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Your Judaica, Your Way: Register for the Judaica of Your Dreams with the Jewish Museum Shop

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that you’re going to receive some Judaica gifts for your Jewish wedding.

No matter how much you’d prefer that everyone contribute to your honeymoon fund, there are always going to be a handful of guests who are set on purchasing something tangible for your Jewish home.

I didn’t have a Judaica registry (or even know such a thing existed!) when I got married in 2013, and I ended up receiving some well-meaning Judaica gifts that were just not my style at all. If I could do it again, I’d absolutely set one up – because making it easy for loves ones to select items you’ll be as thrilled to receive as they are to give is a win-win. 

And the Jewish Museum Shop is the very best place to do just that. Located inside New York City’s Jewish Museum, on the Upper East Side’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum Shop specializes in Judaica and gifts that fit all tastes and lifestyles, from traditional, to contemporary; from formal for special occasions to casual and modern – and they offer international shipping, too. They also do gift cards, which are just the thing to give or get as wedding presents!

Their tastefully curated selection makes it a pleasure to pick out the pieces that are right for you – and the Jewish Museum Shop’s universal registry, which can by synced with registries from other retailers through MyRegistry.com, makes the process convenient and seamless. And best of all, every purchase supports the Jewish Museum – total win-win.

Shabbat Shalom

So what kinds of Judaica do Smashing The Glass couples love to register for? With the Jewish Museum Shop, the sky’s the limit, but items to enhance your Shabbat table are a much-loved place to start. Shabbat is a beautiful end to a busy week, and a meaningful way to bring Judaism into your home, and the Jewish Museum Shop has an incredible selection of candlesticks, kiddush cups, and challah plates, knives, and covers.

Gear Up for the Holidays

You can also make sure you’re covered for all of the holidays:

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Win a Stay in Kosher Paradise at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, the Caribbean’s Ultimate Jewish Wedding Destination

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If you’ve been here awhile, you know how obsessed I am with Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas. Team STG member Sam couldn’t stop raving about her epic weekend visit, and I just love the fact that there’s now a luxury hotel in one of the most gorgeous spots in the Caribbean that’s SO perfect for Jewish weddings.

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the only luxury hotel in the Caribbean offering in-house kosher catering for your big day, kosher wedding specialists on hand to help you every step of the way, on-site kosher restaurants, and even the option to cater a kosher Shabbat dinner for your guests before or after the main event. And that’s before we even get to the pristine white sands, crystal-clear water, blue skies, and flamingos (more about that later).

I’m absolutely thrilled to offer you a chance to win three nights’ stay for two at the Caribbean’s hottest Jewish wedding destination, so you can experience it all for yourself!

The dreamiest destination in the Caribbean

Surrounded by gorgeous beaches, tranquil water, and warm sun, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the perfect setting for a stunning wedding weekend where you and your loved ones can get away from it all to celebrate the big day distraction-free. And it’s just a few hours’ flight from the East Coast of the US, with nonstop flights available from many US cities. 

It’s a truly epic destination for an unforgettable Jewish wedding in tropical paradise, and I’m so excited that we’ve teamed up with Grand Hyatt Baha Mar to offer one lucky couple (you can be single with a plus one, engaged or married to enter) a chance to experience the luxuries of the hotel, including:

  • A three-night stay in a standard king room
  • A $200 gift certificate for one dinner at Cinko Asian Latino Grill, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar’s kosher restaurant
  • Site tour available upon request 
  • Total value = $2600

 

A Jewish Wedding at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is a truly one-of-a-kind venue for a Jewish wedding. There’s no place else in this kind of lush Caribbean setting that makes it SO easy to throw a kosher wedding. 

Grand Hyatt Bahar Mar perfectly combines local color (literally – you can even have the hotel’s friendly flock of pink flamingos join you for a meet and greet during your cocktail hour!) with classic luxury, incorporating the culture and spirit of the Bahamas while attending to all the nuances that make Jewish weddings special. 

When you (and your guests!) need a little downtime, you can take advantage of the resort’s eight exquisite pools, get cozy in a private poolside cabana, or enjoy spa treatments at the 30,000-square-foot ESPA at Baha Mar – and for those seeking more active pursuits, there’s golf, water sports, a luxe beachfront waterpark, cooking classes, and so much more.

Spectacular Service every step of the way

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar’s kosher wedding specialist handles all the details to elevate your wedding, from helping you build Jewish and cultural traditions into your day to private Shabbat dinners overlooking the ocean. 

You’ll receive a full range of unparalleled services to help you personalize your Jewish wedding your way, and you’ll have help with all the details that will elevate your day, from helping you select decor and vendors to delivering gift bags and late-night snacks. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Why a Wedding Podcast Is the New Must-Have Jewish Wedding Keepsake

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If you’re engaged, you’re almost certainly planning to book a professional photographer. You may well be looking for a videographer to capture your day in live action, too. But have you considered a wedding podcast?

Even if you’re an avid podcast listener, chances are you haven’t considered recording your own. But wedding podcasts are a new way to capture those precious wedding memories, from the beginning of your love story all the way through to the big day. 

