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Karen & David | Elegant white Jewish wedding at Villa Giusso, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Italy

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Sorrento-Wedding
This morning we’re off to Italy to indulge in Karen and David’s sumptuous Jewish wedding in Sorrento courtesy of Gianni di Natale Photography. Although I’ve blogged Jewish weddings from the Amalfi Coast before, this is the first one I’ve featured that takes place in Sorrento. It’s rather momentous for me to be blogging a wedding that took place in this magical part of the world, as it’s where Mr STG and I spent our honeymoon in 2013.

We loved the sunny climate and the jaw-dropping views of the Bay of Naples, not to mention the incredible Italian food. This wedding has all three in buckets as well as one of my favourite ever Hora (Jewish dancing) images of all time, featuring the bride doing a 180 ° — literally upside down!

And the guests…well if the photos at the end of the night are anything to go by, then it’s clear that they had a darned good time!

If you’re a fan of the classically elegant wedding then this one is for you…the same applies if you’re a bit of a fan of Italy as there’s some fairly stunning shots of the coast too.

Sorrento Wedding
a spectacular villa venue in Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast

Karen, the Bride: David and I got married in Italy, on the Amalfi coast in a town called Sorrento. We instantly fell in love with the house we chose for our religious ceremony and reception called Villa Giusso. The venue was located on the top of a hill overlooking Sorrento bay, and the entire wedding took place in the beautiful garden which surrounded the house. The chuppah was set up outside overlooking the sea and the dinner under lemon trees. We could not have dreamt of a better setting for our wedding.

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Carys & Baz | Super glam, super stylish destination Jewish wedding ‘in the desert’ at The Parker Palm Springs, California, USA

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palm-springs-wedding
How about we all jet off to Palm Springs to revel in the à¼ber glam destination wedding of Londoners, Carys and Baz?

Carys is half Welsh, half American (with Jewish heritage) and Baz is half English, half Persian, and they had the most exquisite wedding full of stylish, creative details and more than a hint of Palm Springs glitz and glamour.

It’s swoon-inducingly pretty… I just love every element — from Carys’s entire outfit — a divine gown by Israeli wedding dress designer, Berta, a sweeping, full length veil, and glittery Louboutins — to the pink ombre wedding cake, the glittery details, the dreamy flowers, and the Mexican mariachi band that played during the cocktail hour. It’s all just so much fun and beautifully stylised.

One thing that might not have gone so much to plan was the breaking of the glass… A member of the cleaning staff had mistaken the bulb and napkin for rubbish, but fortunately the groomsmen spotted the slip-up at the last minute before Carys and Baz had even noticed, and the equipment was saved!

This wedding proves that you don’t necessarily need to hire a destination wedding planner for a big day abroad. Anything is possible if you have a clear vision, great suppliers, and some helpful friends.

Let’s hand over to Carys for the inside story, but before I do, I must just mention Mi Belle who took all the gorgeous imagery on the page today.

palm springs wedding_0066 palm springs weddingpalm springs wedding
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Jessie & Craig | Spectacular book-themed Jewish wedding at the New York Public Library, New York, USA

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New-York-City-wedding
I’m not sure you can get much cooler than Jessie and Craig’s New York City nuptials. Their Jewish wedding has it all. The glamour, the style, the chic, and the unique. I almost died when I first clapped eyes on their chuppah design — I’m telling you, it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and you’ll have to excuse me for including so many pictures of it.

Prepare to be green eyed folks as I cannot possibly deny that this W-Day may cause some serious wedding envy, namely because of the exquisite fashion that bride Jessie sported on the day itself. Firstly there are her Christian Louboutin clear heels with silver studs, swiftly followed by her divine Reem Acra dress. Honestly Jessie has the most wonderful sartorial taste.

And what with getting married in the iconic New York Public Library, I haven’t even begun to tell you about how well-executed their literary bookish theme is. I’m talking real-life librarians helping guests find their seats, library card catalogue escort cards, and a chuppah made entirely out of antique books! But wait, it gets better. Their chuppah was topped with hundreds of lightbulbs, so when it came to smashing the glass at the end of the ceremony, the groom picked out a light bulb from their chuppah to smash, and swiftly stamped on it. Have you ever?

