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Home > Real Jewish Weddings > Jewish City Chic Weddings > Page 23

An Emmy Mae Bride for a Chinese-Jewish Wedding with a Peony Chuppah at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA, USA

04/03/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

Massachusetts-Jewish-Chinese-wedding-Horticultural-Society-in-Wellesley-MA-USA

It never fails to set our hearts aflutter when we see a couple merge their diverse backgrounds into one beautiful Jewish wedding. And we adore a peony chuppah. Therefore, we knew from the get go that we were going to fall head over heels for the wonderful Chinese-Jewish wedding of college sweethearts JingJing, who works in data analytics, and Andrew, who’s in software development.

Since these two were planning a Massachusetts wedding all the way across the country from their home in Seattle, they knew they’d need some support in planning the big day. And so they turned to the fabulous Luba of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Primavera Dreams, who they knew they could trust to understand their diverse families and cultures.

Luba worked with the couple to incorporate traditions both Chinese – like pops of red, the traditional Chinese wedding color – and Jewish – like the stunning peony chuppah – into the day. There were even some small touches reflecting the groom’s Russian heritage thrown into the mix, like chamomile incorporated into the florals.

And back to that peony chuppah… peonies are JingJing’s favorite flowers (and, after scrolling through these lovely photos by Mark Spooner, maybe ours too?), so it was only natural to showcase them. Mixed with fresh greenery and other flowers in shades of pink, peach, and white, the chuppah struck the perfect balance between minimalism and whimsy, simplicity and lushness.

There’s so much more we could say, but we’re going to leave the rest to the bride, who looked so elegant in her 3D floral lace dress from Emmy Mae Bridal…

Massachusetts-Jewish-Chinese-wedding-Horticultural-Society-in-Wellesley-MA-USAMassachusetts-Jewish-Chinese-wedding-Horticultural-Society-in-Wellesley-MA-USAMassachusetts-Jewish-Chinese-wedding-Horticultural-Society-in-Wellesley-MA-USAMassachusetts-Jewish-Chinese-wedding-Horticultural-Society-in-Wellesley-MA-USA
A Garden Venue

JingJing, the bride: We got married at The Gardens at Elm Bank at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, MA. We wanted a primarily outdoor venue that would be beautiful on its own, and we were definitely partial to the garden aspect (we got engaged at a botanic garden!). Elm Bank checked all our boxes for setting as well as location and flexibility as a vendor.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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A Pronovias Bride for a Windy City-Themed Jewish Wedding at The Shapiro Ballroom, Chicago Illinois, USA

10/02/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

Jewish-wedding-The-Shapiro-Ballroom-in-Chicago-IL-USA
We’re so excited to be featuring the beautiful Jewish wedding of STG Brides Club member Leah, a food scientist, and Scott, a middle school science and social studies teacher – and these two might just have the coolest venue story we’ve EVER heard.

You see, back in the ‘60s, Leah’s grandfather owned a movie theater in Chicago, The Alvin – it’s such a big part of the bride’s family’s story that her father was even named Alvin in its honor! After many years of abandonment, just a few years ago the theater was finally renovated and turned into… wait for it… a wedding venue! What more perfect place for these two to wed – especially given that they themed their big day around their love for their home city of Chicago? #livinlavidavenus indeed!

This is just one of the many amazing personal touches that added up to make Leah and Scott’s wedding truly one for the books. How cute are the mini Heinz (in honor of the bride’s workplace, Kraft Heinz, as well as her love for ketchup) ketchup bottles with personalized labels they gave out as favors? And of course we adore the pair’s tree of life ketubah by the wonderful Rachelle of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Delicate Brush!

Jamie & Eric Photography captured all the details – not to mention the emotion – exquisitely, and we can’t get enough of the shoot they did with the couple at all of their favorite Chicago landmarks.

Now over to the bride, who could not have looked more elegant in her classic Pronovias ballgown…

Jewish wedding The Shapiro Ballroom in Chicago, IL USA_0022Jewish-wedding-The-Shapiro-Ballroom-in-Chicago-IL-USAJewish-wedding-The-Shapiro-Ballroom-in-Chicago-IL-USA
How we met

Leah, the bride: We actually met 5 years ago through Jcrush! Swiping right really paid off as I married my best friend.

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A Hayley Paige Bride for an Interfaith Jewish Wedding with a Starbucks Kiddush Cup at The Addison, Boca Raton, Florida

07/02/2020 by Karen Cinnamon


Just when we think we’ve seen it all, along comes a Starbucks kiddush cup to prove us wrong! Yes, you read that right – Samantha, a baker, and Scott, who’s in commercial real estate, really did use a Starbucks coffee cup in place of a standard kiddush cup during their interfaith Jewish ceremony, in a nod to their adorable how-they-met story! Just one of the many little touches that went into making this wedding so personal and special.

For instance, we love how these two brought an English garden vibe to their South Florida venue, as a nod to Scott’s origins in the UK. With plenty of blush pink blooms, leafy greens, and twigs – don’t miss the beautiful chuppah! – we love the ambience Samantha and Scott created, and photographer Starfish Studios captured it all so perfectly.

