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How much time do we allow for the Jewish Dancing section of our wedding?

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DEAR KAREN WEDDING Q2
Hi MeLena

The hora  is one of my favourite parts of  a Jewish wedding – everyone that you love and care about dances around you, participating in your joy and celebration as you try not to fall off your flying thrones! I say live it up  but  I think the answer to how long for, depends on the type of guests that you’ve invited.

If it’s a predominantly Jewish crowd who have been to many Jewish weddings before your big day, they are going to throw themselves into it and probably want 30 minutes worth to work up a huge sweat and go wild! That could either be encompassed into all one set, or split into two sets of 15 minutes.

However, if there are going to be quite a few non-Jews who may have never experienced the Hora before than I think that a shorter set of  approximately 10 minutes is better as there won’t be quite the same vigour from every guest, and not everyone will have the confidence to throw themselves into the Jewish dancing the first time they experience it.

The great thing about an iPod playlist is that you can arrange say 30 minutes worth of hora dance music and just wind it down at any point if you feel the momentum is dropping or people are ready for a break. It’s definitely better to allow for more and give the ‘cut’ signal to the DJ if you feel like it’s time to stop.

In terms of your iPod Jewish music playlist, get the party rocking by checking out these cool alternative versions of Hava Nagila, the Hora and other Jewish Wedding music  and this one that collates the  best versions and remixes of  Hava Nagila.  There are loads of non-traditional versions to choose from that maybe better match your personality as a couple, or your wedding theme, than the traditional ‘fiddler on the roof’ style versions. Listen to them all , take your pick, and have a wonderful Jewish wedding music set!

Karen x

Do you have a wedding-related question that you’d like me to answer in Dear Karen? Either email me or leave it in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you!

The best non-traditional versions of ‘Hava Nagila’

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The traditional  ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ style versions of Hava Nagila    are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, so why not choose a more original and fun variety for  your Jewish wedding playlist?

Choose a Hava Nagila (or ‘Have-a-tequila’!) that you feel reflects you both or fits the theme of your wedding.  Below I’ve sourced everything from a Cuban style version to American Jazz to Beach Party to Techno style renditions. And further down the page there’s some awesome YouTube versions to watch by Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, a Bollywood Hava Nagila, and a few more spectacles!

HAVA NAGILA BY  ALEX M vs. MARC VAN DAMME
Listen
A techno version of Hava Nagila that will get the party *pumping*!
Hava Nagila Techno

HAVA NAGILA BY  THE BARRY SISTERS
Listen
Hava Nagila with a  40s American jazz twist
Havana Nagila AMERICAN JAZZ

HAVA NAGILA BY  TERRA FOLK
Listen
Hava Nagila with an Irish folk band twist.
Havana Nagila Terra Folk

HAVA NAGILA BY  HAVANA GILA
Listen
Hava Nagila in a Salsa/Cuban fusion style. Very classy!
Havana Nagila

HAVA NAGILA BY  JOE BROWN
Listen
A bluesy version of Hava Nagila that starts slow and then really kicks in
Hava Nagila Joe Brown

HAVA NAGILA BY  MUNICIPALE BALCANICA
Listen
Hava Nagila with a Balkan Gypsy twist
Hava Nagila Balkan Gypsy Twist

HAVA NAGILA BY SCOTT WILSON
Listen
Hava Nagila with a Middle Eastern guitar twang!
Hava Nagila Guitar

 

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5 great wedding planning reads for no-nonsense brides

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Inspired by Sara’s wonderful advice to read The Conscious Bride by Sheryl Paul  from her wedding report yesterday, I have put together a selection of books that I feel will inspire, educate, guide and entertain you on your way to creating a  wedding day that best reflects your taste and your relationship. There’s a wide selection here, from books on how to create a wonderfully unique Jewish wedding, to keeping your sanity along the way, to wedding eye candy inspiration to planning a destination wedding.

1BEST FOR… NO NONSENSE WEDDING PLANNING
A Practical Wedding  by  Meg Keene
This is Meg Keene’s book from A Practical Wedding blog fame (apracticalwedding.com)  and it helps you plan your wedding from beginning to end in a useful, sane, no-nonsense way.  It walks you through everything from figuring out your relationship with tradition,  finding a venue, how to afford a wedding without cutting the guest  list, how to communicate decisions with your family, and most importantly,  how to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner.