So if you want to take a page from Jessie and Craig’s wedding (see what I did there?!), now’s the time, as I’m handing over to the beautiful bride for the story behind her big day. All of the fantastic photography is by the wonderfully talented Dave Robbins, and design is by AaB Creates.

book-themed wedding at the New York Public Librarybook-themed wedding at the New York Public Librarybook-themed wedding at the New York Public Library
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Intimate and Joyful Israeli Wedding Organised in Just 3 Months at Lawrence Gallery, Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel

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jaffa-wedding
I have a real sweet treat of a Jewish wedding for you this afternoon folks. Set amidst the boats and charm of Old Jaffa in Tel Aviv, today’s W-Day was planned in just 3 months (nope, I’m not even kidding!) and is bursting at the seams with lots of personal and thoughtful touches.

Rachel and Moshe both come from Modern Orthodox backgrounds, yet it was important for them to make their ceremony as egalitarian and personal as possible. For example, for the Sheva Brachot part of their Jewish wedding ceremony, they invited couples to come up to the chuppah together. The man said the traditional blessing, whilst the woman wrote a personal blessing. Rachel says, “hearing the personal blessings written by the closest women in our lives was so moving and special. They are words that will accompany me throughout my life.”

They also loved the concept of having a procession with klezmer musicians parading through the alleys of Jaffa, leading them to their chuppah in a park overlooking the city and the sea. To them, it felt very timeless, reconnecting to a special tradition that doesn’t happen so much anymore.

Today, not only do I have the usual dose of W-day eye candy for you, taken by the super talented Noa Magger (in particular I am loving the Jaffa harbour images, and the ‘party faces’ of the guests – you have to check them out!) but for those of you that may be stressing over every minute detail in the run up to the big day, Rachel’s words are both wise and super helpful. I particularly love what she says at the end of the post: “I think the biggest piece of advice is to find ways to incorporate friends and family in a meaningful way —  I think it makes for the best memories.”

So true… Let’s hear more from Rachel and Moshe, a smashingly creative, fun and outgoing couple.

Jaffa Wedding
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Win a luxury overnight stay at The Hospital Club, London’s coolest private members’ club and wedding venue

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Hospital-Club
The Hospital Club in London’s Covent Garden is the only private members’ club designed specifically for those in creative industries,  and as a  member since 2009, it’s been my ‘home from home’ for many years.

Founded by musician Dave Stewart, of Eurythmics fame,  and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the Hospital Club opened  in 2004, as a hub where creative types could create, connect, and collaborate. Spread over seven floors with stunning interiors including  cocktail bars, lounges, a restaurant, 36-seater cinema, TV studio, art gallery, and 15 extraordinary  bedrooms, it  caters  for creative  professionals  who are looking for something super cool, friendly and collaborative.

As well as being London’s hippest  private  members’ club, it’s also the perfect space for couples looking for somewhere really stylish  and different for their wedding venue.

It  boasts a range of versatile spaces each with its own unique style and flavour, as well as  a team of chefs and mixologists who can tailor-make and prepare the perfect menu (kosher or just  Jewish-friendly!) whatever your theme and budget.

A couple of months ago in  January 2015, fifteen  sumptuous  bedrooms were added to the mix which means that  for the first time ever the Hospital Club is  opening it’s doors to non-members. The rooms are luxuriously appointed with leathers, velvets, sumptuous woods and  jaw-dropping works of  contemporary art,  and I’m giving one lucky reader and their companion  the  chance to sneak in, party hard, and crash out in comfort in the Hospital Club’s top suite, complete with  dinner in the club restaurant, and breakfast the following morning.

The suite (a.k.a. the crash pad of your dreams) comes complete with a  private terrace, separate lounge area,  erotic minibar by Holloway Smith Noir, brain power tool kits by the School of Life, insider guides to London,  and a 7pm cocktail trolley with your own personal bartender!

For the duration of your stay, you’ll  also be able to make full use of all member privileges including the club’s 3D cinema, pool room, cocktails bars, and the enviable schedule of member events.

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