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Home > Wedding Planning > Page 3

Everything You Need to Know about Jewish Genetic Carrier Screening {Facebook Live Recap with JScreen}

18/02/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

I’m delighted to share with you my latest Facebook Live, all about the most important wedding planning task that might not have made it onto your checklist: Jewish genetic carrier screening. While genetic screening certainly isn’t as much fun as, say, cake tasting, if you’re planning on having children it’s one of the most important steps you can take in securing your family’s future. 

On this Live, I spoke with Hillary Kener Regelman, Director of National Outreach at JScreen, a US-based not-for-profit at-home education and carrier screening program for Jewish genetic diseases. Hillary spoke with us for the first time this past July, and we had such an informative, empowering conversation about what JScreen does, how genetic carrier screening works, and what it all means for Jewish and Jew-ish couples.

We wanted to make sure all the newly engaged couples are able to benefit from her knowledge, so we brought her back for another session – where she went through the basics, answered questions from the audience, and filled us in on some recent updates at JScreen, like their new cancer susceptibility panel.

Hillary strongly believes that genetic screening should be an essential item on every couple’s wedding to-do list, and now that I’ve gotten to know her and JScreen, so do I!

What is genetic carrier screening?

Hillary began by explaining what exactly genetic carrier screening is – and what it’s not. First, it’s not a diagnostic test. JScreen’s reproductive panel won’t tell you if you yourself are at high risk of developing various diseases. Rather, JScreen’s testing lets people know if they are healthy carriers of genetic diseases who have mutations that they could potentially pass on to their future children.

Who should get screened?

The short answer: everyone planning on having children! While genetic screening is sometimes thought of as being relevant only to Ashkenazi Jews, the truth is that anyone, regardless of background, can be a carrier of one or more genetic diseases (and even as far as Jewish genetic diseases go, plenty affect Sephardi and Mizrahi populations). JScreen‘s pan-ethnic panel tests for all kinds of genetic diseases, not just those common among Jews – so it’s absolutely smart to get screened even if one or both of you are not ethnically Jewish.

Your parents may have done testing themselves, but even if that’s the case it’s still important to do it yourself before starting a family. So many more diseases are testable today than even five years ago – even if you yourself were screened a number of years ago, it’s worth considering retesting with JScreen. You can always look at the list of all the diseases they currently screen for and compare it to what you’ve already been screened for.

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Everything You Need to Know about Jewish Genetic Carrier Screening {Facebook Recap with JScreen}

30/07/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

I’m so excited to share with you my latest Facebook Live with Hillary Kener Regelman, Director of National Outreach at JScreen, a US-based not-for-profit at-home education and carrier screening program for Jewish genetic diseases.Jewish genetic screening is SUCH an important topic for every couple thinking of having children, and I’m so glad Hillary was able to help demystify the process.

I admit it isn’t something I knew much about before speaking with Hillary, but after chatting with her I see both how essential testing is to every couple’s family planning process AND how easy and accessible JScreen has made it. They’re on a mission to put genetic screening on every prospective parent’s radar and to clear up the misconceptions so many of us have about the process – and after chatting with Hillary, I’m totally convinced that, as she says, genetic screening should be an essential item on every couple’s wedding checklist.  

What is genetic carrier screening?

Hillary started off by explaining exactly what genetic carrier screening is – and isn’t. It’s not a diagnostic test. Rather, JScreen’s testing lets people know if they are healthy carriers of genetic diseases who have mutations that they could pass on to their children.

Who should get screened?

While genetic screening is sometimes thought of as something relevant only to Ashkenazi Jews, the truth is that everyone planning on having children should get screened, regardless of background (and, as far as Jewish genetic diseases go, there are plenty that affect Sephardi and Mizrahi populations too).

JScreen offers a pan-ethnic panel, testing for all kinds of genetic diseases, not just those common among Jews – so it’s very much worth screening if one or both of you are not ethnically Jewish.

And even if your parents did testing, it’s still important to do it yourself before starting a family, since so many more diseases are testable today than even five years ago (which means that if you yourself were screened a number of years ago, it’s worth considering retesting with JScreen).

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What to Know If You’re Planning a Jewish Wedding During the Coronavirus Outbreak

06/05/2020 by Karen

Karen Cinnamon Smashing The Glass When you’re planning an event of a lifetime you never dream of doing it in the context of a global pandemic. My heart goes out to you – it’s a challenge – but the bottom line is, Coronavirus or no, you’re going to have an amazing wedding – even if it may look a little different than it did prior to the pandemic. And I’m here to help ensure that happens.

I’ve just updated our free guide with step-by-step actions for what to do depending on your wedding date.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE: Coronavirus and your wedding – what to do if you have a wedding booked in 2020 free guide.

The guide is split into five parts:

  1. What to do if your wedding is planned in the next 8 weeks.
  2. What to do if your wedding is planned from July 2020 to December 2020.
  3. What to do if you are planning a wedding internationally in 2020
  4. The steps to take if you need to postpone your wedding
  5. How to have a Zoom wedding
  6. Can You Get Your Deposits Back?

I’m here for you, and can’t wait to guide you on your journey towards the chuppah. 

