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An Elegant Country House Jewish Wedding at Fennes, Essex, UK

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Carla and Ben, Fennes, Braintree, UK

We love a country house Jewish wedding, and Carla and Ben’s is simply divine! Essex’s Fennes was the dreamiest spot for this very special day, with its timelessly romantic vibes and picturesque grounds.  

The verdant outdoor environs made the ideal backdrop for the couple’s striking acrylic outdoor chuppah, delicately adorned with white flowers – the juxtaposition of the contemporary chuppah design with the traditional style of the venue is just perfection.

When it came time to choose a photographer to capture their special day, Carla and Ben knew that only Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow would do. In the bride’s words, “Kate has been a part of my family events since my bat mitzvah in 2011. Having her as my wedding photographer 14 years has been so special to me and my family and we couldn’t be more grateful to her. She captured our day perfectly, we smiled all the way through looking back at our wedding pictures and we love them so much.”

We’re also delighted that the duo found the colorful ketubah of their dreams – which now adorns the walls of their bedroom – through Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com.

Read on for the full story of this magical day in Carla’s own words…

Carla and Ben, Fennes, Braintree, UKCarla and Ben, Fennes, Braintree, UKCarla and Ben, Fennes, Braintree, UKCarla and Ben, Fennes, Braintree, UK

How We Met

Carla, the bride: We met on a dating app!

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A Luce Sposa Bride for a Rustic Jewish Wedding at HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

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Rachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

There’s no place like Israel for a Jewish wedding. And we love that New York couple Rachel,  a program director at a Jewish non-profit running children’s programs, and Tani, a software engineer, opted to make things official at beautiful HaAgam, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Planning a destination wedding in Israel post-October 7 meant a lot didn’t go to plan. Most of the couple’s family and friends weren’t able to attend due to the war, and even up till the big day Rachel and Tani weren’t sure everything would be able to go ahead. But in Rachel’s words, the experience “taught us to focus on each other and bringing our immediate families together knowing that our wedding would be special no matter what challenges came our way” – and isn’t that really what it’s all about?

When it came time to choose a photographer to capture their special day, Rachel and Tani turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, and they couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome – don’t miss the epic pics from their end-of-night couple shoot in the Old City!

Now over to Rachel, who looked like a princess in her Luce Sposa gown…

Rachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, IsraelRachel and Tani, HaAgam, Jerusalem, Israel

How We Met

Rachel, the bride: We met on the dating app Hinge in the summer of 2021 right after I moved from Toronto, Canada, to NYC. Tani is American but made Aliyah to Israel in 2006. He served in the IDF and moved back to the States in 2022.

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A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Timelessly Classic Jewish Wedding in Tuscany at Villa Oliva, Lucca, Italy

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Katie and Jamie, Villa Oliva, Lucca, Italy

There’s nothing like a Tuscan wedding – between the gorgeous scenery, the brilliant sunshine, and, of course, the food, there’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular destination spots for STG couples. And Katie, who works in PR for interior and lifestyle brands, and Jamie, who works in sales, had a truly unforgettable Tuscan Jewish wedding.

We were so thrilled to hear that they found their wonderful venue, Villa Oliva, right here on Smashing The Glass – and it’s easy to see why they fell in love with the verdant grounds at first sight.

Katie and Jamie’s photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Alessandro Colle, and videographer, Alte Vedute, “went above and beyond, and they captured every single moment possible! We trusted them and were happy to follow their lead, and we’re thrilled with the results!”

Read on for all the details of this magical day in the bride’s own words…

 Professions / notes for Emily –

Jamie works in sales, whereas i work in PR for interior and lifestyle brands.

 Katie and Jamie, Villa Oliva, Lucca, Italy Katie and Jamie, Villa Oliva, Lucca, ItalyKatie and Jamie, Villa Oliva, Lucca, ItalyKatie and Jamie, Villa Oliva, Lucca, Italy

How We Met

Katie, the bride: We first met when we were 16 on an Israel tour! We became best friends, and over time, we ended up becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. 10 years later, Jamie proposed!

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A Self Portrait Bride for a Jewish Wedding All about Chesed at Allerton Shul and Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, England

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Danielle and Paul, Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, England

We’re in love with the theme Danielle, a vet, and Paul, an A+E consultant doctor, chose for their Jewish wedding. In the bride’s words, “The theme was chesed, loving kindness/thoughtfulness, as we wanted to throw a party to thank our friends and family for supporting us over the years as singles. We and they have waited a very long time for this day!” How beautiful is that?

And that’s just the start of the wonderful personal touches that made this wedding so special. Danielle and Paul chose not just one but two venues with serious significance: they had their chuppah at Allerton Shul, where the rabbi and rebbetzin who introduced them work, and for the reception they moved on to The Sefton Park Palm House, which Danielle’s father was instrumental in restoring – a glazier, he donated almost 4000 panes of glass for it!

When it came time to choose a photographer, Danielle and Paul went with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow, and they can’t stop raving about how wonderful she was. In Danielle’s words,  “She took time to understand our situation, gave us some fantastic ideas, and pulled off all of our requests. We didn’t want photographers everywhere on the day, and somehow, although our guests barely noticed her, she captured thousands of incredibly beautiful moments alone. She is a truly talented professional, she knows a Jewish wedding inside and out, was a joy to work with, and our photos are completely stunning.”

Read on for the rest of the story in Danielle’s own words…

Danielle and Paul, Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, England Danielle and Paul, Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, EnglandDanielle and Paul, Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, EnglandDanielle and Paul, Palm House Sefton Park, Liverpool, England

How We Met

Danielle, the bride: We were introduced by our Rebbetzin.

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A Santos and Eva Bride for a Jewish Wedding with Spanish Touches at Casa De La Era, Marbella, Spain

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Gemma-and-Jamie-Casa-De-La-Era-Marbella-Spain

Gemma and Jamie may live in England, but they love spending time in the south of Spain – so when it came time to plan their Jewish wedding, Marbella was a natural fit.

They found the perfect venue in Casa De La Era, overlooking the mountains and sea, and incorporated touches of Spanish culture and tradition into just about every aspect of the day, from the chuppah – decorated with lemons, pink bougainvillea and leaves – to the food: Gemma and Jamie found a caterer who was able to provide kosher renditions of traditional Spanish dishes including paella! Don’t miss all the gorgeous details in the luminous photos by David Luque.

The favors were mini bottles of the pair’s favorite Spanish olive oil, and even the bride’s gown came from Santos and Eva in Marbella. Read on for the rest of the story in Gemma’s own words…

Gemma-and-Jamie-Casa-De-La-Era-Marbella-SpainGemma-and-Jamie-Casa-De-La-Era-Marbella-Spain Gemma-and-Jamie-Casa-De-La-Era-Marbella-SpainGemma-and-Jamie-Casa-De-La-Era-Marbella-Spain
How We Met

Gemma, the bride: Jamie and I, met when we were living in Nottingham. I (Gemma) was at university in my 2nd year and Jamie was already graduated, he was living and working in the city. Myself and Jamie were on a group on Facebook called Yid Lifts, where Jewish students exchange lifts home, from university. Jamie posted to say he was driving to London on X date and I replied to say I needed a lift. I never ended up taking the lift as I wimped out but Jamie kept on talking to me over Facebook. He then asked me on a date and the rest is history!Continue ReadingContinue Reading