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BIG NEWS: Announcing Smashing The Glass’s FREE Virtual Party for Jewish + Jew-ish Brides-to-be

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SAVE THE DATE (and get your free ticket!). On Sunday June 20 I’m hosting a free virtual Jewish Wedding Planning Party for you wherever in the world you live!

My online Jewish Wedding Planning Party is all about helping you cut through the overwhelm and have the wedding you really want, stress-free (or as close as you can get).

This is for you whether you’re planning a Jewish or Interfaith Jewish wedding, and whether you’re using a planner – or not and this is what you can expect:

There’ll be presents, and partying, music and (virtual!) drinks, but most importantly I’ll be teaching you exactly how to:

♥ Maximize your wedding budget (whether it’s $ or $$$$$)

♥ Handle unwanted opinions(to get the result you want without hurting anyone’s feelings)

♥ What to ask your vendors when you’re planning a wedding during coronavirus (we’ll talk contracts too)

♥ Craft your perfect Jewish or Jew-ish wedding ceremony + make all your guests feel included (whether they’re attending virtually or in person)

♥ Come up with creative wedding ideas for an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind wedding

And I’ll be answering every single one of your questions (however big or small!) 

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR FREE PLACE AND GET A REMINDER


I’ll be ready and waiting to help you out with every single one of your own wedding planning questions, no matter how big or small.

(And by the way you’ll benefit from the Jewish Wedding Planning Party whether you’re using a planner or not — this is an absolute must-attend for every Jewish / Jew-ish bride-to-be!)

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Why We Love Kimpton Fitzroy London for Jewish Weddings, from Micro to Mega

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It’s no secret that the Kimpton Fitzroy London is one of my very favourite Jewish wedding venues. Located oh-so-centrally in Bloomsbury’s Russell Square, the Kimpton Fitzroy London’s combination of historic charm and modern luxury makes it an incredibly elegant spot equally suited for an intimate micro wedding or a post-pandemic celebration with up to 200 guests.

Originally built in 1898 (on the site of Emmaline Pankhurst’s onetime home — how’s that for a bit of feminist history to add to your wedding?!), Kimpton Fitzroy London undertook a two-year, £85 million refurbishment of the hotel before opening it in April 2018 as the first Kimpton property in the UK.

Danielle and Rob‘s Jewish micro wedding | Photo by Mike Garrard

Micro Wedding Bliss

Since then, they’ve hosted some truly exquisite Jewish weddings, from the biggest ballroom bashes to intimate micro weddings like Danielle and Rob‘s that we featured on STG last month. 

For as long as government restrictions on weddings last, Kimpton Fitzroy London offers bespoke micro wedding packages to suit your every need for groups starting at 15 – all while following up-to-the-minute COVID regulations, of course.

Depending on your specific needs, you’ll have your pick of a range of delightful spaces – from the dramatic ballroom to eight-intimate rooms and four restaurants and bars, all flooded with natural light and historic details at every turn. Meanwhile, the Kimpton Fitzroy London is also booking up fast for 100+ person celebrations later this year and in 2022!

And did I mention that the team at Kimpton Fitzroy London couldn’t be more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Jewish weddings? 

A Space to Suit Every Need

But back to the glorious space that is Kimpton Fitzroy London: The centre of the property — at least when it comes to weddings — is the ballroom, a grand event space perfect for a standout Jewish ceremony followed by a beautiful reception, boasting a private entrance on Bernard Street, original 19th-century architectural details, a full wall of windows, and a mezzanine gallery.

Danielle and Rob‘s Jewish micro wedding | Photo by Mike Garrard

And the adjoining Palm Court is the most magical backdrop for reception drinks, with a soaring glass ceiling that floods the room with light, comfortable clusters of seating, an outdoor terrace, and lots of gorgeous greenery — the vibe is conservatory meets lounge meets members club, and it is exactly as fabulous as it sounds. Intimate yet fun, hip yet classic.

I’m seriously in love with this place and it has got to be the best reception space to go with a ballroom wedding that I’ve seen in London.

Danielle and Rob‘s Jewish micro wedding | Photo by Mike Garrard

Innovative Kosher Catering

For those needing fully certified kosher catering, the Kimpton Fitzroy London is in partnership with Ben Tenenblat as their preferred kosher caterer! And in addition to the stellar in-house team, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Adam Nathan Catering is available for delectable kosher-style menus.

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How to Find Your Dream Dress During Lockdown {Instagram Live with Mirror Mirror}

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Photo by Stuart Wood

Are you a bride-to-be wondering how you’re going to find the dress of your dreams while in lockdown? There’s no question that wedding dress shopping is a different experience right now than it used to be. But even without being able to go into shops, it’s still possible to shop effectively – and even have fun doing it! No one knows this better than our friends at Mirrror Mirror London, one of our very favourite luxury bridal boutiques in the UK (and a beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor).

