noam was perfectly positioned to help the couple do just that – and their celebration at Base Events in Paphos really did have the feel of one of those fabulous Israeli seaside weddings we all know and love. Noam even sourced kosher-certified catering for Sarah and Daniel!
Photographers Eitan Van and Kryiakos Hadjiiordanis captured all the love and emotion of the day so perfectly – do read on for the rest of the story in Sarah’s own words…
How We Met
Sarah, the bride: We met at a Purim in 2019!
A Wedding in Cyprus
We got married in Cyprus due to the war in Israel and Daniel had grandparents that couldn’t travel to the UK as it was too far. Cyprus was a very short flight so 3 of the 4 of them were able to come.
It was at Base Events in Paphos. We picked this venue as we found it similar to the venue styles in Israel which we really loved. They had also just build this brand new ceremony area overlooking the sea. The lights and staging they had there are also so beautiful.
Planned to Perfection
We had a planner – Kai Wedding Planners. Noam is an Israeli wedding planner specialising in abroad weddings with experience in Cyprus so he was perfect to plan our wedding. Our style was fitting with the venue with greens and blues and lighting.
Invitation/Stationery
I designed them using Canva and used With Joy.
Hair + Makeup
Cypriot hair and make by Inna.
I could not recommend her enough, both our mums are not huge make up people and were beyond happy with her. She really is incredible and captures exactly what you want.
A Tatiana Porembova Dress
My dress was made and designed by Tatiana Porembova Bridal.
I really struggled to find the one and I had a few friends that made their own dress. So I did some research and found Tatiana – she is incredible. So we designed my dress together, picked all the fabrics and the lace. Did lots of try ons and adjustments, I really wanted something delicate with some subtle lace and I was so happy with the result.
Accessories
I had a necklace from Daniel and a bracelet from my aunt/uncle and some earrings from my dad. My dad had won these diamond earrings in a golf raffle over 10 years ago and saved them for my wedding day.
Bridesmaids
I had 8 bridesmaids. They wore dresses from Azazie – it’s great for picking loads of different styles if you want the same colour and material of dresses.
Ceremony & Chuppah
Our chuppah had to be built as we wanted an elevated free standing one. Achilles, the owner of Base, built it for us. We sent him inspiration photos for the design. The chuppah was the most important part and meant so much to us. The music was key and we had the most incredible chuppah singer, Serge, and keyboard player, Josh, who made it so meaningful and special.
Ketubah
We used Art by Rena to design our ketubah. We felt it went with the theme of our wedding with greens around it and we are so excited to hang it up in our home.
Our music choice
We had Serge and Josh for the chuppah who we couldn’t recommend more. They are incredibly talented and so wonderful to work with. They also played for the tisch and created the most incredible atmosphere. We had them also play the simcha set together with Adam Lahav and his band, they were more than phenomenal. The saxophone player also played for the tisch and chuppah and there are no words to explain their talent. They were all magical and created the best atmosphere and we can’t thank them enough.
Flowers
We used the venue’s team for everything. It was a big mixture and we had some centre pieces with olive trees.
Photographer and videographer
We used Daniel Bodenstein videographer from Israel and photographer Eitan Van. We also had a local Cypriot photographer called Kryiakos Hadjiiordanis.
Food and cake
Kai Wedding Planners organised it all and pulled off a kosher wedding in Paphos!
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
It will all work out in the end!! There’s always little things that go wrong on the day which no one ever notices. If you’re doing it somewhere different there will always be new things to figure out but it’s the people there at the end of the day that matter the most and we couldn’t be more grateful for our friends and family.
SARAH & DANIEL’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Eitan Van, Kryiakos Hadjiiordanis
Videography – Daniel Bodenstein
Planner – Kai Wedding Planners
Ketubah – Art by Rena
Venue, chuppah, flowers – Base Events
Bride’s dress – Tatiana Porembova Bridal
Bridesmaids’ dresses – Azazie
Hair + Makeup – Hair and Makeup by Inna
DJ – Serge and Josh Nesbitt, Adam Lahav
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.
