Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > Show Me Everything

Dancing the Hora: Everything You Need To Know

by

Israeli Dancing Wedding.jpg
Image: Blake Ezra Photography (Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor)

What is, hands down, the most fun and exciting part of any Jewish wedding? In the immortal words of Anthony from Sex and the City, the answer is: “the hora! THE HORA!” 

The hora (sometimes called Jewish Dancing or Israeli Dancing) is a highly energetic Israeli circle dance, and guests are supposed to put as much vigor and enthusiasm into it as they would on their own wedding day. Danced to klezmer music, it’s usually the part of the wedding where you’ll see the happy couple lifted on chairs (equal parts exhilarating and terrifying), or being thrown about on a sheet!

At religious, Orthodox Jewish weddings, men and women dance the hora separately, with a dividing wall, while Reform, Liberal and Jew-ish weddings tend to keep the party in one place.

It’s an amazing challenge for any photographer, to capture the mayhem, and frankly, at this point, brides can forget about their hair and makeup, because things are going to get sweaty!

So, given how integral the hora is to a real Jewish knees up, how do you make it happen? Here are some tips to getting everybody at your wedding involved in this boisterous and brilliant tradition.

The-Hora
Image: David Pullum Photography (Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor)

Kick off with klezmer music

If your budget can stretch to it we highly recommend a live band. Whether it’s a live band who can play some klezmer classics, or a traditional klezmer band, it’s all in the music. If live entertainment is a little out of budget, we advise putting together a klezmer playlist or asking your DJ to dedicate a special portion of the evening to it. 

There are many traditional melodies to choose from. If you’re not sure where to start, YouTube is a great source of inspiration for hora songs. This video alone is a medley of some of the most popular songs to dance the hora to, to get your playlist going.

Hora dancing wedding
Image: York Place Studios ( Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor)

Learn some basic hora steps 

Chances are, if you’re having a Jewish or Jew-ish wedding, that you’re probably already a somewhat accomplished hora dancer. However, if you’re a little unsure of what happens when you dance the hora, why not brush up before the big day?

Whether you find a local Israeli dance class or teacher to help you out, or you use one of the many YouTube tutorials available, make sure you’re confident enough to whip up enthusiasm among your guests. They will, after all, be following your lead.

Jewish Dancing
Image: David Pullum Photography (Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor)

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Pnina Tornai Bride for an Ultra-Chic, Ultra-NYC Jewish Wedding at Liberty Warehouse, Brooklyn, USA

by

Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0029
Good morning, lovelies! Today we have an absolute stunner of a Jewish wedding to share with you, and also a special treat for you US brides and grooms: the fab photography and videography studio behind today’s super-glam shots, NYC-based Fred Marcus Studio, is offering members of our VIB Club a free engagement shoot  (just click here to become a VIB [Very Important Bride] and enjoy ALL the benefits!)

Fred Marcus Studio is just one of hundreds of vendors, handpicked by me, who offer VIB’s a 10% discount or special gift. There’s also a wonderful private VIB Facebook community, too, where me and my team are on hand to advise you with your wedding plans, day or night — however and whenever you need assistance, along with SO much more goodness — it’s a hive of activity! If you haven’t joined yet, don’t delay as we’ll be closing membership for this quarter shortly.

So now, onto today’s EPIC wedding. This ultra-chic Jewish W Day is basically a big fat love letter to one of the greatest cities in the world: New York. Having spent their entire relationship in the city, there was no question that Kira, a grad student, and Mark, who works in finance, would wed anywhere else.

The pair got married at Liberty Warehouse in super cool Redhook, Brooklyn, with an outdoor ceremony looking out on the water–and onto the Statue of Liberty! How much more quintessentially NYC can it get?

Well, let’s see… Kira found her gown, a show-stopping custom Pnina Tornai, at Kleinfeld, the ultimate New York wedding dress shopping destination–just like on Say Yes to the Dress.

And the couple had a six-layer cake from NYC cult favorite Momofuku Milkbar, which you may know for such iconic creations as Crack Pie and Cereal Milk Soft Serve.

Even their invitations got in on the act, with a map of NYC lining the envelopes and the city skyline adorning their rehearsal dinner invite.

The couple wanted a party where no one sat down, and thanks to Smashing the Glass Recommended Vendor Hank Lane they found their fab wedding band, led by Bobby Attiko, who kept their guests dancing all night–it is the city that never sleeps, after all! Now I’ll turn you over to bride Kira for all the details…

Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0002

Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0002

Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0002 Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0002 Jewish wedding Liberty Warehouse, Redhook, Brooklyn, USA_0002
An NYC Wedding

Kira, the bride: we got married at Liberty Warehouse in Redhook, Brooklyn. We really wanted a New York wedding since our whole relationship has taken place in NYC, and we also wanted somewhere on the water since water is always our happy place. When we found out the only date left at LW for a June 2017 wedding was our 5th anniversary of meeting, we knew it was meant to be!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Live with Caroline Castigliano from her London Flagship Store – this Wednesday 14 March with Smashing The Glass

by

Caroline-Castigliano
What an INCREDIBLE Facebook Live we have coming up for you tomorrow, Wednesday 14th March — live from London’s most exclusive retail district, Knightsbridge!

