Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

An Etsy Bride for an Interfaith Jewish Wedding with Plenty of DIY at Farms Country Club, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA

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We could not be more delighted to be sharing the gorgeous interfaith Jewish wedding of our beloved Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Nalda! Nalda, a licensed massage therapist, married groom Dan, who works in higher education, in a heartfelt ceremony with some truly wonderful DIY touches.

First off, how special is it that Nalda’s crafty mom made the couple’s chuppah canopy and chair sashes? She also helped crochet kippot for the guests – and Nalda and Dan even learned to crochet themselves so they could join in! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to touching personal details – don’t miss the super special way the couple included Nalda’s son in their ceremony! You can tell from Misha Book‘s photos what a truly special day it was.

And of course we’re so touched by Nalda’s kind words about our Brides Club. In her words,

Brides Club was an invaluable resource during our planning. I spent so much time reading through all the Brides Club checklists and guides, on everything from choosing your planning priorities, to picking traditional music, and what to include in our programs… The other Brides Club members are always so supportive and quick to provide advice, insight, creative ideas, or just a listening ear. I can honestly say our wedding wouldn’t have been half of what it was without Brides Club.

There’s so much more to say – just for starters, the wild story of Nalda’s Etsy dress, and the couple’s surprise minimoon – but we’ll hand you over to the bride now…

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How we Met

Nalda, the bride: We met on Hinge!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Jewish Bride Spotlight: Anna Godes

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Anna Godes is a member of our Brides Club for Jewish and Jew-ish brides, and we’re so excited for her wedding plans!

Inside Brides Club, I personally help you to minimize wedstress and overwhelm, and maximize your wedding budget. Oh – and every Brides Club member gets a free smash glass pouch (designed by me) for under the chuppah posted out to them too. Mazal Tov!

Come and join Brides Club too – for advice, discounts, community, sisterhood… and your sanity!

ABOUT ANNA

Where are you from? Columbia, South Carolina
What do you do for a living? Government Employee
How did you meet your partner? We met on Bumble!
Where did you go on your first date? The night that we met I was my fiancé’s date to his fraternity’s semi formal, and we went on our first real day 2 days later to an Alabama football game.
When did you first know you were in love? I realized it around 2 weeks after we met
How long had you been dating when you became engaged?2.5 years
What date are you getting married and where?  December 11th, 2021 in Charleston, South Carolina
 
 

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Smashing Life, my community membership club for ALL Jewish women, is open to new members for the next 48 hours

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Smashing Life and Brides Club members met up at Karen ‘s home for a Challah Bake

Happy Wednesday! I’ve got a question for you… did you know that as well as Smashing The Glass (focused on your Jewish wedding your way), we run a sister brand and podcast called Your Jewish Life all about living your best Jewish LIFE – your way? 

I’m proud to say, it’s immensely popular – and my accompanying podcast, Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon, is a a great listen too! (Don’t you love how I’m my own kvelling Jewish mother?! )

But the element I’m most proud of (and literally what I live for) is my warm, inclusive Jewish lifestyle community club for ALL Jewish and Jew-ish women… Smashing Life.


Zoom Shabbat dinner with Smashing Life

Smashing Life is my warm, inclusive lifestyle community for Jewish and Jew-ish women, whether you’re single, engaged, married, or anything else.

It’s like the warmth of freshly baked challah and Shabbat candles fused with fashion, interiors, lifestyle, recipes, a healthy dose of fun, and a whole lotta heartfelt love and support.


Smashing Life and Brides Club members met up with Karen on her visit to NYC pre-pandemic!

And for the next 48 hours until Thursday, September 23, the doors to this life-changing community – a space that, in the words of one of our members, “feels like coming home” – are open. If you’re looking to make new friends, lean into your Jewish identity, and find a space where you are enough – what are you waiting for? Join now to see what it’s all about.


When Smashing Life member Sam Levitz recently moved into a new apartment, fellow SL’er Jenna sent her the sweetest housewarming gift!

Not sure if Smashing Life is for you? Have a read through these heartwarming words from one of our dear members. Sam Levitz.

