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A Same-Sex Air Travel-Themed Jew-ish Wedding at Kings Place, London, UK

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Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051

We are totally and utterly obsessed with today’s air travel-themed Jew-ish wedding. It’s really like nothing we’ve ever seen before, from the departure board seating charts to the drag act dressed up as cabin crew! (Yes it’s THAT good!)

Unusual? Absolutely. But when you find out that Ewan and Greg were in a trans-Atlantic long-distance relationship for 7 (!) years, with all the shuttling back and forth between Ewan’s home in London and Greg’s in New York that entails, it all makes sense. (Greg, an HR manager for a public relations firm, eventually made the big move across the pond to be with Ewan, a solicitor who works in-house for a Hollywood studio.)

We love how much effort Ewan and Greg went to with all the details, from the place cards — folded paper airplanes made from New York and London street maps — to the monogrammed air sickness bags (in case the wedding speeches got too nauseating!), beautifully captured by Ross Willsher Photography.

But there’s no question that the piece de resistance was the elaborate in-flight safety video the duo filmed as a surprise for their guests during the reception — they even hired out a real plane for a few hours for the filming! Yes, it’s EXACTLY as hilarious as it sounds — make sure you check it out below!

There’s so much more to say about this awesome day, from the way the couple worked to combine Ewan’s Scottish and Greg’s Jewish heritage to the lovely (and STG-inspired!) chuppah, but the time has come for us to hand you over to the grooms to hear the rest!

Before we do, though… if you want some practical tips on crafting a wedding that is just as you as Ewan and Greg’s was them, make sure you sign up to our unmissable FREE online event: ‘The secrets to an unforgettable Jewish wedding with our founder and editor, Karen, happening on Monday November 12.

Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051

Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051

Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051 Jewish wedding Battlebridge room at Kings Place, London, UK_0051
How We Met

Ewan and Greg, the grooms: We met at a Jewish-Episcopal, black-tie optional/fancy dress lesbian wedding in New York in 2007. The rest is history.

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A Rebecca Schoneveld Bride for a Super Stealth Surprise Jew-ish Wedding at Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois, USA

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Jewish-wedding-Salvage-One-in-the-West-Loop-of-Chicago-Illinois-USA
We’re totally obsessed with this super cool SURPRISE Jew-ish wedding. Ariel and George told guests they were throwing an engagement party, but it turns out the sneaky duo had actually planned a stealth wedding, just three months after getting engaged!

An hour into their “engagement” do, the pair slipped away and changed into their bridal attire while guests were ushered into a previously gated off area that just happened to contain the ceremony setup — chuppah and all!

Ariel, a renewable energy business developer, and George, a software developer, wanted to stay true to their own style in planning their big day — totally our kind of couple — and they knew a long engagement wasn’t for them.

They wanted a fantastic party to celebrate their love with their nearest and dearest, and that’s exactly what they got — once guests got over the shock, everyone seems to have had a pretty epic time, if the photos from Bill Shayaka of Eivan Photography are anything to go by.

Another way this cool couple made their big day totally them? Paperless invitations from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Greenvelope. Ariel and George loved that Greenvelope’s evites helped them keep their big day ecofriendly, not only by avoiding paper but also because Greenvelope donates to help preserve forests. What a great way to incorporate their dedication to the environment into the wedding!

Now over to Ariel, who looked so elegant in her classically bridal gown from Rebecca Schoneveld…

Jewish-wedding-Salvage-One-in-the-West-Loop-of-Chicago-Illinois-USA Jewish-wedding-Salvage-One-in-the-West-Loop-of-Chicago-Illinois-USAJewish-wedding-Salvage-One-in-the-West-Loop-of-Chicago-Illinois-USA Jewish-wedding-Salvage-One-in-the-West-Loop-of-Chicago-Illinois-USA
How We Met

Ariel, the bride: We met at a startup incubator that both our companies were out of. The incubator hosted happy hours regularly so the companies could network with each other. George saw Ariel from across the room and made it his goal to speak to her by the end of the night, and he accomplished that goal and so much more. We have both since moved out of that incubator, but that place will always be dear to both of us.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

We’re In Love With This Meaningful Jewelry for your Jewish Wedding {by Kanarek}

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Custom

When picking out jewelry for your Jewish wedding – whether that means jewelry to wear yourself as the bride, to give as gifts to your bridesmaids, or even cufflinks to give to your groom – of course you want it to be an exquisite piece.

But you probably also want it to be meaningful too. And that’s why I’m so delighted to be sharing one of my favorite sources for wedding jewelry with you, Kanarek Jewelry.