This Monday, I’ll be going live on Instagram with Maria Yiannikaris, owner of Mirror Mirror and designer of in-house bridal line Mirror Mirror Couture, about what you should know before you begin wedding dress shopping, what you can expect, and what extra considerations you may need to keep in mind.

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Everything You Need to Know about Jewish Genetic Carrier Screening {Facebook Live Recap with JScreen}

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I’m delighted to share with you my latest Facebook Live, all about the most important wedding planning task that might not have made it onto your checklist: Jewish genetic carrier screening. While genetic screening certainly isn’t as much fun as, say, cake tasting, if you’re planning on having children it’s one of the most important steps you can take in securing your family’s future. 

On this Live, I spoke with Hillary Kener Regelman, Director of National Outreach at JScreen, a US-based not-for-profit at-home education and carrier screening program for Jewish genetic diseases. Hillary spoke with us for the first time this past July, and we had such an informative, empowering conversation about what JScreen does, how genetic carrier screening works, and what it all means for Jewish and Jew-ish couples.

We wanted to make sure all the newly engaged couples are able to benefit from her knowledge, so we brought her back for another session – where she went through the basics, answered questions from the audience, and filled us in on some recent updates at JScreen, like their new cancer susceptibility panel.

Hillary strongly believes that genetic screening should be an essential item on every couple’s wedding to-do list, and now that I’ve gotten to know her and JScreen, so do I!

What is genetic carrier screening?

Hillary began by explaining what exactly genetic carrier screening is – and what it’s not. First, it’s not a diagnostic test. JScreen’s reproductive panel won’t tell you if you yourself are at high risk of developing various diseases. Rather, JScreen’s testing lets people know if they are healthy carriers of genetic diseases who have mutations that they could potentially pass on to their future children.

Who should get screened?

The short answer: everyone planning on having children! While genetic screening is sometimes thought of as being relevant only to Ashkenazi Jews, the truth is that anyone, regardless of background, can be a carrier of one or more genetic diseases (and even as far as Jewish genetic diseases go, plenty affect Sephardi and Mizrahi populations). JScreen‘s pan-ethnic panel tests for all kinds of genetic diseases, not just those common among Jews – so it’s absolutely smart to get screened even if one or both of you are not ethnically Jewish.

Your parents may have done testing themselves, but even if that’s the case it’s still important to do it yourself before starting a family. So many more diseases are testable today than even five years ago – even if you yourself were screened a number of years ago, it’s worth considering retesting with JScreen. You can always look at the list of all the diseases they currently screen for and compare it to what you’ve already been screened for.

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Top Ketubah Trends for 2021 {with Ketubah.com}

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Stunning Henna Princess Papercut by Enya Keshet  | Photo by Julia Pollak of Luria Visuals

As you may have noticed, we are huge fans of Ketubah.com – and so are our couples! There’s no question that this online ketubah emporium – featuring designs to suit all styles, budgets, and types of wedding. Whether your big day is Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, interfaith, secular, and/or same-sex, Ketubah.com‘s got you. They even offer a 10% discount to members of our Brides Club!

Moonstone Hora Square by Hadass Gerson  | Photo by Alex Jardine at Ikonica

Between their incredible range and impeccable customer service, it’s no wonder they are by far the #1 ketubah source among STG readers. And today we’re so excited to be teaming up with our friends at Ketubah.com to fill you in on the top trends they’re seeing in 2020, from sustainability to 3-D to crystals and beyond. 

Sustainability

Renaissance Echoes by Jonathan Kremer

It’s no secret that sustainability is one of the keywords of 2020 – it’s  been trending in bridal fashion, and it’s no surprise that concern for the environment is hitting the ketubah world hard. And Ketubah.com’s ahead of the curve: their ketubahs are made with clean electricity, and even their Toronto office is powered by Bullfrog power, which lowers their carbon footprint and brings renewable energy – and naturally they recycle, seeing as they work with a ton of paper!

Couples who are environmentally conscious may want to consider a washi paper ketubah. Japanese washi paper is not only beautiful, it’s also especially eco-friendly because it is biodegradable and tree-friendly alternative (the fibers are taken from the bark of living trees – most commonly mulberry – no chopping required). Ketubah.com has an awesome selection of designs on washi paper.

Crystals

Adventure of a Lifetime II by Shel Rummel

Crystals are all the rage these days. There is a belief that crystals can affect energy in your life – and, therefore, your wedding day too. Who among us can’t use some positive vibes for the big day (not to mention in your home forever after)?

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