Real blogging brides Archives - Smashing the Glass

Real Jewish Brides: Juliette Talks How She Found her Photographer and her Engagement Shoot

26/03/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Juliette will be marrying Matt on 9th November 2019 at Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey, USA. Click here to read all Juliette’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Juliette and Matt met in Hebrew school when they were 16 – aww! (2) Juliette and Matt are both Jewish, but they are having a Jew-ish wedding – Juliette’s dad’s side of the family is Catholic, and they want to make sure everyone feels included on the day. (3) Juliette is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club – and she calls STG her “secret weapon” in wedding planning!

The importance of the photos

I am an ultra-decisive person. I always know what I am going to eat before the waiter arrives, I pick my outfits out in under 3 minutes each morning, and I never hesitate to tell you I don’t like what you tried on (ask any of my 9 bridesmaids). However, with all the major decisions that wedding planning naturally creates, I find myself hesitating, second guessing, and obsessing. One of my main obsessions took form in the shape of wedding photos.

Every Pinterest page wants to remind you that finding your soulmate is the hardest part of the whole wedding process and you have already done that! These people are obviously not trying to impress and please 250 people whose opinions they trust. I promise I will live in the moment of that day.

However that is not going to stop me from freaking out about the photos. The photos are a huge deal because after it is all over and done and the glitter clears and you can finally eat that chocolate cake your mother told you is off limits (I wish I could tell you I’m kidding) the pictures are the last artefact of the most special day of your life.

All the images of this post are shot by Fred Marcus Studio {offers a free engagement shoot to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}

Planning A Wedding Without My Mom

13/03/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Nargiz will be marrying Ryan on 9th November 2019 at Farmington Hills Manor, in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. Click here to read all Nargiz’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Nargiz was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the wedding will combine her family’s traditions – they are Mountain Jews, or Gorski, and their culture is a mix of Persian and Middle Eastern influences – and Ryan’s American Ashkenazi background. (2) Nargiz’s mother tragically passed away last summer, so she has been facing wedding planning without her mom by her side. (3) Nargiz is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

Thank you, Mom!

Being engaged is overwhelming as it is, but being engaged and not having your mom by your side adds a whole other layer of emotions to the overall experience. It has only been a year and a half since my mom passed away, and sometimes my siblings and I still forget that she’s not here with us anymore.

I am thankful I had 28 years with my mom and I know there are others who’ve had less time or no time with their mother. Still, I can’t help but wish I had more time with mine, and the time we had together wasn’t enough.

She was looking forward to the day I got engaged. She loved Ryan and she was excited to watch us take the next steps in our relationship. Even on her last day on this earth, she thought about our engagement and our wedding. I know this because the morning of the day that she passed away, she gave me money for my wedding dress.

Despite the pain and the suffering, she was thinking about me and about my wedding dress. I didn’t think it would be her last day but I guess she felt it. We weren’t even engaged but she wanted to make sure that she would be part of the process even if she couldn’t physically be there for it.

Real Jewish Brides: Jaime Has Finally Got Engaged!

07/03/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Jaime will be marrying Varun on 26th October 2019 at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, California, USA. Click here to read all Jaime’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Jaime and Varun will be having a Jewish ceremony AND a Hindu ceremony – on the same day! (2) They’re planning a swanky but not stuffy wedding at one of our fave California venues, Hummingbird Nest Ranch! (3) Jaime is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

So much has happened since the last time I blogged and I cannot wait to share it with you guys!

In December Varun and I went to California for the holidays and to spend time with family. Our first stop was LA where we had a chance to relax and restore. We also had both sides of parents meet in Los Angeles where we could take them to see our wedding venue and meet our awesome wedding planner Jenny!

We then headed to San Francisco to spend time at Varun’s parents’ house before leaving for Hawaii for a little R&R.

Real Jewish Brides: Lindsay Talks About Her Dress, Save The Dates and Her Next Trip To Israel

27/02/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Lindsay, a member of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club, will be marrying Dan on 25th August 2019 at Kochav Hayam in Caesarea, Israel. Click here to read all Lindsay’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Lindsay and Dan were set up by Lindsay’s cousin! (2) They are planning an English-style destination wedding with a few modern twists in Caesarea, Israel. (3) Even though they are both Jewish, Lindsay is more interested in the religious element of the day than Dan, so they are working to balance tradition with their personal style – our favorite!

Finding the perfect dress…

The moment had finally arrived. The one I had been waiting for. Basically the main reason why I said yes – dress shopping! I could finally see all my Pinterest boards and pictures ripped out of magazines come to life.

In total, I went to five different dress shops. I had been told by many people not to visit too many, otherwise the choice is too overwhelming – which is absolutely true! After trying on what felt like 17,000 dresses in a hundred different shops, I finally found the one at Angelica Bridal in Islington.

Yes, the choice is overwhelming but I also absolutely loved the experience and really do wish I could just keep trying wedding dresses on forever – who doesn’t love sashaying round like a princess?!

Real Jewish Brides: Tragedy and Triumphs on Rebekkah’s Wedding Planning Journey

20/02/2019 by Smashing The Glass

Rebekkah will be marrying Jakob on 11th July 2019 at The Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. Click here to read all Rebekkah’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Rebekkah and Jakob were introduced by mutual friends while Jakob, who is from Germany, was in Rebekkah’s hometown of Calgary on a specialized work visa. (2) They are getting married at a beautiful mountain resort in a national park in Alberta, Canada! (3) Rebekkah is a “very satisfied member” (her words) of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

Coping With Wedding Planning Stress

Five months till my fiancà© and I smash our glass! Crazy how these major life events are a whirlwind of thinking and planning and anxiety and stress only to be over in 12 hours. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway, “It’s just one day, Bekkah you got this”, “You’re A type enough to pull this off properly!”