Based in Brooklyn, Yael Kanarek believes that language holds special meaning unique to each individual, and endeavors to capture that beauty in each piece she creates. Her line of fine jewelry based on names, dates, and words – in Hebrew, English, or the language of your choice – brings language to the body in a sophisticated, straddling the line between playful and chic, and she has some great affordable pieces in the lineup.

Any STG grooms who happen to be reading, take note: so many of these pieces would be absolute perfection as gifts to your bride on your wedding day too… 

In addition to the beautiful selection of designs on her site, Yael specializes in custom jewelry – how perfect would it be to get a piece with your wedding date, or your names, or a special location or quote that’s meaningful to you as a couple? The sky is really the limit here, and Yael’s worked with many languages (even Sanskrit), so there are plenty of options beyond Hebrew!

We’re so thrilled to be showcasing some of our favorite Jewish wedding-ready pieces from the collection, as well as a few fantastic custom pieces for inspo. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Leanne Marshall Bride for a City Chic Jewish Wedding with a Rose Gold Chuppah at Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London, UK

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Jewish wedding Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London UK_0047
This has got to be one of the very most ‘Smashing The Glass’ weddings we’ve EVER blogged. Featuring our very own blogging bride Jennifer, a whole slew of STG Recommended Vendors — from Camilla J Collins, who did Jennifer’s fantastic hair and makeup, to Monica Vinader, who designed the bride’s gorgeous necklace, to childcare from Safe and Sound Events — and of course our own-brand Smash Glass pouch, we’re totally in love with this elegant day.

Jennifer, a photographer with years of wedding industry experience, and Charlie, a solicitor, obviously had some insider knowledge that helped them make their big day so epic — for instance, photographer Paul Toeman just happens to be a close colleague and friend of the bride — but nonetheless they report finding tons of inspo and guidance on STG, from choosing their music to crafting the ceremony.

We’re obsessed with the couple’s stylish, modern wedding trailer from another amazing STG Recommended Vendor Denee Motion, as well as their fab DJ Live from STG Recommended Vendor The Function Band, who got even the non-Jewish guests enthused about the Israeli dancing and kept everyone dancing right through to the end.

And the day was full of so many beautiful details, from the rose gold chuppah to the blush florals to the couple’s super cute hashtag #ballblatts, an amalgamation of their surnames.

If you want your wedding to be as memorable as Jennifer and Charlie’s, make sure you sign up to our FREE online event: ‘The secrets to an unforgettable Jewish wedding’ with our founder and editor, Karen, happening on Monday November 12 it’s going to be unmissable!

Now let’s hand over to the bride, who looked stunning in her blush dress from Leanne Marshall.


Jewish wedding Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London UK_0078

Jewish wedding Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London UK_0011

 Jewish wedding Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London UK_0078Jewish wedding Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London UK_0078
How We Met

Jennifer, the bride: Charlie and I met when we were 17 years old. We shared our first kiss on the tennis courts in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Six months later, I was cruelly dumped in the window seat of a coffee shop in full view of every school girl and boy in Highgate Village. 

Ten years later, having successfully avoided each other — despite living in the same postcode — our paths crossed once again in the Steeles pub on Haverstock Hill. All it took was one misinterpreted pat on the knee for Charlie to think I was interested (again) and before I knew it we were on our second ‘first’ date.

One month later we went away on holiday together, where I essentially forced Charlie to be my boyfriend. Our history allowed us to skip those first few awkward months of dating. There were no doubts about where our relationship was going. We share such similar values and goals; it was as if we were meant to grow up apart to meet again at the right time in our lives.

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Real Jewish Brides: Gaby’s Wedding Planning Update

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Gaby will be marrying David on 26th May 2019 at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, UK. Click here to read all Gaby’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Gaby and David met at work at an advertising agency in London (2) Gaby is Jewish and David is Christian, and they are planning an inclusive ceremony and party that will embrace both of their cultures (3) They are planning an urban luxe wedding in a converted London lighthouse – we LOVE the sound of this!


Let’s get personal

It’s been a really intense but fun few weeks. With all of the major elements sorted or currently being sorted, my fiancà© and I took time out to research the finer details and personal touches we want to add to the wedding. We want our wedding to reflect our personality which is why we are taking it upon ourselves to make a lot of the elements from scratch.

I have found some amazing websites such as Etsy and Confetti that offer amazing deals and inspiration for those who wanted to add a creative flare to their big day. I truly feel that those cost effective, smaller touches are often the main things people remember so it’s important not to overlook the finer details!


Image by Benjamin Wheeler for Nicole and Daniel’s Jewish wedding

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