Jewish Country House Weddings Archives - Smashing the Glass

A Romantic English Country Garden Jew-ish Wedding at Northbrook Park, Surrey, UK

15/01/2018 by Karen

Today’s real Jew-ish real wedding is a very special one and we’re ridiculously excited about it, as lovely Caroline and Robbie were one of editor Karen’s fabulous consultancy couples and to see their wedding come to life has been a total and utter joy! One of our favorite things about Smashing The Glass is the way we so often feel involved, directly or indirectly, in our couples’ big days, and this is particularly true today!

In fact, Caroline and Robbie were so delightful to work with, that they are one of 12 very special guests at our ‘Your Jewish Wedding Your Way’ Smashing Summit on the 31st January 2018 which we are SO excited for! Mindy Weiss, Monique Lhuillier, Ron Ben-Israel, Galia Lahav‘s Chief Designer, Duke Photography, Bruce Russell, Blake Ezra, Food Story, and a whole host of wedding industry superstars will talk live, covering everything (and we mean EVERYTHING!) you need to know to plan your Jewish (or Jew-ish) wedding your way. It’s going to be unmissable so make sure you reserve your (totally free!) front seat today here.

So onto today’s truly fabulous totally dreamy and romantic English country garden Jew-ish wedding! Caroline and Robbie, with so many international connections, could have tied the knot in many places, but chose picturesque Northbrook Park in Surrey, an area with family connections for the happy couple.

Beautiful bride Caroline absolutely rocked her bold, unique and jaw-droppingly gorgeous Liz Martinez gown, with its stunning plunge neckline and layers of fairytale tulle.

There were no fewer than three of our much-loved recommended vendors involved in Caroline and Robbie’s wedding. The Function Band, who created magical moments with their music and kept the party going into the early hours, Philippa Louise whose epic makeup skills brought out Caroline’s best features and Rabbi Paul Glantz, who worked with the couple to create the perfect traditional Jew-ish ceremony.

All of the delightful décor details and happy moments were captured by fabulous photographer Philippa James.

It’s finally beautiful Caroline’s turn in the spotlight on the Smashing The Glass pages – please give her a very warm welcome!

How we met

Caroline, the bride: Robbie and I met five years ago in Sydney, Australia. I was a backpacker on a year’s work and holiday visa, while Robbie was working there as a junior doctor for the year. We met completely by chance in a nightclub in Sydney’s famous Surrey Hills neighbourhood, and the rest is history!

We spent our first three years together traveling the world, including a few months’ journey on the Trans-Siberian Express through China, Mongolia and Russia, and living in Australia and South Africa. Two years ago, we relocated back to Robbie’s hometown of London and have been here ever since.
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A Yolan Cris Bride for a Wonderfully Quirky Jewish Wedding at Aynhoe Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK

20/11/2017 by Karen

Today’s real wedding comes with two separate, but equally valid, trigger warnings: the first is that it’s incredibly beautiful, and may result in you filling up your living room with Bubblegum Balloons, because they’re just so pretty. The second is that Olivia and Paul’s Jewish wedding day is deeply moving, and you may wish to grab a box of tissues before you read on.

OK (we’re reaching for the first tissue here), how many childhood sweethearts actually make it to their big day? We’re guessing not that many, which makes Olivia and Paul truly special. The loved-up pair have been together since they were 14 years old. 14 years later, they finally said ‘I do’, which we think is just amazing. To have grown up together and still be just as in love half a lifetime later is something else.

Olivia and Paul were also dealt a devastating blow with the loss of Paul’s mother, Debra, a few months before the wedding. There are no words for the impact of losing someone so loved, and honoring her memory was a huge and vitally important part of the day. Debra managed to be part of the preparations, and had even visited the venue, which was so important to the couple.

And what a venue! We have been waiting to feature an Aynhoe Park wedding in forever! A private residence in Oxfordshire filled with stuffed animals, quirky artwork, sculptures, and an array of curiosities, we are more than obsessed with it for a wedding venue!

We also love the Bubblegum Balloons adorning the ceiling, and the sprawling, whimsical floral arrangements throughout (including that chuppah!! WOW!!) to the romantic candlelight clusters.

The entertainment was also varied, from wonderful musical acts to a snakeskin-clad contortionist and burlesque dancer respectively. There was not a moment of the day that was not utterly unique and special – doing it their way and then some.

Speaking of which, Olivia looked every bit the bridal beauty in her absolutely stunning Yolan Cris gown – absolutely awe-inspiring stuff and, as they say, total goals.

Not one, but TWO of our beloved Recommended Vendors were a part of this gorgeous wedding, with chazan Jonny Mosesson gracing the ceremony with his beautiful voice and fabulous videographers, Imaginarium Cinematography, capturing the most sweet and gorgeous wedding video.

We’ve gone on long enough – it’s time for Olivia to take over and take in those exceptional images from the wonderful Chiko Photography.

Get ready to fall in love and steal a million ideas, because we guarantee that’s how this is going to go.

How we met

Olivia, the bride: We met through one of my best friends when we were just 13/14. She invited me to a party at Paul’s house and we became really friendly.

We starting going out not long after and never looked back so 14 years later our wedding was a long time coming for our family and friends!
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A Stewart Parvin Bride for an Epic Secret Garden Jewish Wedding with a Viral Best Man Video at Thornton Manor, Cheshire, UK

30/10/2017 by Karen

Shh… can you keep a secret? Well that’s good, because WE CAN’T! Everyone please join us in gazing in awe at Pippa and Josh’s absolutely sublime secret garden-themed wedding!

