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An Ysa Makino Bride for a Cambodian-Jewish Wedding at The Noor, Jaffa, Israel

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When American couple Ayia and Christopher, both emergency room nurses, decided on a destination wedding in Israel, they knew they needed a stellar planner on the ground to make the day of their dreams a reality. They found the perfect fit in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Bebke, led by dream team Inbar and Gev. To quote Ayia, Bebke is “a creative powerhouse,” and helped the duo with everything from finding the perfect only-in-Israel venue to incorporating the groom’s Cambodian heritage into the day.

Ayia and Christopher knew they wanted to get married somewhere with character and history – the kind of space that couldn’t be anyplace else but Israel – and Bebke delivered: hidden away in Jaffa’s artistic alleys, The Noor is an absolute stunner, the kind that really encapsulates the magic of Israel.

We also love the way Bebke worked with the couple to incorporate Cambodian culture into the day, culminating in a traditional Cambodian/Khmer string tie ceremony. Ayia and Christopher changed into traditional outfits and knelt on colorful pillows, with incense burning and traditional Cambodian wedding music playing in the background, as each guest approached  them and tied a red string on both the bride and groom’s wrist, followed by a blessing for a happy and healthy marriage. Don’t miss  Mor Elnekave and Ben Mizrachi’s exquisite photos of this unmissable moment.

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How We Met

Ayia, the bride: We met on a dating app as it was the heart of Covid and everything was closed. We bonded knowing we were both working so hard, and dealing with so much sadness and stress in the emergency room. It bonded us. We met a month later and it was all history from there 🙂Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Berta Bride for a Jewish Wedding at Borgo Stomennano, Tuscany, Italy

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There’s no question that Tuscany is one of the world’s most gorgeous destinations for a Jewish wedding – and Yael and Joel’s special day is just beyond!

After recovering from a serious car accident, the couple knew their top priority was spending quality time together with their loved ones – and so they decided to make a full wedding weekend of it at beautiful Borgo Stomennano, a picturesque historic estate nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany.

The couple’s photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ronen Boidek, captured the day in all its glory. Yael says that Ronen “has so much talent and has this special capability to catch the essence of people’s personalities in his pictures,” and we couldn’t agree more!

Yael also looked absolutely radiant in her stunner of a gown by beloved Israeli bridal designer Berta – read on for the full story in her words…

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How We Met

Yael, the bride: We met at the wedding of our good friends Jenija and Steph in Tel Aviv, in 2017. Jenija and Yael went to kindergarten together and Joel and Steph met playing tennis together as kids while on holiday in Israel, a few decades ago.

Bride and groom thought we’d be a great match and had planned to seat us next to each other on their wedding at the singles table, but we already ‘found’ each other a few days before at their pre-party at the bar and have been inseparable ever since.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Marcella NYC Bride for a Dreamy Jewish Wedding at Villa Corsini, Florence, Italy

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There’s something about a Tuscan wedding – and we’re head over heels for the beautiful Jewish destination wedding of American couple A and S.

Both professional musicians with busy schedules, these two knew they could use some help making the wedding of their dreams a reality, and they turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Primavera Dreams. In the couple’s words,  founder Luba

was instrumental in implementing our wedding vibe/atmosphere. We wanted it to feel luxurious but not too stuffy, casual and comfortable but also elegant, colorful but also classic. Luba and Yael helped execute amazing events leading up to the wedding for our guests that allowed them to get to know each other and bond.

We also love that bride A opted for an off-the-rack dress from Marcella NYC rather than a traditional wedding gown – a great reminder that there are lots of fabulous out-of-the-box (and budget-friendly) options when it comes to bridal fashion.

We’re obsessed with the exquisite photos by Michael Zennaro – scroll on to take in ALL the gorgeousness for yourself!

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How We Met

The bride: We actually first met (as friends) in high school at a summer music program, but reconnected about 10 years later living in New York City.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Lihi Hod Bride for a Jewish Wedding with an Epic Chuppah at Hotel Eden Roc Ascona, Switzerland

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We see a lot of gorgeous chuppahs here at STG HQ, but today’s really takes the (wedding) cake. Gemma, a senior associate solicitor, and Kevin, a CEO and director, chose to wed at Switzerland’s Hotel Eden Roc Ascona because of its significance in the bride’s family history. But it also happened to be the absolute perfect spot for that breathtaking outdoor chuppah overlooking Lake Maggiore in the sunshine.

The chuppah had transparent sides to ensure that all guests got a good view of the ceremony,  and the jewels hanging down from the sides of the chuppah picked up the reflections of the sun hitting the glistening lake. Add in some soft florals in Gemma and Kevin’s color scheme of pale pink, pale blue, and cream and you’ve got pure perfection.

We also love that Gemma opted to have a bespoke dress made by Israeli designer Lihi Hod in Tel Aviv – and how cool was Gemma’s custom veil, with the couple’s names and wedding logo embroidered?!

The whole day was captured exquisitely by Ash Davenport of MIKI Studios – scroll on for some serious eye candy…

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How We Met

Gemma, the bride and Kevin, the groom: We met on Hinge, Switzerland.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Beachy Boho Jewish Wedding on the Mediterranean at Caesar Yam, Israel

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There’s something so special about getting married in Israel – and not just because of the sunny climate and stellar views. Cleveland couple Ophira, a therapist, and Jacob, a market research consultant decided to hold their Jewish wedding at Caesar Yam in honor of the couple’s strong collection to Israel, where Ophira grew up.

The whole day was a celebration of the couple’s blended American and Israeli roots, and the importance of Israel in their lives – how cool is it that Ophira and Jacob wrote their vows in both English and Hebrew?

We also love that Ophira wore her mom’s wedding dress from the ‘80s – and started a new tradition of family heirlooms too, with her multi-talented mom handcrafting her tiara and earrings!

The couple’s photographer, Yafit, and videographer, Dana of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Colorfool, captured this joyous day so exquisitely. In Ophira’s words,

They worked really well as a team. We decided to work with them because they are each artistic in her own way, and we knew they would capture the genuine and intimate moments of our wedding.

And we can’t hand you over to Ophira without sharing her words of wisdom to newly engaged couples: “Consider getting married in Israel–it’s way more chill than the States, and more affordable.” Ok, now over to the bride…

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How We Met

Ophira, the bride and Jacob, the groom: We met through an online dating app–we both got struck by Cupid’s arrow and said “Ok!”. Our first date was at a local coffee shop, and we really hit it off.Continue ReadingContinue Reading