We love it when a couple centers their Jewish wedding around friends and family – which is exactly what Justine and Elliott did, and we absolutely adore the way they brought their loved ones into the big day.
The couple live in Hertfordshire, but it was always a given that they’d marry up North near the bride’s hometown of Liverpool. One of Justine’s cousins, Rabbi Alby Chait MBE, officiated, and another cousin, Charles Chait, was the chazzan – how special is that?!
Justine and Elliott wanted to make sure all of their guests had a blast, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jam Hot Showband was the absolute perfect entertainment choice. Their 10-piece band was, in the bride’s words, “just WOW! The musicians, the energy and the organisation was outstanding. They had a quick room turnaround time from chuppah to main dinner which was seamless. Guests commented on how much they loved the band’s musical medleys and the dance floor was completely packed all night; we could not have asked for a better party!”
The duo chose another wonderful Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, Kate Swerdlow, to photograph their day, and they couldn’t be any more thrilled with their choice. As Justine put it, Kate is “so creative and energetic, her photos are beautifully natural, not overly posed, and perfectly capture the essence of our day.”
Read on for all the details of this beautiful day in the bride’s own words…
How We Met
Justine, the bride: We met in 2017 after matching on JSwipe! I was studying Musical Theatre at drama school in Guildford, while Elliott, who had graduated from the University of Leeds, was working at a financial advisory firm. Elliott traveled to Guildford for our first date, and the rest is history! Seven years later, I am now the Director of Drama at an Independent School in Radlett, and Elliott is an Independent Financial Advisor. We live in Elstree & Borehamwood.
A Northern Wedding
Our venue was The Last Drop Village & Spa. We were always going to get married up North, as I am originally from Liverpool. We chose this venue for its beautiful grounds, great selection of function suites, excellent in-house wedding planner, and its ornate charm. Since many of our wedding guests were traveling from London, we wanted a place where everyone could stay on-site at the same location and utilise all the facilities the night before the wedding.
Relaxed Romance
We always knew that what would make our wedding special was having our family and friends come together. The day felt very personal, and we involved as many family members as possible. With the relaxed, romantic vibe of the venue and it being a summer wedding, we chose lounge suits. The groomsmen wore blue, and the bridal party wore lavender. Our stationery and florals matched the romantic lavender theme.
Invitation
We used Paperless Post, which was really easy and accessible, and we added our gift list to the link, making it simple to stay organised.
Hadassah from Bespoke Invitations designed all of our signage including benschers, welcome sign, escort cards and table numbers. She designed them beautifully to fit into our theme.
Our kippot came all the way from NYC from kippah.com!
Hair + Makeup
Tally Bookbinder was absolutely amazing! I knew I wanted to look like myself (just a bit more glam!) on my wedding day, and Tally made that happen. During a trial three months before the wedding, she listened attentively and her glam squad made my bridesmaids look incredible too.
A Martina Liana Dress
I had the best time finding my Martina Liana wedding dress at Ava Rose Hamilton – it was the first and only shop I visited, and wow, what an experience! I always knew I wanted a fit-and-flare style, but I also wanted the feeling of being a bride, with an extravagant train— and this dress certainly delivered. The dress featured sheer side cutouts and a beaded multi-strap detail over the open back. It truly was the dress of my dreams.
Accessories + Shoes
My veil came from Ava Rose Hamilton, the same boutique as my dress. I knew I wanted a floor-length veil, but I opted for a very simple design to complement the intricate details of my dress. My heels were from Dune, and my trainers were from Kurt Geiger. I highly recommend switching to trainers for dancing so you can truly enjoy your party!
Bridesmaids
I had 6 beautiful bridesmaids who wore stunning, chiffon lavender dresses from JJs House. I gave them the colour then left it up to them to decide a style of their choice which they felt their best in!
Ceremony & Chuppah
My cousin, Rabbi Alby Chait MBE, officiated our wedding, and other cousin, Charles Chait, was our Chazzan, adding a very special family touch. Alby spoke so personally about us, and Elliott’s brother-in-law, Sam, gave the Priestly Blessing. We cherished every moment under the chuppah; it was truly magical. During Im Eshkochaich, before the glass was smashed, Charles sang a moving Prayer for Israel.
