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A Magical Jewish Wedding at Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

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Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

Today’s Jewish wedding takes us to one of Liverpool’s most magical venues: Sefton Park Palm House. For bride Alex, a physiotherapist, and groom Mark, an optician, this iconic glasshouse had always been a dream setting – and it’s not hard to see why.

With its soaring Victorian glass, lush greenery, and light-filled botanical beauty, the Palm House has that rare quality of feeling both grand and intimate at the same time. It made the most breathtaking backdrop for Alex and Mark’s chuppah, and later transformed into the perfect space for an unforgettable reception.

Music was a huge part of the atmosphere, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Twentysomethings absolutely delivered. From Jesse singing the couple’s dream songs at the chuppah to keeping the energy going all night long, the band helped create the most incredible party atmosphere.

We’re also so delighted to feature the beautiful work of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, who captured the day so perfectly. With her deep knowledge of Jewish weddings, Kate knew exactly where to be for every key moment – from the emotion of the chuppah to all the joy of the evening that followed.

Now over to gorgeous bride Alex…

Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK Alex and Mark, Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool, UK

How We Met

Alex, the bride: Mark and I met on J Swipe.

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A Berta Bride for a Romantic Jewish Wedding Weekend at NIZUC, Cancún, Mexico

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Kali and Edon, Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico

Get ready for a truly spectacular Jewish wedding! Kali and Edon, who both work in fine jewelry (Kali’s bridal bling was all by Edon Mesica New York!), wanted a multi-day destination celebration bringing together their nearest and dearest from across the United States and Israel – and luxe Cancún resort NIZUC provided the perfect setting. The gorgeous grounds provided a range of spaces for multiple events over the course of the wedding weekend from a welcome party on the beach to a pool party to a golf outing – and, of course, the fairytale wedding itself – while still feeling secluded and intimate.

NIZUC’s zen, organic vibe and breathtaking nature- featuring lush mangroves, open sky, and water views – were huge draws for Kali and Edon, and so they decided to add just a few intentional decorative details in keeping with the resort’s aesthetic. Working with a palette of ivory, cream, and soft whites layered with muted greenery and delicate pastel accents, the couple opted for a minimal wooden chuppah adorned with loosely gathered florals for their outdoor ceremony. Catch it all in the beautiful photos and trailer by Pipe Gaber!

We also love that Kali chose beloved Israeli designer Berta Bridal for her striking gown – and did she ever look fantastic! Now over to Kali…

 

Kali and Edon, Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico Kali and Edon, Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico Kali and Edon, Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico Kali and Edon, Nizuc, Cancun, Mexico

How We Met

Kali, the bride: We met in pre-school… I wrote this for our wedding website: In 1998 at Marlboro Jewish Center Preschool, Kali and Edon met for the first time, forming a bond that would last a lifetime. Little did they know, this friendship would become the foundation of a love story that would unfold over the next 26 years.

Skipping ahead to high school in 2009, fate decided to bring Kali and Edon back together. Their reconnection happened when Edon showed up at Kali’s house party for her 18th Birthday. She made him give her a birthday gift to enter her party. Kali’s social skills at that time were underdeveloped after years of being homeschooled for gymnastics, but Edon didn’t seem to mind.

Shortly after meeting again in high school, Kali and Edon couldn’t keep themselves apart, whether that be videochatting (shoutout ooVoo) every day afterschool or hanging out in the Mesica’s backyard. During their initial romantic sparks, Kali stumbled upon a note from preschool dated 1998 underneath her bed in an old box. The worksheet note had Kali’s scribbling on it that Edon was her new best friend. From then on, their friendship blossomed into a love story filled with unstoppable laughter and rebellious teenage adventures.

College threw some curveballs their way, with Kali at Penn State and Edon chasing his dreams at Rutgers. Despite the distance, their emotional bond stayed strong, thanks to mutual friends from childhood and overlapping social circles.

Kali and Edon ended up living in the same building while living abroad in Barcelona for five months. Together they traveled to various countries and made unforgettable memories with friends and family. Their shared adventures in the beautiful city strengthened their bond and set the stage for the next chapter of their story.

Edon’s admiration for Kali grew into a deep and lasting love, and every twist and turn in their journey brought them closer together. Eventually they gave in, and admitted that their romantic chemistry and friendship couldn’t be denied.

Through life’s ups and downs, Kali and Edon’s connection never wavered. Now, as they’re about to tie the knot, they want their friends, who’ve been with them through it all, to celebrate the raw, authentic love story that began in preschool, weathered the challenges of life, and emerged as a testament to the love they share. Here’s to Kali and Edon’s forever love story!   Edon proposed to Kali on an April afternoon. During sunset on the 44th floor of their apartment building’s roof, surrounded with flowers and candles, Edon proposed with the NYC skyline in the background.

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A Mia Pava Bride for a Naturally Elegant Jewish Wedding at Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel

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Yael and Avichai, Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel

There’s nothing like an Israeli chuppah, and we are so delighted to be sharing the beautiful Jewish wedding of Yael and Avichai, whose big day at Gavriel in Nes Tziona was the perfect blend of natural elegance, thoughtful design, and heartfelt meaning.

From the very beginning, Yael and Avichai knew they wanted a wedding that felt intentional without being overdone – elegant, warm, and entirely unforced. Gavriel proved to be the ideal setting, with an outdoor chuppah set on the water and framed by fruit trees and soft greenery.

What makes this wedding especially moving is the context in which it took place. Just one week before, war with Iran broke out, and there was real uncertainty about what the day would look like. That only deepened the significance of the moment, transforming the chuppah into not just a union, but an expression of gratitude, resilience, and joy.