We’ll turn you over to the bride in a minute, but first we have to rave about her impeccable bridal style – from her lovely Hayley Paige gown to her custom handpainted leather jacket, Samantha totally rocked it!

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Jewish-wedding-The-Addison-in-Boca-Raton-Florida-USAJewish-wedding-The-Addison-in-Boca-Raton-Florida-USAJewish-wedding-The-Addison-in-Boca-Raton-Florida-USA
How we met

Samantha, the bride: We met at a Starbucks. We kind of just struck up a conversation and continued talking. Most of the time, I’m not one to talk to other people, I like to get in and get out and go on with my day, but there was something about Scott that kept me there, probably his accent if I’m not lying.

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A Flora Bride for a Fairy Tale Destination Jewish Wedding at Cluny Castle, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire Scotland, UK

31/01/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

Jewish wedding Cluny Castle, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire Scotland, UK_0066

We love it when a couple goes out of their way to make their guests feel extra loved at their Jewish wedding – especially when they’ve traveled across the world to celebrate together. But today’s couple, Anna, an architect, and Nir, a PhD student in economics with an online tutoring business, Israelis who opted to wed in Scotland, really amped it up to the next level.

With an intimate crew of just 26 guests, who traveled from Israel, the US, and Canada, Anna and Nir went all out, planning not just a wedding weekend but a full wedding week of classic Scottish activities, from Highland games and clay shooting to visits to Loch Ness and distilleries – and castles.

Although given the venue – not only was the wedding held at the majestic Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Cluny Castle, but the guests were also able to stay at the castle for the entire week – it’s hard to see a need to leave the grounds of this stunning spot. Catom Photographers captured the splendid setting in all its glory – not to mention the love and emotion of the big day.

Anna and Nir couldn’t possibly have picked a better place to make their guests all feel like princes and princesses for the week – and in pursuit of this goal, they even hired makeup artists and hairstylists to take care of each and every one of their female guests on the wedding day!

Now over to the groom, who’ll fill you in on all the details…


Jewish wedding Cluny Castle, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire Scotland, UK_0066Jewish wedding Cluny Castle, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire Scotland, UK_0066Jewish wedding Cluny Castle, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire Scotland, UK_0066
Theme

Nir, the groom: The theme was a “fairy tale” and Scottish wedding. We tried our best to make sure each guest would feel like a price/princess for the entire week. We planned a schedule for the week so each day would include a classic Scottish activity: Highland games, distilleries, clay shooting, castles, Lochness etc. The guests even saw her majesty the Queen and Prince Charles from a very close range at the highland games.

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A Jesus Peiro Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding with a Roaming Band at New West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UK

27/01/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

Jewish wedding New West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UK

We’re super psyched to be featuring our very first Jewish wedding with the amazing acoustic roaming band and Smashing The Glass RecommendedVendor Balagan! This incredible group – formed by another beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, Sensation Band (who also performed, keeping the dance floor packed all night long in their signature style) – is the UK’s first and only roaming band to offer Jewish sets, and we can’t get enough of the fun, personalized vibe they bring to any big day.

STG Brides Club member Ella, a project manager at a branding and digital agency, and Matt, head of data at a life insurance start-up, say booking Balagan was the best wedding planning decision they made, and we’re not at all surprised – they are a truly incredible group!

And until February 7, you have the chance to enter to win an epic performance from Balagan for your very own wedding! Head over to this post for full details.

So obviously the music at this wedding earns top marks… but believe it or not, that’s only the tip of the iceberg of this wonderful day. First off, we can’t get over the fact that Matt built the couple’s birch wood chuppah as a tribute to his late grandfather who taught him about woodwork (and how sweet is it that after the wedding the pair donated it to a nearby synagogue for other couples who may need it?).

And then there’s Ella’s impeccable bridal style. She found her gorgeous dress at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Morgan Davies, who worked with her to combine two Jesus Peiro dresses into the style of her dreams. Ella’s got nothing but rave reviews about the team at Morgan Davies – and the result could not have been any more perfect. We’re also obsessed with the tulle Savannah Miller cape the bride wore to cover her shoulders during the Orthodox ceremony.

Photographer Barney Walters (who the couple found right here on Smashing the Glass) and videographer Ben Foster captured this beautiful wedding so perfectly – it’s really not to be missed. Do read on for Ella’s full writeup – there’s far more good stuff going on than we have room to mention here!

New West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UKNew West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UKNew West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UKNew West End Synagogue and One Marylebone, London, UK
How We Met

Ella, the bride: Matt and I met on none other than Tinder. When I came across Matt back in 2015, Tinder said we had around 90 friends in common which I assumed was a glitch with the app. It turned out we grew up around a mile away from each other and did have many friends in common. We must have both been at various parties in the past but had never met.

When we matched I messaged two close friends to ask what they thought of him and they both said he was a real mensch. One week later we’d been on our first date and that was that! Because of all of our mutual friends there were definitely more than a few people walking around our wedding claiming that they’d made the shidduch.

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