Yes we’ll be live streaming from Caroline Castigliano‘s London flagship store in the heart of the Capital, talking to the designer herself, and showcasing her latest gowns that we are totally and utterly OBSESSED with. What a treat!

Caroline-Castigliano
This will also be  your chance to ask Caroline all your wedding dress questions, as well as talking all things bridal trends and fashion. Nothing is off the table so ask away!

 
Comment live during the broadcast, or submit a question in advance by emailing karen@smashingtheglass.com

Tune in live this Wednesday 14th March 2018, at 1:00pm GMT (that’s 8:00am EST, 2:00pm in Europe, and 3:00pm in Israel) on facebook.com/smashingtheglass.

To be reminded just before we go live, click ‘GOING’ here. We can’t wait!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides – Mel: Top Tips for a Jewish Wedding… and my wedding is this Sunday!

by

Mel  will be marrying Mitch this Sunday 18 March 2018, in a Jewish wedding at Warren Weir at Luton Hoo, UK.

THREE FACTS: (1) Mel and Mitch met online on JDate (2) Their Jewish wedding will be classy and traditional with plenty of modern touches  (3) Mel is a member of Smashing The Glass’s private members club VIB Club. Not yet a member? Come join us here!


The final countdown

As I write this it is two weeks until the big day. 2 weeks! 73 weeks ago we got engaged and now there’s just a fortnight until I’m married. Cannot. Believe. It.

Everyone said to me when we set the date that time would go quickly. It was well over a year away so felt like plenty of time. They were right. Time has disappeared. Brides — cherish your planning time; it will be over in a flash.

How am I feeling?

For the last few months everyone has asked me the same question; “Not long now until the big day. How are you feeling?”

I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve been asked this. And every time I say the same thing; I get flutters of excitement, anticipation, nerves and fear. It hasn’t quite dawned on me yet that I’m getting married. I’m not sure when it will feel real — I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

Jewish-wedding-Hotel-Ocho-Toronto-Canada_0046
Image by  Daniel Clements from Laura and Steve‘s Jew-ish wedding

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Carolina Herrera Bride for a Super Elegant Jewish Wedding at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire, UK

by

Jewish wedding Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, UK_0066

Oh my goodness, this is one elegant Jewish wedding. Lauren who works in public relations, and Ross, a chartered surveyor, wanted the day to reflect all the best elements of a classic English wedding with a contemporary twist.

The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jenna Keller as their wedding planner (who is offering an exclusive 10% discount to all our VIB Club members!) and she helped them bring their super glam vision to life at Capesthorne Hall, a beautiful stately home in Cheshire.

We just love a floral chuppah, and Jenna came up with just the chicest variation! Lauren wanted something unique but not over-the-top, and the refined white floral canopy atop translucent poles set against the all-white marquee fits the bill exactly. It’s contemporary while embracing tradition, sophisticated and refined, just like the rest of this wedding.

To make their ceremony even more special, Lauren and Ross booked much-loved STG Recommended Vendor Boutique Chupah Music, adding to the emotional and intimate atmosphere.

Planner Jenna pointed the pair toward their wonderful photographer, Robert Shack. He did an amazing job of capturing their glamorous day, and videographer Rebecca Reville caught the festivities in live action.

Speaking of things that are glamorous, isn’t Lauren’s lace gown exquisite? It fits her like a glove, and that train! She found her Carolina Herrera stunner at yet another fabulous STG Recommended Vendor The Wedding Club in London–but she almost missed out on the dress of her dreams. At the end of a long day of shopping, Lauren was ready to call it quits after having found solid gown options at the first three of four appointments she had scheduled.

Her mum encouraged her not to cancel that final appointment, though, and luckily Lauren listened, because the very first dress her Wedding Club stylist brought out for her turned out to be the one. This goes to show that it’s always worth taking the time to check out that one last shop (or venue, or any vendor really), because you just never know where you’ll find the one! Now over to the bride herself . . .

Jewish wedding Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, UK_0066 Jewish wedding Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, UK_0048 Jewish wedding Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, UK_0048
How we met

Lauren, the bride: We first met at Habonim Dror Winter Camp in 2007 when we were both camp leaders. I remember getting on so well; however nothing romantic happened at the time!

We met again in 2011 at Birmingham City University. We were both in the same halls and decided to join forces for drinks one night during freshers’ week. We have been together ever since!Continue ReadingContinue Reading