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Big News: Rockstar Israeli Photographers LUZ in London, 18-22 January

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If you’ve been following STG for a while, you might have noticed I’m just a little bit obsessed with LUZ Weddings.

LUZ is one of the hottest photographers working in Israel today, and they’re behind some of the most innovative wedding photography around – many of which have been featured on Smashing The Glass (we LOVE their real weddings!). 

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They’ve got a super cool, ultra-stylish urban aesthetic down that’s all their own. They’re definitely not your average wedding photographers — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to meet with Shay, one of the amazing photographers from LUZ. We met up in Holborn, central London, and we had a fabulous time going for coffee and talking all things weddings. And then we did a little photo shoot, all around the streets of London! Shay was absolutely a joy to work with, and  I’m so delighted with the results.

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A Spiritual Jewish Wedding at the Hebrew Club of Panama City, Panama

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Happy 2019! And if you are newly engaged, Mazal Tov – we’re so happy to have you, and to be a part of your wedding planning journey. If you’re new to all of this and feeling a little overwhelmed, do check out all our resources, from our archive of thousands of beautiful real weddings (from shoestring budget to super luxe) to our recommended vendor directory to our private, members-only Brides Club.

So on to our first real wedding of 2019… just give us a minute to pick our jaws up off the floor, because the truly epic florals at Diana and Sonny’s mega-luxe Jewish wedding are unlike any we’ve seen before.

Between the amazing hanging flowers (and chandeliers!), the white blossoms lining the aisle, the rose-studded backdrop walls and the abundant tabletop arrangements, it’s hard to believe these two didn’t wed in the midst of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Every one of Ruben Parra’s masterful shots is a testament to the lush fantasyland Carlos Mastellari created within the halls of the Hebrew Club of Panama City (where the bride’s parents AND grandparents married — isn’t that lovely?).

And then there’s the chuppah. It’s got a super distinctive architecturally inspired design, full of columns and arches (and flowers, obvi), ingeniously set up with enough room on each side to accommodate the couple’s families, who stood under the marriage canopy together with them.

We love that the couple were equally as attentive to the spiritual side of their wedding as they were to the gorgeous dà©cor, too. When Diana made her entrance at the start of the ceremony, she paused to share a blessing for her guests, and prayer was a key part of her pre-wedding prep routine.

Now over to the bride, who looked like such a princess in her classic gown from Saiid Kobeisy Haute Couture…

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Keeping It in the Family

Diana, the bride: The wedding took place at the Hebrew Club of Panama City, Panama, because of community and family tradition – my grandparents, parents, and other relatives also wed there!

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My Must-Attend FREE Online Event for every Jewish and Jew-ish Bride-to-be!

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Woo hoo — it’s 2019! Perhaps that means you can now say “I’m getting married THIS year?!” (so exciting!). Or maybe you’re looking forward to tying the knot in 2020?

And I’ve got some very exciting news of my own to share with you! Yes — on Monday January 21st, I’m taking to the virtual stage for a FREE private online event  especially for Jewish and Jew-ish brides-to-be, called ‘The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding’ and I’m SO excited!

That’s because I’m a million percent confident you’ll walk away knowing exactly what you need to do to ensure you have an unforgettable wedding — the wedding you really want (whilst keeping everyone around you happy)

And the best news of all? The live event will be streamed directly to your computer or mobile device, so cosy slippers and a hot chocolate (or a large glass of wine!) are positively encouraged!

The free event is taking place on Monday January 21, 2019 @ 3:00 PM EST (that’s 3pm New York, 12pm Los Angeles, 8pm London, 10pm Israel)

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE AND GET A REMINDER

Karen Cinnamon Smashing The Glass_1224You’re engaged… and I get it:

  • You want to be different but fulfil certain expectations.
  • You want to be cost efficient without seeming to scrimp.
  • You want to involve friends and family without causing them a ton of work and stress.
  • You want to throw an amazing party that will appeal to quite a disparate group of people… and across the generations.

I know most of these pressures apply to ALL weddings but there are extra levels of pressure for Jewish weddings — how much of the traditional stuff do you do? How do you cater for kosher guests? The chuppah, the ketubah, the glass, kippot, the rituals, the rabbi…

And then there’s the party itself. How do you ensure it’s one to remember without losing your mind in the process of planning it all? (And by the way you’ll benefit from the event whether you’re using a planner or not — this is an absolute must-attend for every Jewish / Jew-ish bride-to-be!)Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Monique Lhuillier Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding with a Peony Chuppah at L’Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy

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We can hardly believe it ourselves, but this is our LAST real Jewish wedding of 2018!! Before Team STG heads off on our holiday break next week, we’re sending the year out with a bang (both literally and figuratively) with an amazing destination wedding in Tuscany, full of the most delicious Italian food, fireworks, and flowers for days.

We’ll be back with fresh content the first week of January, but until then be sure to check out our Instagram over the holidays for the latest and greatest Jewish wedding inspo.

So to close the year, we’ve got the fabulous Italian wedding of Meredith, who works in children’s fashion, and Sean, who’s in corporate finance. With the help of masterful planner Sara from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Infinity Weddings, the couple pulled together the wedding of their dreams all the way from New York.

We can’t get over all the wonderful details they put into the day, from a luxe peony chuppah (!) to surprise fireworks to a classic lace gown from Monique Lhuillier to a silk ribbon-strewn walkway on the way to the dinner — we’re totally obsessed with this last, ultra-creative idea, courtesy of the mother of the bride.

Not only did the colorful silk ribbons cast a magical ambience, each also had a handwritten fact about the couple, from where they met to their favorite vacation spots. Photographer David Bastianoni and videographer Marco Caputo did such a fantastic job of capturing the day in all its elegant splendor.

Oh, and did we mention that Meredith and Sean served their guests cacio e pepe out of a giant cheese wheel at dinner? Um, yes please!

There’s so much more we could say, but we’ll turn you over to the bride now…

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How we met

Meredith, the bride: We met on Jdate!

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Win Tickets to the Berta 2019 F/W Fashion Show Launch {with The Wedding Club}

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I’m so excited to tell you about a wonderful new competition STG is running with our friends (and beloved Recommended Vendor) The Wedding Club! We are offering five lucky members of our Brides Club invites to The Wedding Club’s exclusive press launch for the new Fall/Winter 2019 collection from legendary Israeli designer Berta (*SCREAM!*)

Not yet a member of our Brides Club? What are you waiting for? Join now!


Taking place on Thursday, 10 January at 6:30 pm, in the fabulous 5* luxury ballroom of the breathtaking – and brand new – Kimpton Fitzroy in central London, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Berta’s mega-glam Barcelona Collection alongside press and VIPs.


Head designer Berta Balilti’s trademark avant-garde bridal styles are as majestic as ever, and it’s going to be such a thrill to see them in person – I’ll be attending myself, and I would love to meet you there!


Our five lucky winners will each receive an invite (and a plus-one for the guest of their choice!), PLUS an appointment at Berta’s trunk show at The Wedding Club the weekend of Friday 11th – Sunday 13th January – PLUS 10% off the Berta dresses for that weekend! And as always, The Wedding Club’s appointment fee will be waived for Brides Club members. 

That’s a LOT of good stuff!

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