Before we start unpicking the absolutely divine details of the day (and there are many), you may have already come across today’s wedding in the form of the viral best man video (below) in which the eight contenders for the job of delivering groom Josh’s best man speech created a hilarious and epic parody of The Apprentice. This had us in absolute stitches, and we highly recommend watching it!

Back to the big day itself, our incredible Recommended Vendor, the inimitable Debbie of Qube Events & Productions, outdid herself on this secret garden production, which took no fewer than four days to set up!

The romantic lakeside ceremony was conducted under a magical, wild and sprawling floral chuppah, heaped with foliage and tumbling flowers. Does it get any more dreamy than that? The statement floristry was a major focal point of the décor, with stunning table arrangements and flowers throughout.

Gorgeous bride, Pippa, looked a vision in her elegant and show-stopping Stewart Parvin gown and old Hollywood waves, and their meaningful ceremony was full of love and focused around family.

Photographers Reportage Gallery created a beautiful spread of images, which we’re so thrilled to be able to show off on these pages, and, thanks to Pippa’s eloquent write up, we almost feel like we were there (if someone could pass us some of those churros through the screen, we’d be very grateful)!

We’ll pass you over to Pippa now for the full report. STG-ers… ready, steady, PIN!

A lakeside venue

Pippa, the bride: We got married at Thornton Manor Lakeside Marquee. It was only the second venue we visited but we loved all the beautiful outdoor space and the ability to get married by the lake, which was an amazing setting for the chuppah.
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A Vivienne Westwood Bride for a Super Luxe Jewish Wedding featuring Jack Savoretti, at Four Seasons Hampshire, UK

13/09/2017 by Karen

Oh MY! Jessica and Philip! Where to start?

Their classically elegant and super luxe (and, might we add, dog-friendly) Jewish wedding was hosted at Four Seasons Hampshire, and was planned with expert precision by Just Seventy.

Jessica and Philip’s beautiful outdoor Jewish ceremony was adorned with epic floral arrangements, provided by renowned florist, Paula Rooney. Guests were cushioned in a sea of incredible blooms, leading to the absolutely breathtaking chuppah, which looked like an explosion of floral fireworks, framing the gorgeous couple.

Speaking of the gorgeous couple, could the pair of them have looked any more divine? Jessica in her spectacular couture Vivienne Westwood gown, inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s divine Sex and the City dress, while groom Philip wore a slick Dolce & Gabbana suit.

The entertainment included the Jack Savoretti, and talented bride, Jessica, graced her guests with a few numbers!

Not one, but two of our much-loved Recommended Vendors helped to make this wedding extra special. The caterer on everyone’s lips (literally and figuratively), Food Story, and exceptional videographer, Imaginarium Cinematography, who provided the fantastic cinematic trailer below.

Such a luxurious and dreamy day is difficult to do justice in images, but famed photographer, Robert Shack, created a sensational set of natural lifestyle-look pictures that are an absolute delight to look through.

It’s now Jessica’s turn to take center stage once more to tell us the story of how her and Philip’s dream day came together.

How we met

Jessica, the bride: Philip took my sister on Jewish summer camp nine years ago, and she thought we would be a great match and told me all about him. I wasn’t sure at first, but when we bumped into each other on my first night of university, I knew there was something about him, and eight years later, the rest is history.
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A Jewish-Indian Wedding with an ‘East Meets West’ theme at Sopwell House, St Albans, UK

04/09/2017 by Karen

What happens when you blend two beautiful, family-oriented cultures? The Jewish-Indian wedding of the year, that’s what!

Sharon and Simon took their favorite elements from their respective upbringings and brought them together for a gorgeous cultural fusion, celebrating their globetrotting history as a couple, and culminating in an epic party, led by our sensational Recommended Vendor, The Function Band. Check out their incredible dance floor-filling mashup in the video below!

Catering a Jewish-Indian wedding, of course, meant enough food to feed a small army – with a delicious ‘East meets West’ catering theme. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

Beautiful bride, Sharon, looked absolutely sublime in her traditional Indian dress, adjusted to incorporated western colors, adorned with antique-inspired accessories, against the picturesque backdrop of her blush pink, navy blue and ivory color scheme.

The inclusion of family was very important to the happy couple, with thoughtful groom Simon and his family performing a surprise Bollywood dance for his bride.

All of the action was captured by photographer, Ed Godden, and was written up below by Sharon herself. We’ll pass you over to her now for the full story!

An ‘East meets West’ theme

Sharon, the bride: We got married at Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. We wanted a venue that could accommodate 200 guests, and Sopwell House was perfect for us, as they are very experienced with dealing with big weddings and have different options of venue rooms, as well as beautiful gardens.

We also had in mind that we wanted the day to bring elements of both of cultures together. We had an idea that we would like to have an ‘east meets west’ theme for the food, and Sopwell House were amazing in creating a bespoke menu that added Indian elements to the dishes.

As we wanted the ceremony and reception to be held in one place, we were conscious that we didn’t want our guests to be confined indoors for the entire day. Sopwell House, as a venue, brings the perfect balance of luxury hotel with a country feel. The gardens were perfect for the drinks reception, and there were lots of great choice for the backdrop of our photos.
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