To capture the day, the couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, whose natural, emotive style was exactly what they were looking for. Yael and Avichai can’t stop raving about the calm, supportive presence Herschel and his team brought to the day, and we love that after the wedding the celebration continued with a magical night photoshoot in Jerusalem, giving Yael and Avichai even more unforgettable memories to treasure.

Read on for all the wonderful details of this very special day in Yael’s own words…

Yael and Avichai, Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel Yael and Avichai, Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel Yael and Avichai, Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel Yael and Avichai, Gavriel, Nes Tziona, Israel

How We Met

Yael, the bride: Some love stories unfold by chance. Others begin with quiet certainty.

For Yael and Avichai, the spark was neither accidental nor immediate—it was orchestrated by someone who understood, long before they did, that their worlds were meant to meet.

Yael, an art therapist, and Avichai, newly returned from army service and immersed in his family’s business, had lived parallel lives for years. The bridge between them came in the form of family—specifically, Yael’s brother-in-law, Nadav Zilberstein. Through a mutual musical community, he came to appreciate Avichai in a way that was both personal and profound.

With unwavering confidence, he made the introduction—placing identical calls to each of them, insisting simply: “You have to meet.”

They both said yes.

Their first date was a picnic, set against the relaxed backdrop of Herzliya overlooking the port, was understated yet quietly transformative. There was no grand moment—just an immediate sense of ease, as though something long in motion had finally settled into place.

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An International Interfaith Jewish Wedding Focused on Friends and Family at South Farm, Royston, UK

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Kelsey and Owen, South Farm, Royston, UK

We love it when a couple makes their wedding totally, 100% them – and that’s exactly what Kelsey, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, and Owen, from Sydney, Australia, did. The pair met at the University of Cambridge in 2019, and ever since they’ve been building a life together in the UK. When it came time to plan their big day, they knew they wanted to showcase their newfound home while reflecting the places they came from – and did they ever do an awesome job, with everything from Australian meat pies for late-night snacks to cranberry cocktails as a nod to the bride’s family home on Cape Cod!

Kelsey and Owen opted to wed at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor South Farm, a beautiful working farm that showcases the best of the English countryside. In addition to the gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces (and the fact that the venue grows lots of the produce used in their catering on-site), in Kelsey’s words,

We also immediately found the entire South Farm team to be consistently kind, welcoming, and supportive throughout the planning process. We felt completely looked after from start to finish… Even though South Farm host weddings almost every day of the year, they made us feel like ours was the only wedding they had to pay attention to.

Friends and family also played a huge part in the day: a friend served as the couple’s celebrant, another friend created all the floral arrangements, and various loved ones offered personalized blessings to the couple instead of the traditional Sheva Brachot. We also love that Owen composed the piece of music to which Kelsey walked down the aisle – which was performed by friends! Don’t miss all the love and emotion in the wonderful photos by Lee Allison.

Now over to Kelsey…

Kelsey and Owen, South Farm, Royston, UK Kelsey and Owen, South Farm, Royston, UK Kelsey and Owen, South Farm, Royston, UK Kelsey and Owen, South Farm, Royston, UK

How We Met

Kelsey, the bride: We both arrived in Cambridge in 2019 to study at the University of Cambridge. Kelsey came from Boston, Massachusetts to do a PhD researching the role of play in children’s healthcare, and Owen came from Sydney, Australia to do an MMus in Music and sing with the Choir of King’s College. We were both members of Hughes Hall and met on our very first night in Cambridge the college hosted welcome drinks at the bar. We got to talking that evening and quickly became close friends during those first few whirlwind months of settling in.

Then, abruptly, the pandemic. As international students, we both made the difficult decision to stay in Cambridge amidst the uncertainty of those early months of 2020. As some of only a handful of people still in our college, we spent an inordinate amount of time together going for long walks, cooking together, online pub quizzes, meeting each other’s family and friends via video calls – we had basically started dating before we were actually dating. Friends and family, both near and far, were constantly asking us what was going on between us… it took nearly nine months of friendship for us to realize it too!

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An Oscar de la Renta Bride for a Timelessly Romantic Jewish Wedding at The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

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Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

Gorgeous wedding alert! Laurel and Jack’s Long Island Jewish wedding at The Muttontown Club, once a private Gilded Age estate, is truly a knockout. They wanted the day to feel warm, whimsical, ethereal, and romantic – and did they ever, incorporating tons of candles, lush florals, and a soft, classic color palette.

From the start, Laurel and Jack knew they wanted a hand-calligraphed and painted ketubah, and they found the perfect artist to bring their dreams to life in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Elena Berlo of Once Upon a Paper. Elena worked with the couple to create a unique piece of art that they proudly hang in their living room as a reminder of their special day and their commitment to each other. Don’t miss it in the wonderful photos from Jonathan Scott!

This day was full of so many wonderful details, but we’ll leave it to Laurel – who looked radiant in her halter-top lace gown from Oscar de la Renta – to tell you the rest…

Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA Laurel and Jack, The Muttontown Club, Long Island, New York, USA

How We Met

Laurel, the bride: Connected by mutual friends, our first date took place on a blustery summer night in August 2019. The thought of venturing into a rainstorm was made far more palatable by the anticipation of finally meeting – but little did we know that the company would prove far more enchanting than we could have imagined. Three hours flew by in what felt like minutes, leaving each of us eager to know more. From childhood memories in New York to college experiences and beyond, we discovered we had always been moving within each other’s orbit, unbeknownst to us.

The sense of familiarity was uncanny, also magnetic. Sharing stories about family and friends only deepened the desire to learn more about this wonderful new person that came into our lives. The night ended with a moonlit walk along the East River, watching the din of a summer night’s traffic scurry by. Little did we know in that moment on a night in the City That Never Sleeps, this would be the start of a beautiful, enduring relationship.

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