We’ve since turned our smashed glass shards into a mezuzah. The chuppah, draped in lush white fabric and seasonal florals, created a traditional yet natural look. Both beams were adorned with flowers that matched our colour scheme, while cylinder vases with floating candles, soft foliage, and flower heads lined the aisle. We used the traditional ketubah template from the United Synagogue which we will frame. It was a lovely touch to receive a card from the Chief Rabbi a few weeks before the wedding.
Our music choice
We chose the 10-piece Jam Hot Showband to entertain at our wedding and just WOW! The musicians, the energy and the organisation was outstanding. They had a quick room turnaround time from chuppah to main dinner which was seamless.
Guests commented on how much they loved the band’s musical medleys and the dance floor was completely packed all night; we could not have asked for a better party! ICE Entertainment provided us with a sparkly white LED dance floor, white drapes and additional purple up-lighters to make our room look stunning and in theme.
Flowers
Citiblooms were incredible to work with and made my floral wedding dreams come true! The flower arrangements, candles, table centers, and chuppah perfectly matched my vision. We had a variety of setups, including floating candles, candelabras, mirror plates, and tall vases filled with a gorgeous garden of seasonal flowers in line with our colour scheme. The eclectic mix of stunning flower heads, rose petals, and tea lights in crystal holders added the perfect finishing touch. Elliott’s buttonhole was crafted with a 2 roses from my bridal bouquet.
Photographer and videographer
Kate Swerdlow was the ideal photographer for us. So creative and energetic, her photos are beautifully natural, not overly posed, and perfectly capture the essence of our day. She brought along a second photographer, and together they didn’t miss a single moment!
Alex from Viaduct Video was our videographer, and he ensured that every detail was documented so we could relive the day again. Both Kate and Alex stayed until the very end, capturing every special moment. We also had an engagement shoot with Kate a year before our wedding, which was an amazing addition!
Food
Mark Clyne from Celia’s Banqueting was our caterer. Many guests claimed it was the best wedding food they had ever tasted! We opted for an Asian Fusion theme, with the duck pancake basket being a standout favourite. Everything was delicious, from the array of canapés at the reception to the sticky sesame chicken and the hot molten chocolate pot!
Wedding List
We used The Wedding Shop – highly recommend! We had a great day in the Chelsea Townhouse choosing our gifts whilst drinking Prosecco!
Extra Details
The speeches were all amazing; the best men even themed theirs around a financial report, which was hilarious! I spoke at the end in a very informal but heartfelt manner. We had a full dance floor all night, and to keep our guests cool, we placed personalised fans on the tables. We also provided kippot for all the men and included family members in the Sheva Brachot. The MC was another friend, which added a personal touch to the evening. Additionally, we provided leaflets to explain the ceremony for our non-Jewish guests.
Honeymoon
We are heading to the USA in October to Miami, Orlando, LA and Vegas – a trip of a lifetime to culminate our incredible wedding year!
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Family and friends are what truly make your wedding special. Don’t stress too much about the little details; it will all come together beautifully. Atmosphere is everything. Trust your suppliers. Embrace the journey leading up to your big day. Take a moment to step back and observe your day from the corner of the room. Stay alongside your Husband!
JUSTINE AND ELLIOTT’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Kate Swerdlow {offers 15% discount on an engagement shoot to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Band – Jam Hot Showband {offers 5% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videography – Viaduct Video
Venue – The Last Drop Village & Spa
Bride’s dress – Martina Liana found at Ava Rose Hamilton
Bride’s shoes – Dune
Bride’s accessories – Ava Rose Hamilton
Bridesmaids – JJs House
Hair + Makeup – Tally Bookbinder
Flowers – Citiblooms
Catering – Celia’s Banqueting
Stationery/Invitation – Paperless Post
Wedding List – The Wedding Shop
Rabbi – Rabbi Alby Chait MBE
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.
