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A Viktor & Rolf Bride for an Enchanted Garden Jewish Wedding at Havat Ronit, Israel

18/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

A bridal cape, candy butterflies, tango music… swooooon. Today’s French-Israeli destination Jewish wedding is just SO full of fantastic, unique touches. Sarah, a lawyer (and member of our Brides Club), and Uri, who works in real estate, created the most wonderful, distinctive day — partly thanks to their “wedding bible,” (in Sarah’s own words!) Smashing The Glass!

Sarah reports that she found lots of her vendors through STG, found inspo for details, and more. Our fave quote from her awesome writeup? “It’s a miracle I didn’t find my husband on it too.” LOVE.

But back to the cape. We are OBSESSED. Our friends at fab London bridal boutique and STG Recommended Vendor Mirror Mirror deemed 2018 “the year of the cape” on the Facebook Live they did with us earlier this year, and after seeing how Sarah pulled hers off we’re inclined to agree. Photographer Camellia captured the glorious fashion — plus all the other details of the day — so exquisitely.

Sarah looked just so elegant and distinctive in that cape — obviously her hyper-glam dress (that tiered skirt!) from Viktor & Rolf didn’t hurt either — and we love how it’s an easy way to add that little something extra for the ceremony. And the story of how Sarah ended up with it is pretty cool in its own right.

We also love that Sarah chose to depart from the bridal script and walk down the aisle to… a tango! How’s that for a dramatic entrance (you know, to go with that cape)? Turning it over to the gorgeous bride, Sarah…

How we met

Sarah, the bride: I am French but grew up between Paris and Madrid and moved to New York 11 years ago. Uri grew up in Hertzlyia in Israel, and moved to New York 6 years ago.

We were set up by our only friend in common at the time, we kissed on our first date. 2 years later Uri proposed in the middle of Washington Square Park where we had wandered around on our first date. Our matchmaker was our witness at our civil wedding in New York.Continue Reading

A Nicole Bakti Bride for a Garden Glam Jewish Wedding with an Asymmetrical Chuppah at Sheraton Universal, Los Angeles, California, USA

17/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Gorgeous chuppah alert! We are completely obsessed with Tami and Phil’s asymmetrical chuppah, with sheer fabric draped over bamboo posts, and gorgeous garden flowers for extra wow factor. This chuppah is just so effortlessly elegant, and totally perfect for the couple’s Garden Glam-themed Jewish wedding.

It’s such a fantastic modern minimalist (but not too minimalist!) look. If you want a touch of florals but an ornate chuppah design isn’t your style, this is a beautiful inspiration.

It’s no wonder this day is full of fantastic touches like that: bride Tami is a co-owner of event planning and interior design business Side by Side Design (along with her twin sister!), so she knows a thing or two about planning a wedding. You won’t want to miss The Argus Image’s images of this one, from the dancing to the desserts.

We are also super touched that Tami reports she chose to submit her wedding to Smashing The Glass over other wedding blogs because she loves how we let couples tell their own wedding stories, and what a personal touch it gives. We’re totally blushing over here!

Before we turn things over to Tami, we want to mention that today is her and Phil’s first anniversary! Happy one year, guys!

How we met

Tami, the bride: He sent me a very “cheesy” pick up line on the Hinge app, and we met up for drinks and appetizers at Black Market a few days later. Some might say we should have met long before as we both grew up in the San Fernando Valley, both went to school in Arizona (rival schools), and know lots of people in common.

I knew he was a keeper when we were walking out of the bar on our first date to get our cars from the valet. There was a bit of debris (rocks and such) outside the front door as they were doing construction on the outside patio and my shoes (which I loved and did not want to get rid) had lost all traction. I slipped, and Phil caught me… the rest is history!

An Intimate, Emotional Same Sex Jewish Wedding by the Sea at Beit Andromeda in Jaffa, Israel

14/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

This beautiful Jewish wedding is ALL about the love. Okay, and maybe a little bit about that fab ocean view, too.

We adore how brides Avital and Gili kept the focus of their day on what mattered to them. They kept their wedding super intimate — for instance, their rule in deciding who to invite? Only people they really truly love. Aww!

The pair also designed an ultra-personal modern ceremony, with original vows and blessings from family, officiated by one of their best friends.

One other thing we’re all over? The custom jewelry the brides created together to wear on the day (earrings for both brides, plus a necklace for Avital). What wonderful souvenirs, and maybe even future family heirlooms!

Photographer Natalie Schor and videographer Igor from Viditeo did such a fantastic job of capturing all the emotion of the day — you can really see the love between these two in the gorgeous photos and video.

We’ll let the brides take it from here…

A Wedding by the Beach

Avital and Gili, the brides: We got married in Beit Andromeda, Jaffa. We chose it because it is next to the beach, with amazing food, great atmosphere, small and intimate vibe, and great staff.

London Jewish Wedding Venue Inspo: The Brewery

13/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Blake Ezra Photography | IG: @blakeezraphoto

You know we love a city chic wedding here at Smashing the Glass. Industrial vibes? Love it. Exposed brickwork? Can’t get enough. Throw in a touch of history, and we’re sold.

That’s why we’re so delighted to be sharing one of our favorite London venues with you today: the Brewery. This awesome space (which was an actual brewery dating back to the 18^thcentury!) is the perfect mix of sophisticated and quirky. And its location smack dab in the middle of the City of London is hard to beat. We featured this gorgeous interfaith Jewish Christian wedding a few years back, and we can’t wait to share our Real Blogging Bride Charlotte’s wedding at the venue just last month.

This onetime industrial space recast as an events venue offers a range of different rooms that can accommodate large parties (of up to 1,000 guests!). There are spaces to suit Jewish weddings of all stripes, and to accommodate each part of the day. We’re thrilled to share with you some of the Brewery’s most popular rooms for Jewish weddings, with a look into how each can best be incorporated into your day.

A Monique Lhuillier Bride for a Tradition-Meets-Brooklyn-Style Jewish Wedding at Greenpoint Loft, Brooklyn, New York, USA

12/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Combining Jewish tradition with your own 21^st-century style isn’t always easy. That’s one of the reasons Smashing The Glass was founded. So we’re always excited to see couples finding creative ways to merge their contemporary lives with Judaism’s beautiful, if sometimes baffling, traditions.

Today’s couple, a Leigh, middle-school teacher and Ian, an attorney, did SUCH an amazing job of it with their Jewish wedding. Their wedding, at super cool Greenpoint Loft in the trendy Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood by the same name, exudes contemporary cool at the same time as it embraces tradition.

The couple found a kosher caterer able to provide a fun, of-the-moment menu featuring herb and bitters infused cocktails, bao buns, and chicken and waffles. And their music? This duo had a cantor, a klezmer band, AND a DJ to play all their favorite current hits.

Their understated, nature-inspired chuppah, wrapped in greenery with some accent florals, is totally Brooklyn chic, too–and guests got to watch the sun set over Manhattan through the windows behind the couple during the ceremony!

We also adore Leigh and Ian’s playful approach to the day — you’ve GOT to check out their impromptu Oktoberfest photo shoot, brilliantly captured by Unique Lapin Photography. And you won’t want to miss the super fun story of how it all came about.

Leigh, who looked so beautiful in her romantic, long-sleeved lace dress from Monique Lhuillier (purchased from STG favorite Kleinfeld), will fill you in on that, and the rest of the fab details…