She’s also got some well-written articles from past brides interspersed throughout the book which makes for useful ‘real bride’ reading. Highly recommended if you believe what really matters on your wedding day is what you’ll remember when you’re old and grey, so not so much how it looked, but how it felt.

2BEST FOR… HOW TO ADAPT TRADITION TO PERSONALISE YOUR JEWISH WEDDING
The Creative Jewish Wedding Book by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
The best of the ‘Jewish wedding’ books out there, Kaplan-Mayer writes engagingly and accessibly, tackling family dynamics,  food, music and ritual objects like the ketubah and chuppah (“something oldish, something newish, something borrowed, something Jewish”).

There’s special emphasis on interfaith and same-sex couples with practical suggestions for diminishing possible tensions to help family and guests feel at ease.
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BEST FOR… DIY WEDDING TIPS AND INSPIRATIONAL WEDDING EYE CANDY
Style Me Pretty Weddings by Abby Larson
A must for every bride who wants her wedding day to express her own vision of her special day, and who doesn’t?  The author, Abby Larson, is the founder of savvy wedding blog, Style Me Pretty, and along with her team has covered over 5,000 real weddings. Her book is full of gorgeous pictures and captures numerous clever DIY ideas and provides “Style Tips” at every turn highlighting those small but important details that make a wedding truly personal and one-of-a-kind.

It’s an American publication, but the ideas are equally suitable for a British wedding and it would make a great gift for yourself or any engaged friends.

4BEST FOR… PREPARING FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING
The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings by Carley Roney
This book breaks down in a very practical way, the process of planning your wedding from afar. There are tips from deciding on your destination to whether or not you should fly in your rabbi and all the legal and practical considerations in between. A nice touch is hearing from real-life couples who have been through the experience and share the lessons they learnt. There’s also lots of expert opinion on all kinds of subjects and numerous checklists to help you stay organised and on top of everything. A practical and inspiring read.

BEST FOR…  THOSE THAT DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO ALLOW THEIR WEDDING TO TAKE OVER THEIR LIFE5
How to “I Do”: Planning the Ultimate Wedding in Six Weekends or Less by Lefevre and Cudanes
Most of us don’t have the time or inclination to create a wedding worthy of Hollywood production, and the  authors who are professional planners fully understand this. They explain step-by-step and weekend-by-weekend how to pull off a beautiful, successful, and memorable event in a really short, succinct amount of time. Overall a great book for making you feel in complete control and ready for your big day.

Are there any other books that you’ve loved that have helped you with your wedding planning? Let me know in the comments section below. I’d love to hear!

18 Unusual and Creative Guest Book Ideas

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original-guestbook-ideas
Image: Alively Photography via Style Me Pretty

It’s wonderful to have a wedding day guest book full of congratulatory messages and memories from guests, but how about mixing it up a little with these alternative ideas to the classic traditional book? These ideas will get guests chatting and mingling at the start of your reception so without further ado feast your eyes on these 18 fabulous and unique wedding guest book ideas to get you and your guests inspired, and check out Smashing The Glass on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more amazing ideas.

1. Give the guest book a digital twist and make it part of your wedding day’s entertainment in its own right. This Digital Surface allows guests to scribble, doodle and create their own personal messages of congratulations and be as imaginative as they like. Best of all, guests contributions can be turned into a book after the event and reproduced for family members and in-laws.


Digital-guest-book
image: maketheirday.co.uk / Sternberg Clarke

2.Instead of a formal guestbook have a ‘postcard washing line’. Guests pick a postcard and write their messages to you on the back, before pegging them to the line.

GUESTBOOK WASH LINE
image: Joseph Hall / rockmywedding.co.uk

3. Have your guests choose a postcard and write a message on the back. Then after your honeymoon display the postcards in an album or frame them on the wall. A lovely idea and keepsake! Choose from lots of different postcard designs here.

alternative wedding guestbook
 image: S6 Photography / rockmywedding.co.uk

4. Have different colour ink pads and an illustration at the ready and  you’ll end up with a beautiful and personal thumbprint work of art.]

Thumbprint balloons as guestbook alternative
 image: bridesmagazine.co.uk 
Thumbprint guestbook alternative
image: lorynloves.com 

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