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A Caroline Castigliano Bride for an Elegantly Romantic Summer Jewish Wedding at The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

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Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

Get ready for a seriously joyous Jewish wedding! Sophie, a nail technician, and Joe, a chartered surveyor, had the most wonderful celebration at The Queens Hotel in the bride’s hometown of Leeds.

The couple’s vision for their big day was romantic elegance with a modern, summery twist – and tons of personality and warmth. We love their Perspex chuppah, adorned with soft florals in shades of pink, white, and peach, and how special is it that Sophie’s 91-year-old grandpa read the couple’s ketubah aloud?

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor XS Showband brought the party to life in their inimitable signature style, and Guy Barzily’s incredible voice sounded all the right notes during the chuppah and the Israeli dancing – in Sophie’s words,

From start to finish, XS Showband were phenomenal, the energy was electric, and the dance floor was never empty, even during dinner and benching!

We were thrilled to hear that the couple found their photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, right here on Smashing the Glass. As Sophie says,

Her photography style is so natural and full of emotion, and she was absolutely perfect for us. From our very first meeting, we knew she would capture our day beautifully, and she did just that. Kate caught every angle, every moment, and every emotion, creating the most stunning gallery that allows us to relive our wedding day over and over again.

Read on for all the details from Sophie – who looked simply smashing in her Caroline Castigliano gown…

Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UKSophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK Sophie and Joe, The Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK

How We Met

Sophie, the bride: We first met through mutual friends when we were 11, but we really got to know each other when we started at the same school in Year 8, aged just 12!

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A Galia Lahav Bride for a Fairy Tale Jewish Wedding in White with a Breathtaking Fabric Floral Chuppah at The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

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Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

Cool chuppah alert! Emily  and Scott wanted their chuppah to make them feel like they were floating on a cloud – and they totally nailed it. Featuring an abundance of giant fabric flowers in white, combined with white hydrangeas and delicate blossoms, we’ve never seen anything quite like it – and we’re totally smitten.

It also goes perfectly with Emily’s stunner of a gown from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav: a custom style inspired by the beloved Israeli designer’s  “Rosemary,” replete with the most exquisite 3D floral lace. It’s really something special – don’t miss it in the wonderful photos by Rebecca Searle.

We’re obsessed with the epic party vibes Emily and Scott set for their day – complete with the chicest use of disco balls we’ve ever seen. We’ll turn you over to Emily for the rest…

 

Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK Emily and Scott, The Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk, UK

How We Met

Emily, the bride: My childhood best friend, Calum, worked with my now husband and after (husband’s words) fancying me from seeing me on Calum’s social media, Calum told me to meet him after work for drinks and without me knowing had told Scott to join. The rest is history…

Extra context: we dated for a few months and then Covid / lockdown started and I ended up being locked down in Scott’s family home (with Covid) for 2 weeks, a few weeks later and we’re madly in love.

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A Big Fat Greek–Israeli–Moroccan Jewish Wedding at Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece

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Maria and Talor, Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece

We’re obsessed with New Yorkers Maria and Talor’s description of their big day as a Big Fat Greek–Israeli–Moroccan wedding. It was truly the most incredible fusion of the bride’s Greek heritage and the groom’s Moroccan Israeli background, filled with so many personal touches that made the day truly one-of-a-kind.

In Maria’s words,

While the celebration was Orthodox and fully kosher, we added our own twist — instead of having a traditional Moroccan henna party before the wedding, we incorporated it into the celebration itself. The day beautifully blended Greek and Israeli customs and culture, creating the perfect event to symbolize the union of our two families and the new life we’re building together.

We’re also in love with the stunning ocean views at the couple’s venue, Island Resort Athens Riviera – and especially with their vibrant outdoor chuppah, packed with bright florals like peonies, ranunculus, hydrangeas, and roses. Husband and wife duo Sandy and Odysseas captured the day so perfectly in their luminous photography.