Sam Levitz, New York City:

Growing up I was a part of many different Jewish circles but found in my adult years that those circles had faded into only fond memories. I was struggling to find a space that felt curated for me and my needs as a Jewish adult, and wanting to create a space for myself and my future family that felt true to my Jewish identity. Smashing Life gave me that power and inspiration. 

I’ve made connections and friendships inside Smashing Life that I know will last a lifetime. From virtual Shabbat dinners and in-person happy hours (one day again soon!), to support and love when things get difficult, I know that Smashing Life is the place I can go to where I will find the most incredible people to lift me up.

And I hope they know that I’m there for them. When the going gets tough, you don’t need to look further. We’re not just an online group, we’re a family, a community, and we’re there for each other. 

To be part of a group of Jewish women to connect, engage, and share life’s struggles and triumphs is more important to me than I ever realized. 

Our Jewish or Jew-ish connections may have initially brought us together, but it’s the kindness and compassion of this group that keeps me coming back. I don’t know what I’d do without it and I feel so lucky and fortunate to be a part of it.

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A Lillian Wild Bride for an Autumnal Jewish Brunch Wedding at Towne & Oak in Winnetka, Illinois, USA

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We love a good brunch wedding here at Team STG. And bagels-and-lox-loving couple Carly and Jonathan’s autumnal Midwestern Jewish wedding is one of the best we’ve seen – pandemic or not.

These two always wanted a fall Sunday afternoon wedding, but just as they began planning COVID-19 started taking hold. After much deliberation, they decided to go full steam ahead rather than waiting for the crisis to pass, embracing their intimate wedding of 13 (down from an original guestlist of 150) and sharing a professional livestream with those who couldn’t be there in person. And even though it wasn’t the wedding they’d initially planned, you can tell from each and every one of Alisha Tova‘s stunning photos what a very special day it was.

We’re obsessed with the couple’s gorgeous ketubah, custom designed and handmade for them by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor BRITcolors. Britt spent time getting to know Carly and Jonathan so she could dream up a unique ketubah that was totally, 100% them – and she totally knocked it out of the ballpark with the finished product, featuring ‘70s-inspired floral designs in a mixture of embroidery and watercolor.

There’s so much more to say about this awesome wedding – for starters, don’t miss the chic contemporary geometrics and subtle autumnal florals – but we’ll let Carly, who looked so elegant in her Lillian Wild gown, fill you in on the rest…

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How We Met

Carly, the bride: My work is in brand marketing and storytelling, and Jonathan works to develop strategic partnerships. We met during the summer of 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. My profile had appeared in the friend suggestion section of Jonathan’s Facebook newsfeed. Jonathan soon discovered that my dear friend Alex was our mutual connection, so he reached out to him asking about my status.

Alex said Jonathan was a nice guy, so I gave Alex the OK to give Jonathan my phone number. Jonathan called a few days later. After a fun 30-minute conversation, we scheduled our first date. We ate a delicious dinner at the pizzeria Spacca Napoli and then saw a beautiful performance by Sarah Jarosz at the Old Town School of Folk Music.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Jewish Bride Spotlight: Sophie Benjamin

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Sophie Benjamin is a member of our Brides Club for Jewish and Jew-ish brides, and we’re so excited for her Jewish Bride Spotlight!

Inside Brides Club, I personally help you to minimize wedstress and overwhelm, and maximize your wedding budget. Oh – and every Brides Club member gets a free smash glass pouch (designed by me) for under the chuppah posted out to them too. Mazal Tov!

Come and join Brides Club too – for advice, discounts, community, sisterhood… and your sanity!

ABOUT SOPHIE

Where are you from? Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
What do you do for a living? Sales & Production Assistant
How did you meet your partner? On J-Swipe! The first (and last) person I went on a date with!
Where did you go on your first date? We met late afternoon to play crazy golf (I won!) then we were getting on so well we went for a drink at a pub up the road which turned into dinner!
When did you first know you were in love? I don’t think there was a specific moment. We just clicked and got on really well and it grew the more time we spent together and still does!
How long had you been dating when you became engaged?A few months short of 3 years.
What date did you get married and where?  22nd August 2021 at Maidens Barn in Chelmsford
 

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