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A Luminary Bride for a Multicultural Irish-Israeli Jewish Wedding in Chaldika, Greece

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We love a multicultural Jewish wedding, and today’s is really something special. Bride Or is Israeli, while groom Paul is Irish – so they decided to split the difference by making things official in Greece!

The pair turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Sirtaki Events to help them craft the perfect wedding weekend, combining both their traditions plus the vibrant local culture of Greece. Anat and Yonathan of Sirtaki helped Or and Paul find their dream venue, an intimate hotel by the sea with beautiful grounds and an epic pool that the couple secured for exclusive use through the weekend.

In Or’s words,

Working with Anat and Yonathan from Sirtaki Events was incredible. They immediately understood our vision and the vibe we wanted for our wedding, which significantly simplified the process. Their suggestions perfectly aligned with our tastes, even introducing us to ideas we hadn’t considered.

Anat and Yonathan introduced Or and Paul to their photographer, George from Papacharalampous Photography, and they absolutely adore the way he captured the love, joy, and fun of the day.

There’s so much more to say about this very special day – like, how gorgeous did Or look in her dress from Israeli designer Luminary Studio by Lihi Shamrich Cohen? – but we’ll turn you over to the bride for the rest…

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How We Met

Or, the bride: Paul is Irish and I am Israeli, we met in 2012 while traveling in Thailand! We ended up spending 2 weeks together there exploring the country and another year doing long distance, but at that point we decided to end the relationship as long distance was too difficult. Many years later, we serendipitously met again in Amsterdam.

I was visiting with a friend and Paul was on a work trip in the Ukraine, he wasn’t meant to be in Amsterdam at the time but he got stuck there because of a big storm in Ireland where they had closed Dublin airport. We got reunited and the rest is history.

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A Wedding in Greece 

Since we are not from the same country, we were looking for a place that was easy to reach from both Israel and Ireland. Sure helps that Greece has the perfect climate, amazing food and lots of beautiful venue options! Planning a destination wedding can be challenging, especially without easy access to local resources and recommendations.

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Typically, we would choose a venue we are familiar with. However in this case, our first step was to find planners that would help us to find the perfect location; we wanted a space that could house all of our guests, the wedding and the events leading up to the wedding day, welcome drinks, pool parties etc. Anat and Yonathan at Sirtaki Events, listened to all our needs and desires and presented us with several options to choose from.

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We went for a 30 bedroomed hotel close to the sea, with beautiful grounds and a great pool, which we were able to secure exclusive use of for the weekend. It worked out perfectly on the day of the wedding too, as all our guests enjoyed their day at the pool and the beach, until the ceremony by the water in the early evening.

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Theme + Wedding Planner

Given that our wedding was in Greece we wanted to capture a vibe rather than following a theme. The style reflected Greek laid back, charm with vibrant, warm-colored flowers and a relaxed atmosphere. To add personal touches, we named the dinner tables after places special to us.

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Working with Anat and Yonathan from Sirtaki Events was incredible. They immediately understood our vision and the vibe we wanted for our wedding, which significantly simplified the process. Their suggestions perfectly aligned with our tastes, even introducing us to ideas we hadn’t considered. For me, the ceremony’s location was paramount.

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Although the venue offered multiple options, I fell in love with one particular spot. Anat and Yonathan transformed it into a perfect setting. Fairy lights adorned the venue, creating cozy seating areas with pillows and lights for guests to enjoy during the day and after dinner. The ceremony featured a large arch decorated with colorful flowers, and the dinner was a delicious Greek feast. The friendly staff felt like part of the celebration, enhancing the overall joy of the occasion.

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Dress

The dress was from Luminary Studio by Lihi Shamrich Cohen. I’d describe the style as classic. I wanted something timeless as opposed to trendy, so in a million years, when I look back at the photos, I’ll still love the dress and I think I will! 

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Ceremony & Chuppah

Our wedding was a beautiful blend of cultures. We incorporated traditions from both backgrounds into our ceremony, which was led by a close friend so it was very personal and close to our hearts. It was filled with lighthearted jokes and laughs but also a lot of touching sentiments and most of all a lot of love. It didn’t feel formal to us but rather intimate and loving.

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Family and friends gave personal blessings in the Jewish tradition of the seven blessings. We also included the Irish custom of ‘tying the knot’ with a ribbon binding our hands, and of course Paul loved breaking the glass.

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Our music choice

Paul, being Irish, placed significant importance on the bar and entertainment! The music was crucial, and we secured an unforgettable live band that left a lasting impression on us and our guests.

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Flowers

We worked in tandem with our planners who presented us with design catalogues and inspiration, we chose from there our warm, colourful scheme and then when we visited Greece before the wedding, Anat took us to her wonderful florist, Dimitra at Terra alba Flowershop, who helped us to select the perfect florals. The same flowers were used in all the decoration, from the arch to the bouquet and the table centerpieces.  

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Photographer

Our planners presented us with a selection of photographers of different styles and budgets. We selected a local photographer who was familiar with the venue, the Greek timings, light and we are absolutely delighted with the outcome. George from Papacharalampous Photography was able to capture the love, the joy and the fun perfectly.

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Extra Details

An unforgettable moment would be the moment I, Paul, saw Or for the first time as a bride. We chose to have this moment in private and not as part of the ceremony and it was a very special moment between us. We would highly recommend including this moment for yourselves into your day.

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Advice to couples currently planning their wedding

Planning a destination wedding is hard, especially if you like to have close control over details. The biggest tip we would give is to find a planner that you feel is in the same vibe as yourselves and trust their knowledge and experience.

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OR & PAUL’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK

Photography – Papacharalampous Photography
Planner – Sirtaki Events {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Bride’s dress – Luminary Studio by Lihi Shamrich Cohen
Flowers – Terra alba Flowershop

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.