We’ll leave it to Maria – who looked so classically chic in her Jude Jowilson gown – to share the rest of the details of this very special day…

Maria and Talor, Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece Maria and Talor, Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece Maria and Talor, Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece Maria and Talor, Island Resort Athens Riviera, Vari, Greece

How We Met

Maria, the bride: We met on Bumble when I messaged Talor in Hebrew.

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A Caroline Castigliano Bride for a Super Stylish Jewish Wedding with Shabbat Dinner Vibes at Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

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Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

We are totally and completely obsessed with Lauren and Ben’s super stylish Jewish wedding. Their vision for the big day was modern countryside with Shabbat dinner vibes – how awesome is that?!

Kin House in Wiltshire, England, with its combination of classic country exterior and quirky, modern interior, was the perfect setting for the celebration – and the couple’s fabulous florist, Sarah of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Way to Bloom, put together the most exquisite arrangements (not to mention a stunner of a chuppah) that added Lauren and Ben’s unique stamp to the space.

In Lauren’s words,

We both agree that Sarah and her floral arrangements, were the highlight of our wedding. Sarah doesn’t know the word “no” — she was always ready to try a new idea, offer some advice, and take charge where needed. We are forever grateful to her and her expertise for making our wedding shine, and we are lucky to still consider her a friend to this day.

For their band, Lauren and Ben chose another amazing Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, The White Keys. Their 8-piece band – including both a saxophonist and an electric violinist – kept the dance floor packed all night (including an epic 12-minute hora!).

Lauren and Ben’s wedding day fell on Shabbat, and we love the fact that they wanted their wedding breakfast to feel like a giant Shabbat dinner. The couple lit the candles, their rabbi led the blessings, and they even had a challah tug-of-war! Spoiler: Lauren won. Don’t miss it in the incredible photos by Natalie J Weddings and video by John Taylor Films.

We’ll let Lauren fill you in on the rest…

Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

How We Met

Lauren, the bride: We met on a dating app in 2020. Fun fact – after our first date, I called my mom and told her, “I met my husband!”

Ben proposed in Dulwich Park in October 2022. A truly special place for us both, it reminds us both of Central Park in NYC, which is where I lived before moving to London and Ben spent a lot of time as well. We always called the bridge in Dulwich Park our “happy place” so it was fitting to get engaged there.

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A Maggie Sottero Bride for a Colorful Jewish Wedding with Lots of DIY Touches at Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

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Aly and Benji, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Calling all DIY-loving brides and grooms! If you’re planning on crafting some elements of your Jewish wedding yourself, the beautiful wedding of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Aly to Benji is a must-read.

From the get-go, Aly and Benji knew they wanted their big day to feel fun and whimsical to reflect their personalities – in Aly’s words, she wanted “the opposite of a white wedding!” And with tons of pastel colors (plus a few pops of something brighter) and tons of DIY, that’s exactly what they got.

Soon after getting engaged, Aly bought a cricut machine, and in the leadup to the big day she DIY’ed the couple’s large welcome mirror, customized their ring box with their initials, made the MOB and MOG personalized hoodies to get ready in, customized the card box, and DIY’ed a vase with the signature drink menu on it. Aly also designed all of the digital and print elements – including the invitations – using elements from Canva for the table numbers in gorgeous frames, menu cards, cocktail hour signs, and digital signage around the venue – she’s truly the queen of DIY! Don’t miss all the special details in the wonderful photos by Nadav at Manning Avenue.

There’s so much more to say about this exuberant Jewish wedding, but we’ll turn you over to Aly for the rest…

Aly and Benji, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada Aly and Benji, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada Aly and Benji, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada Aly and Benji, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

How We Met

Aly, the bride: On Benji’s birthday in 2019, we matched on Hinge! Benji might have been not-so-sober celebrating in Greece, but luckily, his location was still set to home for me to find.

A few weeks later, Benji suggested we “meet in the middle” at the Yonge and Sheppard Jack Astors (RIP) which was 10 minutes from his house and 20 minutes from Aly’s… but the date went well enough for us to keep our Snapchat streak going while Aly went to Disneyworld for two weeks and Benji waited patiently for her to come home (streak is still going strong at 2,200+ days!).

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