Get ready to be blown away by today’s FABULOUS floral chuppah! Our Brides Club member Stacey, a Senior Executive Assistant, and Anthony, a Managing Director, opted to make trees the focal point of their Manchester Jewish wedding aesthetic, and we are absolutely obsessed with their tree chuppah! Get ready to be wowed when you scroll through the fantastic photos by Rob Clayton.
We’re equally in love with the amazing kosher catering by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Feast by Ed. In Stacey’s words, the food was “unreal” from start to finish, with guests raving about how delicious it all was – and to cap things off, Feast by Ed served up a chocolate tree for dessert to match the décor – how amazing is that?!
We loved having Stacey in our Brides Club, and we’re so pleased to hear she not only found the group incredibly helpful for advice and support but also used an exclusive Brides Club discount code for her gorgeous wedding kippot!
We’ll let Stacey tell you the rest of the story in her own words…
How We Met
Stacey, the bride: We met on JSwipe- Anthony had been in London for a weekend and we matched. Anthony is from Manchester and I am from London so we ended up speaking for hours on end and lots of travelling up and down!
A Manchester Wedding
Our venue was The Midland Hotel – when I moved up to Manchester I have always been obsessed with it and always said before we were engaged that there was where I wanted to get married!
What ‘Smashing The Glass Brides Club’ Did For Us
I used Hebrewear with the discount code which was fab! I also booked our caterer – Feast by Ed but did not use the discount as had organised something else direct. However; everyone has been lovely and the FB group has been great in terms of asking for advice!
Trees and Candles
Our wedding was filled with trees and candles- our chuppah was also a tree chuppah! We loved the meaning of a tree and the way it looked. We also added lots of personalised touches e.g. room deliveries for all those staying with us (personalised newspaper of our story + a little bag filled with personalised mints, chocolates, love hearts, notes).
Anthony also designed all of our stationery in whites and pinks (to match the bridesmaid dresses) which again made it so personal and special. We also changed our name places to personalised shot glasses and named each of them with the nickname of the individual. We had a Wedding Coordinator on the day called Sara Basso who is an absolute DREAM and couldn’t recommend her enough!
Hair + Makeup
The dream glam squad: Hair by Natalie and Make up by Frankie
A Sincerity Dress
My dress was from Lulu Brown’s Bridal in Clitheroe from a brand called Sincerity. It really wasn’t what I thought I was after when I had been looking at dresses before I went dress shopping but when I tried it on I knew it was the one!
I felt so comfortable, it really did wonders for my figure and was super classy. It was a bardot dress with some ruffling detailed top, super figure hugging, with an amazing train. I went for a really long veil for down the aisle with a lace trim.
Shoes
Charlotte Mills for shoes- really beautiful and comfortable. They have a gorgeous poem at the base of the shoe, along with a sixpence in the shoe for good luck, blue labelling for your something blue and an envelope to send back a picture for something borrowed.
Bridesmaids
Our bridesmaids wore Sisterhood Bridesmaids – we had the same colour in different styles and honestly were gorgeous (we went for a dusky pink).
Ceremony
It was just beautiful- everything from the chuppah, the lighting, the sound- it truly was magical. We went for a tree chuppah to match the interior design of our tables. It was a super WOW chuppah for when people walked in to the room. The rabbi knows us super well and the whole ceremony was super personalised, along with mentioning people who are no longer with us.
I loved walking down the aisle and first catching a glimpse of Anthony and seeing his reaction- priceless. Our little page boys had personalised signs down the aisle that said “Wait until you see our Auntie, she is beautiful” which was so cute and Anthony’s 98 year old papa made it!! We also were gifted by a friend with the smash glass, which is now being turned in to a mezuzah- so special.
We used the ketubah from our rabbi as we have a great relationship with him and it felt more special to use the one from him.
Our music choice
Our band were Club Live who we brought up from London and my word they are INCREDIBLE! We had a mix of songs all night and it truly was AMAZING. Down the aisle we had: Callum Scott “You are the Reason”, John Legend “All of Me” and “Boi Beshalom”
Anthony and I walked in to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder and ended the night with Happy Birthday and a cake for my brother, along with Queen “Don’t stop me now!”
Flowers
We had white roses for the button holes, along with roses + hydrangers for all of the bouquets. These had a mixture of pink/purple shades and white – they were so beautiful. Our florist is called Red Floral who are INCREDIBLE in Manchester. I am now having my bouquet turned in to resin and making some coasters.
Photographer and videographer
Our photographer was Rob Clayton – an absolute legend in the northern Jewish weddings. A family friend had also used John from New Venture Wedding Videos, who again is amazing and so creative.
Food and cake
Caterer was Feast by Ed… UNREAL! Everyone commented on how amazing our food was and our dessert was a chocolate tree to match the decor…was an absolute wow moment.
Extra Details
Personalised newspaper and shot glass/names We had a sweet cart My husband owns a vape company, so we had disposable vapes on the bar with a personalised menu I also said a speech which was really lovely and all of our vendors have never seen a dance floor like it- it was full all night and no one wanted to leave!!
Honeymoon
We did a mini moon at Cheshire Boutique Barns for a couple of nights to just chill and take it all in and then we are going on our official honeymoon to Miami (Fontainebleau hotel) and Antigua (Hammock Cove) and cannot wait!
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Be as organised as you can be earlier on, it makes nearer the time alot more enjoyable. Additionally, it really is an out of body experience- savour every moment and take a minute with your new partner to step aside and just watch the room/people- it really is special.
STACEY & ANTHONY’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Rob Clayton
Catering – Feast by Ed {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videography – New Venture Wedding Videos
Wedding coordinator – Sara Basso
Venue – The Midland Hotel
Bride’s dress – Sincerity found at Lulu Brown’s Bridal
Bride’s shoes – Charlotte Mills
Bridesmaids – Sisterhood Bridesmaids
Hair + Makeup – Hair by Natalie, Make up by Frankie
Flowers – Red Floral
Band – Club Live
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.
