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From Tel Aviv to Mayfair: Galia Lahav’s London Flagship Brings Israeli Bridal Style to the UK

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Smashing The Glass brides have long been enamored with Israeli bridal fashion – and over the past nearly two years, we’ve been seeing more and more couples looking to bring a little Israeli flair into the big day by incorporating Israeli style and supporting Israeli businesses.

If that’s you – and you’re based in the UK – we’ve got some exciting news: Israeli luxury bridal brand Galia Lahav, beloved by the many STG brides who’ve chosen the mega-talented designer for their own weddings and global icons alike (think Beyoncé, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, and Simone Biles), has opened its first-ever UK flagship store right in the heart of London’s iconic Mayfair.

London’s Most Luxurious Bridal Destination

Located in a historic Mayfair building that was once home to none other than Audrey Hepburn, Galia Lahav’s London flagship brings the most luxurious bridal shopping experience to the heart of the UK.

A 3,800 square foot haven of elegance and intimacy, it offers unparalleled service, exclusive in-store events, and bespoke gown customization options, all within a lavish and intimate setting designed to make brides feel truly special.

With its sleek, modern aesthetic and swoon-worthy collection of gowns, the store offers an extraordinary experience that blends Galia Lahav‘s signature craftsmanship with cutting-edge luxury.

Team STG had the chance to visit the store in person, and even as bridal fashion shopping connoisseurs who’ve seen a lot over the years, we were truly blown away by just how impeccably curated every single detail is. This really is the luxury bridal shopping experience of your dreams.

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A Luce Sposa Bride for a Rustic Jewish Wedding at HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

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Rachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

There’s no place like Israel for a Jewish wedding. And we love that New York couple Rachel,  a program director at a Jewish non-profit running children’s programs, and Tani, a software engineer, opted to make things official at beautiful HaAgam, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Planning a destination wedding in Israel post-October 7 meant a lot didn’t go to plan. Most of the couple’s family and friends weren’t able to attend due to the war, and even up till the big day Rachel and Tani weren’t sure everything would be able to go ahead. But in Rachel’s words, the experience “taught us to focus on each other and bringing our immediate families together knowing that our wedding would be special no matter what challenges came our way” – and isn’t that really what it’s all about?

When it came time to choose a photographer to capture their special day, Rachel and Tani turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, and they couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome – don’t miss the epic pics from their end-of-night couple shoot in the Old City!

Now over to Rachel, who looked like a princess in her Luce Sposa gown…

Rachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

How We Met

Rachel, the bride: We met on the dating app Hinge in the summer of 2021 right after I moved from Toronto, Canada, to NYC. Tani is American but made Aliyah to Israel in 2006. He served in the IDF and moved back to the States in 2022.

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An Alexia Maria Bride for an Eclectically Elegant Jewish Wedding at BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USA

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Alana and Ian, BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USA

This is one cool Jewish wedding. Alana, a social impact manager at a food & beverage company, and Ian, a regional director at the international Jewish fraternity AEPi, wanted a chill wedding that was totally them – and that’s exactly what they ended up with. Featuring late night-karaoke, laid-back speakeasy vibes, table centerpieces featuring the couple’s own cookbook collection, and the coolest colorful floral gown, this special day at BlueJacket Brewery in Washington, DC, was just so full of personal touches, and we can’t get enough of it.

How cool is it that Alana hand-wrote the couple’s invitations – each including a customized message to the recipient – on vintage DC postcards? Not only that, she also designed all the signage for both the wedding and the welcome Shabbat dinner – plus customized Shabbat place card holders made of modelling clay for the Shabbat dinner!

We also love that Alana and Ian found their ketubah on Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com – the two have different styles and often struggle to pick art together,  but the wide array of options available on Ketubah.com meant they were able to find a beautiful paper-cut navy blue design they both loved. Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Jalisa Roslyn!

Read on for the full story in Alana’s own words…

Alana and Ian, BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USAAlana and Ian, BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USAAlana and Ian, BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USAAlana and Ian, BlueJacket Brewery, Washington DC, USA

How We Met

Alana, the bride: We met on Lox Club, a Jew”ish” dating app that prioritizes connection over location – Ian was living in Syracuse and Alana was in DC.

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A Dylan Parienty Bride for a Go-with-the-Flow Jewish Wedding at HaGiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

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Miriam and Moshe, HaGiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

We love the approach Israeli couple Miriam, a dog trainer, and Moshe, who works in cybersecurity, took when it came to planning their Jewish wedding: their vibe was going with the flow. In the bride’s words, “we didn’t want to overthink it and just wanted to get married!”

HaGiva, with its stunning scenery, delicious food, and incredible staff, was the perfect one-and-done venue to streamline their planning, and Miriam’s simple gown from Dylan Parienty perfectly complemented the mood of the day.

That doesn’t mean this wedding was without personal touches, though – for instance, we love that the couple chose herbs as their centerpieces, and had guests take them home at the end of the night.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman photographed the day in his signature warm, emotion-forward style, and we’re positively in love with his wonderful images.

Read on for more in Miriam’s own words…

Miriam and Moshe, HaGiva, Givat Brenner, IsraelMiriam and Moshe, HaGiva, Givat Brenner, IsraelMiriam and Moshe, HaGiva, Givat Brenner, IsraelMiriam and Moshe, HaGiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

A HaGiva Wedding

Miriam, the bride: We got married at HaGiva because it’s absolutely beautiful, has amazing food, and incredible staff.

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New to Smashing The Glass for July ‘25

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Photo by Christian Gideon Photography 

Here at  Smashing The Glass, we’re constantly thrilled to bring together the best wedding professionals who understand the unique needs of Jewish and Jew-ish couples. This past month, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming some incredible new Recommended Vendors to our community, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them! 

Easthampstead Park | Off Peacock Lane, Wokingham, RG40 3DF, UK

If you’re searching for the perfect English countryside venue for your Jewish wedding, look no further than Easthampstead Park. Located in beautiful Berkshire, with easy access to London, Easthampstead Park offers beautiful spaces, flexible options, a spectacular location, and a welcoming atmosphere. And, as a Jewish-owned venue, Easthampstead Park just gets Jewish weddings.

+44 (0) 1189 74 75 76
sales@eastpark.co.uk
www.eastpark.co.uk
Instagram | Facebook
Location: Right between Bracknell and Wokingham in Berkshire – Off Peacock Lane, Wokingham, RG40 3DF, United Kingdom

Lynn Shapiro Photography | London, UK and Beyond

We’re in love with the way Lynn Shapiro captures the magic of a Jewish wedding – from the joyful rituals to the emotional resonance to the vibrant celebration of love, family, and legacy. Having had her own Jewish wedding, Lynn brings a deeply meaningful understanding of the beauty behind each and every one of our traditions. Documenting Jewish weddings across London and around the world, her approach blends honest, documentary storytelling with refined, fashion-inspired composition while always attuned to the moments that matter most.

Instagram 
Location: London, UK and destinations

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