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Your Engagement Ring, Your Way: Use 21st-Century Tech to Design the One-of-a-Kind Ring of Your Dreams with Lottie Leigh

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Hands up: who’s sneaking a peek at STG while waiting to get engaged? If that’s you, we’ve got something really special today – a brand new, 21st-century way of making the engagement ring of your dreams a reality.

The CAD Difference

When mega-talented London-based GIA-qualified jewelry designer Charlotte Leigh got engaged herself, she had a vision of what she wanted for her engagement ring – but working with a jeweler to turn her vision into reality proved trickier than she’d expected. Frustrated and feeling like there had to be a better way, she merged her tech know-how with her love for design and came up with a foolproof system using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and 3D printing to make sure every bride ends up with the ring of her dreams – no disappointments, no surprises, just a one-of-a-kind piece you’ll never want to take off. 

But if your proposal’s already a thing of the past, don’t stop reading – Lottie Leigh also works with couples to create the wedding bands of their dreams (or any other special piece of jewlery, for that matter – necklace, bracelet, earrings, you name it), and if you’ve got any unloved heirloom jewelry tucked away in your drawers she’s got a fantastic jewelry remodeling service to turn those stones into something 100% you, using the same up-to-the-minute CAD approach to make sure your new piece turns out exactly the way you envision it.

Read on to find out exactly how Lottie Leigh works, what sets her process apart, and how you can get started on a journey to create the jewelry of your dreams!

The Forever Yours Journey

If you’re looking to create an engagement ring that’s thoroughly, completely you – whether together as a couple or as a surprise for your beloved – let Lottie Leigh take you on the journey of a lifetime.

The Forever Yours Journey is Lottie Leigh’s four-step path to your perfect engagement ring – and what really sets it apart is the fact that, before committing to your final design, you’ll get an actual 3D-printed model of your ring to try on. This ensures that it’s exactly as you imagined and gives you a chance to make any changes before the real one is made – so you can be sure the finished product will be exactly the way you want it, no disappointments! And no worries if you’re not based in London – the whole process can be done remotely.

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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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Bringing the Hamptons to the UK: Jewish Wedding Inspo on Osea Island

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Eight months into the pandemic, and I think most of us are experiencing some serious wanderlust. So today, we’re taking you on a little holiday to the Hamptons, navigated by master wedding planner and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J, who spearheaded this gorgeous Jewish wedding-themed shoot!

Wait, sorry, this actually isn’t the Hamptons – despite what you might assume from the chilled out ocean backdrop, the soft beachy color scheme, and the Adirondack chairs! But we ARE headed off on a fabulous journey that will be of particular interest to all of you UK couples out there dreaming of an immersive destination wedding but hesitant to make plans abroad, thanks to Michelle and a fantastic team of wedding professionals, including some other beloved #STGvendors like stationer Dimitria Jordan, makeup artist Katy Angelidi, florist Gabriella Shemtov, and bridal boutique Mirror Mirror London, and Judaica purveyor Contemporary Judaica!

Today’s destination is actually the UK’s magical Osea Island! A small, privately owned island just off the Essex coast and accessible via a tidal causeway (and only a little more than an hour from London!), Osea Island is offered for exclusive hire for weddings and special events – and it’s truly a venue like none other. 

Michelle and her team fell in love with the cool, casual vibe and Hamptons-style interiors abundant on Osea Island – and she should know, as the planner involved with this incredible Jewish wedding featured on STG last year – and we’re betting you will, too. 

There’s something incredibly calming about these exquisite photos, courtesy of Stuart Wood Photography – thanks to the idyllic setting, tranquil coastal color palette, and sophisticated yet understated design scheme – and who couldn’t use a little bit of that right now?

Even though Osea Island isn’t far from London at all, it really does feel like another world – and as such, it’s absolutely the perfect option for couples in the UK who want the feel of an immersive destination wedding without the hassle (and, in COVID times, uncertainty) of international travel.

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A Love Letter to Italy: Jewish Wedding Inspo from a Beloved Destination Hit Hard by COVID-19 {with La Fete}

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Italy is one of the most beloved Jewish wedding destinations among #STGbrides and grooms – and there’s no wonder why. Between the landscape, the sunlight, and the food, this is a corner of the world like no other.

Sadly, it’s also one of the areas hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout March and April, the world looked on in horror as staggering death rates rocked the northern part of the country, with the pandemic’s epicenter squarely in the northern region of Lombardy.

Our hearts went out to our Italian friends and beloved #STGvendors, and we wished we could do more to support the wonderful Italian wedding community, who have opened their hearts to so many wonderful Smashing The Glass couples over the years.

So when international luxury wedding planner and #STGvendor La Fête let us know they’d about a gorgeous Jewish wedding-themed styled shoot they’d worked on in Tuscany, we couldn’t wait to feature it.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Country House Jewish Wedding Inspo at Offley Place, Hitchin, Hertfordhsire, UK

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Who doesn’t love an English country house wedding? Here at Team STG, we sure do! So we were pretty excited when we found out that some of our very favourite Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendors – photographer Rafe Abrook, planner Rachel Flax Events, and makeup artist Katy Angelidi – had teamed up to organize a gorgeous styled shoot at Offley Place in Hitchin, North Hertfordshire. 

Offley Place is a totally gorgeous venue in North Hertfordshire – one of those magical places that hits that tiny spot on the Venn diagram where classic English countryside meets proximity to London. 

It’s a favorite with STG readers – and our Brides Club member Shelley‘s interfaith Jewish wedding to Chris last spring just happens to be the very first to take place in the newly opened Hester Ballroom (with capacity for 250 guests!).

And they even used one of our very own smash glass pouches!

Plus, how cool (and rare) is it to see a Jewish-themed styled shoot?

All the stationery and signage used in this shoot was created by wonderful Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Liv & Luc!

And that gorgeous gown (as well as the others used in this shoot) came from another beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, Morgan Davies Bridal!

How dreamy is this tablescape? We’re obsessed with the chic florals by Sian Ryan Design, who created all of the stunning arrangements used in this shoot. 

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