Keep planning and keep upbeat and positive! As challenging as this period is it can re-orientate us and refocus us to create a wedding that’s even more meaningful and more romantic.
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What to Know If You’re Planning a Jewish Wedding During the Coronavirus Outbreak

15/04/2020 by Karen

Karen Cinnamon Smashing The Glass When you’re planning an event of a lifetime you never dream of doing it in the context of a global pandemic. My heart goes out to you – it’s a challenge – but the bottom line is, Coronavirus or no, you’re going to have an amazing wedding – even if it may look a little different than it did prior to the pandemic. And I’m here to help ensure that happens.

First off, I’ve produced a free guide with step-by-step actions for what to do depending on your wedding date, and tomorrow, Thursday April 16, I’m hosting a free online event – details below, both of which will be invaluable to you if your wedding is planned in 2020 – whether that’s in the coming months, or later on in the year.

If You Have A Wedding Planned in 2020:

Number One: Make sure you download our Coronavirus and your wedding – what to do if you have a wedding booked in 2020 free guide.

The guide is split into five parts:

  1. What to do if your wedding is planned in the next 8 weeks.
  2. What to do if your wedding is planned from July 2020 to December 2020.
  3. What to do if you are planning a wedding internationally in 2020
  4. The steps to take if you need to postpone your wedding
  5. How to have a Zoom wedding

Number Two: I’m going live on Thursday April 16 so that I can guide you 1:1 about your situation plus I’ll be covering:

  • The steps you need to take if your wedding is planned in the next 8 weeks
  • What to do about your ketubah and kippot and other items that may have your previous date already printed on them
  • What to do if your wedding Is planned for July 2020 through to December 2020
  • Deposits – can you get them back?

The free event is taking place this Thursday April 16, 2020 @ 3:30 PM EST (that’s 3:30pm New York // 12:30pm Los Angeles // 8:30pm London // 10:30pm Israel)

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE AND GET A REMINDER

After you register, keep an eye out for another email from me with your link to join the event.

I’m here for you, and can’t wait to connect, help, and guide you on your journey towards the chuppah. 

Love Karen x

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Coming Together in the Face of Coronavirus: #STGvendors Helping #STGbrides

08/04/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

Mayan and Mola’s micro Jewish wedding in the face of COVID-19 | Photo by Jossef Si

In these uncertain times, one thing we’re finding really comforting is seeing how all strands of the wedding community are coming together to support each other. We see it every single day in our Brides Club, and we’re seeing it in all the new initiatives our wonderful Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendors have come up with to help couples whose weddings have been affected by the pandemic.

A digital change-of-date design by Liv & Luc

There’s no denying that this is a challenging time, but the outpouring of generosity we’re seeing these days is so heartwarming, and we want to share with you some of the creative ways vendors are working to help couples make the best of this difficult situation.

ongregation Emanuel-el and Presidio Officer's Club Ballroom, San Francisco USA_0014

Kristin and Bryan‘s ketubah by The Ketubah  | Photo by Perfect Circle Photography

Change the Date

A stunning suite of wedding stationery by E.Y.i. LOVE

If coronavirus has forced you to postpone your wedding, you may as well inform your guests in style. And luckily, a bunch of our wonderful stationers agree – and they want to help!

E.Y.i. LOVE – one of the finest bespoke luxury wedding stationers around – are offering a free digital design service to couples who need to let guests know they’ve been forced to postpone their weddings. If that’s you, get in touch at info@eyilove.com.

How cheery is this floral change of date card from Papier?!

Papier has a wonderful range of change-of-date or postponement cards – whatever your style, whether sleek and modern, whimsical, using a photo from your engagement shoot – they’ve really got all tastes catered for.

Liv & Luc are also providing complimentary digital save-the-date designs. They’ll pop your names and date into one of four gorgeous templates, and you can even mix and match your preferred colors and fonts. If you’d like one, get in touch and they’ll get you set up.

Malka Klein has created a free digital file for couples to download to announce that they’re rescheduling or postponing their weddings, and she’ll even add your names in calligraphy.

Dresses at Your Doorstep

A Berta gown from The Wedding Club | Photo by David Pullum from Salena and Stefan’s wedding 

The Wedding Club, one of London and Birmingham’s very finest bridal boutiques – and a favorite among STG brides -have made a selection of sample sale dresses available for delivery right to your doorstep, available to purchase via email – perfect for any bride finding herself in need of a dress ASAP during this time of self-isolation whether it’s due to manufacturing delays or because you’ve had to move your wedding date up. The range of gowns on offer includes pieces from Pronovias, Berta, and many, many more. For more info and to see the styles and sizes currently available, email appointmentsbham@thewedding-club.co.uk

Take Away, but Make It Gourmet

Adam Nathan’s delectable canapés for Bethany and Gavin‘s wedding | Photo by Voyteck

Adam Nathan Catering – one of our very favorite London-based kosher-style caterers – has risen to the present challenge of, in his own words, “having to create new businesses overnight” by temporarily pivoting from events catering to home delivery. Yes, this London-based kosher-style caterer is now bringing his delectable Middle Eastern-inflected dishes right to your (UK) doorstep – at very reasonable prices. And it’s all kosher-style (so no meat+dairy), using kosher meat. Plus, everything’s freezable, so you can buy in bulk and save for later.

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