And we love that Story Locker, a one-of-a-kind UK podcast recording service, has made it so easy and accessible for couples to craft a personal one-off podcast celebrating their love. It’s the perfect souvenir to cherish for years to come – and to share with family and friends so they can take part in all the love and joy of this exciting moment in your lives together – and they’ve got a special 15% discount for members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

Why Record a Wedding Podcast?

A wedding podcast is a fabulous new tool to capture the excitement and warm memories of your engagement and wedding. It’s a perfect complement to your wedding photography and videography, as unlike those more traditional means of capturing your special day, a wedding podcast allows you to capture more than just your wedding day itself. 

On your wedding podcast, you’ll have the chance to tell the whole story of your relationship from the very beginning. It’s a new and unique way to create a digital legacy in your own voice, one you’ll cherish for years to come. 

How It Works

With Story Locker, you can record a studio-quality personal podcast, recorded with a professional interviewer – no experience or access to cutting-edge recording equipment required! 

First off, you can choose whether you want to record your podcast before the big day, with a focus on your story as a couple from first date to engagement and wedding planning, or after, which means you’ll be able to include memories of your wedding day itself, too. 

You’ll also have a chance to decide whether you’d like to record a 45-, 60-, or 90-minute podcast. 

Then, you’ll get to choose one of Story Locker’s top-tier professional interviewers – who’ve worked at the BBC, Radio One, The Guardian, ITV, Channel, 4, Heart FM, Sky, Netflix, Capital FM and more – to record with you. You’ll have a chance to schedule a 30-minute video call with your chosen interviewer so you can get to know each other prior to recording. 

You’ll record your wedding podcast from the comfort of your own home (you’ll need a laptop or a desktop PC with either a Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser), and Story Locker will send you a studio microphone and headsets (which are yours to keep). A tech producer will ensure quality and attention to detail. 

Then, the best part: you’ll receive your very own professionally edited wedding podcast, complete with a curated music overlay, plus two soundbites from your podcast to share on your socials! Your podcast will be stored safely in your own Story Locker, along with show notes and photos illustrating your love story. 

You’ll have the opportunity to make changes to the recording if you wish – and once it’s all finalized, you’ll be able to share your podcast with friends and family, via a dedicated QR code Story Locker will supply. 

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Giveaway: Win a Yamakopter, the Original Novelty Kippah with a Spinning Propeller!

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We love a fun spin (pun totally intended) on Jewish tradition… and no one does it better than the team behind Yamakopter, the original novelty kippah with a spinning propeller!

The creativity and whimsy Yamakopter brings to the traditional Jewish head covering is so special, and we’re thrilled to be teaming up over on our Your Jewish Life Instagram to give away one Yamakopter each to FIVE lucky winners!

Perfect as a fun Hanukkah gift or an easy Purim costume – or a great way to get kids (or adults!) excited about this aspect of Jewish tradition – every Yamakopter is handmade with love and includes a free sticker and hair clip.


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Yamakopters are handmade in the US from high-quality suede material and a drone-quality propeller. They come in Rainbow, Blue, Red, or Black – and each of our lucky winners will be able to pick the color combo of their choice! Please note that due to small parts, Yamakopters are not suitable for young children.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Jewish Joy + Positivity ✡︎ | Karen Cinnamon (@yourjewishlife)

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Your Name, Your Way: Everything You Need to Know about Changing Your Name in the UK 

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Lyubov and Juan‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Fergie Medar Photography 

If you’re a bride-to-be, chances are people have started asking you whether you’re planning to change your name once you’re married. Even today in 2023, when changing your name is very much a choice, this can be a fraught topic. 

But the good news is, it is a choice. And you’ve got lots of options, far beyond just keeping your original name or changing over to your spouse’s. Personally, I opted to stick with “Cinnamon” professionally, but double barrel with my new surname legally and in my personal life. 

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Ella and Joel‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Matt Parry 

I sat down with NameSwitch, who I wish was around back when I got married, to go over the most popular choices and some of the things you might want to consider as you make your decision. NameSwitch are the only UK based company to offer such a unique name-changing service that makes it so much easier.

No one knows more about the ins and outs of changing your name in the UK than NameSwitch – and if you do decide to make a change, their streamlining service can save you hours of research and admin. NameSwitch’s extensive knowledge and liaison with government bodies ensures you get it right the first time, and their UK-based customer service team is always on hand to help. And as a Smashing The Glass reader, you’ve got access to a £5 discount off any NameSwitch  package – just enter the code “SMASHING-FIVE” at checkout. 

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Amy and Andrew‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Mike Staff Productions 

9 of the Most Popular UK Name Change Options

These days, we’re lucky to have such a range of choices when it comes to changing your name (or not). I’ve put together a list of nine of the most popular choices, from double-barrelling to picking a totally new surname for the both of you. 

  1. Keep your given name.
  2. Take your spouse’s name.
  3. Have your spouse take your name.
  4. Take your spouse’s name legally, but keep your given name professionally.
  5. Make your given surname your middle name and take your spouse’s last name.
  6. Take each other’s surname as your middle name.
  7. Double-barrelling your names.
  8. Blend your last names into a new hybrid name.
  9. Create a totally new last name.

Obviously, some of these options are more common, while others – like creating a totally new last name for the two of you – may raise a few eyebrows. But the most important thing is to make the choice that feels right to you and your partner – after all, this is the name you’ll proudly carry for the rest of your life!

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Darah and Yoni‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Michael Segal

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