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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, UK Sophie 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 Luxe Jewish Wedding with a Dreamy Floral Chuppah at the Landmark London, UK

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Rachel and Daniel, The Landmark, London, UK

Have we got a stunner of a Jewish wedding for you! Rachel, who’s in beauty PR, and Daniel, who works for a bank, had the most breathtakingly gorgeous London Jewish wedding you ever did see.

The duo worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor GEN Z Events to plan the day of their dreams, and, in Rachel’s words, “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them! Jay and the team bought my vision to life in ways I didn’t even know were possible. The theme of the wedding was fairytale, whimsical and to bring my dream of being a princess for a day come true, and it definitely did!”

Speaking of being a princess for the day – can we talk about Rachel’s gown? Rachel always dreamed of a gown by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Galia Lahav, and true to plan she found the absolute perfect dress (and veil!) in the beloved Israeli designer’s Gia – with some added customization to make it totally, 100% her. Rachel can’t stop raving about her experience at Galia Lahav’s London flagship.

The Landmark London, with its glass ceiling and palm trees, provided the perfect outdoor-indoor atmosphere for the day, and we’re also obsessed with the couple’s divine floral chuppah! Don’t miss it all in the wonderful photos by Rachel Takes Pictures.  

Now over to Rachel…

Rachel and Daniel, The Landmark, London, UK Rachel and Daniel, The Landmark, London, UK Rachel and Daniel, The Landmark, London, UK

How We Met

Rachel, the bride: We met at JFS secondary school in year 7! We were in the same year, had the same friends and officially got together in year 9!

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A Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Bride for a Spring Jewish Wedding in Lilac and Sky Blue with Lots of Love for Israel at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK

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Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK

Between the horrific terrorist attack in Manchester on Yom Kippur and the second anniversary of October 7 coming up tomorrow – even as we enter into the joyous festival of Sukkot – this is shaping up to be a hard week. Like so many times throughout our history, we’re required to take on the difficult task of holding sadness and joy all at once. And today we’ve got a beautiful Jewish wedding that encapsulates exactly that balancing act.

Though the UK-based couple wed at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Park Lane, London, Israel is always close to Shera and Jared’s hearts, and their love for the country was a key theme running throughout the big day – from a tallit purchased by the bride’s parents on a trip to Israel just days prior to October 7 to Israeli flags on the dance floor to a moving Misheberach for the IDF under the chuppah and a heartfelt tribute to the groom’s late friend Jake Marlow, who was murdered at the Nova Festival.

We’re obsessed with all of the love and emotion that come through in every shot from the couple’s photographer, Devon Shoob, and every frame from their videographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michael Pearl. His trailer is truly something special – do give it a watch!

We’ll let Shera fill you in on the rest of the details…

Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK

How We Met

Shera, the bride: Our story started over 10 years ago where we both had met at our Jewish youth movement, Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade (JLGB).

Having known each other for a couple of years, it wasn’t until we were both older where, like many young Jews today, we matched on JSwipe. At the time, our connection was nothing more than just a couple of messages to each other with a waiting response time of about 3-5 working days!

A few months went by and to our surprise, we were both interrailing across Europe at the same time. The waiting response time had decreased to 5 minutes where we were both non-stop messaging trying to coordinate how our paths would cross.

It wasn’t until we had both returned and reunited back at JLGB Summer Camp that year, where we both had that funny feeling you get in your belly and it definitely wasn’t from the camp food. Our feelings became clear about one another and at that point, we knew it was something more than a friendship. 7 years later, Jared got down on one knee in Thailand and now after 8 years together, in May 2025, we became Mr and Mrs Bourne.

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An All-about-NOLA Jewish Wedding at Latrobe’s on Royal, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

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Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA

New York couple Danielle, a consumer insights associate manager at WeightWatchers, and Drew, a corporate attorney, met and fell in love as students at New Orleans’s Tulane University – so the city was a natural choice when it came time to choose a destination for their Jewish wedding.

And did they ever do a fantastic job of crafting a wedding that let their guests experience the magic of NOLA firsthand. Their venue was Latrobe’s on Royal, an old historical bank in the heart of the French Quarter, and they made the most of its romantic, moody vibes with lots of candles, moody lighting, and a very cool floating chuppah. Their menu showcased New Orleans cuisine at its finest, and they followed the ceremony with a traditional second line, a parade through the French Quarter. Don’t miss it all in the exquisite photos by Love is Rad and video by Shotgun.

We’re obsessed with Danielle and Drew’s fabulous ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tchotchke. In Danielle’s words,

The minute I saw it, I knew my search was over. It says ‘Love’ in Hebrew in large print at the top and the lions, to me, symbolize strength in this next chapter of life. It is the most meaningful piece of art we will ever own. And not to mention, working with Adam and the Tchotchke team was incredibly seamless. They were so responsive and you could tell they truly value their customers. They also shipped it in a way that made it seamless on wedding day to display. COULD NOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH (for ketubahs and the COOLEST Judaica).

It doesn’t get any better than that! Read on for the rest of the story in Danielle’s own words…

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA Danielle and Drew, Latrobe's on Royal, New Orleans, USA

How We Met

Danielle, the bride: Drew and I met our second semester junior year at Tulane University. More specifically, we met at an Aephi sorority party and by the end of that semester, we were dating.

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A Halfpenny London Bride for a Winter Chic Jewish Wedding at St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK

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Gaby and Brad, St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK

We love a winter Jewish wedding, and London couple Gaby, who works in marketing, and Brad, who’s in recruitment, had a truly fabulous one!

The pair knew going into it that they wanted a celebration that didn’t look like every other wedding, and did they ever pull it off.

The majestic St Pancras Renaissance was the perfect spot for their special day, which featured colorful flowers, a stunner of a gown by Halfpenny London, and a trademark epic performance by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ambassador Band. Gingerbeard Wedding captured it all so beautifully – read on for the rest of the story in Gaby’s own words!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Gaby and Brad, St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK Gaby and Brad, St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK Gaby and Brad, St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK Gaby and Brad, St Pancras Renaissance, London, UK

How We Met

Gaby, the bride: Brad’s best mate (and best man at the wedding) is my brother. He and his wife decided to set us up, thinking we’d be a great match.

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