Real Jewish Weddings Archives - Page 18 of 227 - Smashing the Glass

A Rainy Day Orthodox Jewish Wedding Filled with Purple and Pandas at Chicago Mitzvah Campaign and KINS of West Rogers Park, Chicago, USA

26/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Some couples would be dismayed by a rainy wedding day – but not Carmi and Kalman! Carmi, a behavioral therapist, and Kalman, a Medivan driver, leaned into the downpour that hit during their outdoor chuppah – so much so that the groom says the rain (which, in Jewish tradition, represents blessings to come) was his favorite part of the ceremony!

The Chicago couple kept their Orthodox Jewish wedding ultra-personal, holding their chuppah in the garden of the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign, where Kalman works; covering their chuppah with Carmi’s great-grandfather’s tallit; and incorporating lots of their favorite color, purple – and a few pandas, too, since they’re the bride’s favorite animal!

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Eliana Melmed Photography captured the day so beautifully – all the love and emotion of the day comes through in each and every shot.

Now over to the bride…

How We Met

Carmi, the bride: We saw each other in passing through our works and officially met at a singles event. Continue Reading

A Berta Bride for a Purim Masquerade Ball Jewish Wedding at The Colosseum, Tel Aviv, Israel

24/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

How cool is Kaya and Dean’s Purim masquerade ball Jewish wedding?! This Israeli couple knew they wanted to do something different for their big day – something more like a party than a formal wedding – and we are in love with the concept they came up with!

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor LBI Productions, helped them pull together the day of their dreams, filled with lots of red velvet, bold patterns, massive chandeliers, masks (for the bride and groom and all of the guests), capes, and feathers. Don’t miss the exquisite images by PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY. We’re also obsessed with Kaya’s uber-glam gown by beloved Israeli designer Berta.

Tragically, Kaya and Dean’s wedding day encompassed the beauty and sorrow that are flipsides of life in Israel: on the way to the wedding, three of Dean’s friends were injured in a terrorist attack just a few streets away from the venue, and one of them passed away two weeks later. The couple’s loved ones opted to hide the news from them until the morning after the wedding so they could fully enjoy their big day, and the horrific news made all the love and joy of the wedding all the more poignant.

Kaya beautifully recounts the rollercoaster of emotion she and Dean experienced as the happiest day of their lives came up against the horrific reality Israelis live with – do read on for her moving words…

How We Met

Kaya, the bride: We met through mutual friends. For a long time, there were various people who tried to introduce us, but we weren’t available at the time. Eventually, my best friend’s husband made the connection between us. My husband works in real estate entrepreneurship, and I work in marketing, creative, and production. Continue Reading

A Martina Liana Bride for a Stress-Free and Fun Jewish Wedding on the Beach at Aziza, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

17/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

When Ashley, a naturopath, and Kyle, who works in finance, set out to plan their Jewish destination wedding in Turks and Caicos, they had one goal: to make sure the wedding was stress-free and fun, for them and for all their guests.

Take a scroll through the joyous photos by Ileana Ravasio and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree the day was a smashing success for all involved! Featuring a ceremony on the beach followed by a reception at Aziza, a beautiful driftwood chuppah, and a wonderful, colorful ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ketubah.com, it looks like everyone was having a blast from start to finish.

And then there’s the couple’s unforgettable wedding singer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Choni G. In Ashley’s words,

His singing was so moving and spiritual–we felt like we could stay under the chuppah forever. I don’t think there was one dry eye around us.

Read on for all the details in the bride’s own words…

How We Met

Ashley, the bride: We grew up 5 minutes away from each other in Montreal but we actually met in Sorrento, Italy. Kyle was travelling with some friends that I grew up with. I heard they were in Italy at the same time as me and messaged them to meet up. We met there and then again 3 weeks later when we both happened to be in Israel. We went back to Montreal and the rest was history!Continue Reading

A Monique Lhuillier Bride for a Very NYC Wedding at Temple Emanu-El and a Private Club, New York, NY, USA

13/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

There’s no place like New York – and we love that today’s couple, Elizabeth, vice president at a bank, and Jordan, a commercial mortgage broker, made the most of the city when planning their fabulous big day.

Bride Elizabeth grew up in the city and wanted a quintessentially NYC wedding, brought out with fun details like Sex and the City-inspired signature cocktails. And then there’s the ceremony venue: Manhattan’s majestic Temple Emanu-El, which is not only a seriously stunning space but also has deep significance for Elizabeth and her family.

Elizabeth and Jordan turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Sarah Merians for photography and videography, and, in their words, “She is the best of the best so we knew we were in great hands!” Have a look at their exquisite imagery and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree.

Now over to the bride, who looked so elegant in her Monique Lhuillier gown…

How We Met

Elizabeth, the bride: They met at a dinner on a cold winter night in NYC organized by Elizabeth’s college friend, who also happens to be Jordan’s cousin. They did not sit next to one another, although, Jordan noticed Elizabeth from the other side of the table and reached out to her after the dinner. Another group dinner was organized, until the two finally went on their first one on one date at Avra UES. At the dinner, Jordan, who was sitting across from Elizabeth asked if he could sit next to her, so mid dinner he moved his chair…the rest is history!Continue Reading

A Canada-Meets-Israel Jewish Wedding by the Sea at Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel

10/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Have we got a stunner of a Jewish wedding for you today! Canadian bride Jaymie wed Israeli groom Gilad in the most magnificent seaside wedding bringing together the pair’s different backgrounds.

Jaymie and Gilad picked one of Israel’s most picturesque venues, Bait Al Hayam, which they loved for its epic beach views and Tel Aviv location. Their outdoor chuppah, held against the sparkling backdrop of the Mediterranean – is truly something to behold.

The couple picked Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they could not have made a better choice – Tzahi captured everything from the love between the couple to the majestic setting to the details of the day so perfectly in his luminous, artistic images.

Now over to Jaymie!