Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Sveta Swan Bride for a Summer Jewish Wedding Full of Flowers, Smoothies, and Balloons at Kedma Garden, Neve Ilan, Israel

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Shira and Ofek, Kedma Hall, Israel
We’re obsessed with the epic summer vibes of the Jewish wedding of Shira and Ofek, both students. Opting to make the most of the season, these two chose a stunning outdoor venue, opted for fun touches like a flower booth and a smoothie bar!), and a simple white chuppah studded with color-coordinated blooms. Photographer Lior Moshe did SUCH an incredible job capturing all the love and joy between Shira and Ofek on their big day.

We’re also incredibly touched by all the ways the couple included Ofek’s late brother, who tragically passed away from cancer, into their day. First, at the chuppah they gave each guest a white balloon in his memory, which the guests all released into the sky at once. The pair also used a kiddush cup inscribed with Ofek’s brother’s name, which Ofek’s mother had made so that he could be a part of all the family simchas. And Shira and Ofek also made a donation to a cancer charity in honor of each of their guests – all such beautiful ways to remember a loved one.

Now over to the bride, who looked so boho chic in her summery gown from Sveta Swan Bridal…

Shira and Ofek, Kedma Hall, IsraelShira and Ofek, Kedma Hall, IsraelShira and Ofek, Kedma Hall, IsraelShira and Ofek, Kedma Hall, Israel
How we met

Shira, the bride: We met at school at the age of 16, and have been together ever since.

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An ASTR Bride for a Jewish Micro Wedding Pulled Together in Just Two Weeks at Endicott Estate, Dedham, Massachusetts, USA

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As if we weren’t already in awe of all the many couples who are pulling together beautiful Jewish weddings during the pandemic, today’s couple brings it to the next level: both bride Yvonne and groom Gabriel are physicians in Boston – working exactly the kind of crazy hours you’d expect – AND they managed to pull together the bulk of the wedding in just TWO WEEKS prior to their date of July 25, 2020. Yep, you read that right… two weeks!

How’d they do it? With the help of a fantastic planner, the mega-talented Luba of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Primavera Dreams. Because of their time constraints, the couple opted to take a hands-off approach to planning, putting their full trust in Luba to execute their dreams for a simple, elegant, intimate (the two invited just immediate family and one friend on each side) outdoor wedding. After just a few Zoom meetings with Yvonne and Gabriel, Luba was off and running – and she pulled everything together perfectly, as evidenced in Alex Gordias’s stunning photography.

Yvonne and Gabriel didn’t begin planning until February 2020, so they knew from the start that COVID would have an impact on their day – and they were able to build this intimate day from the beginning rather than having to back out of plans for a bigger wedding. They were able to pick their venue, Endicott Estate, based in part on the fact that they could have not only an outdoor ceremony but an outdoor dinner, too, and Yvonne knew from the getgo she wanted to forgot the traditional bridal salon and alterations experience for safety reasons and so instead opted to order lots of white ready-to-wear dresses online, finding the perfect fit in a simple, lightweight number by ASTR the Label.

Read on for the rest of Yvonne’s account of this very special day – we truly could not be any more impressed!

Yvonne-and-Gabriel-Endicott-Estate-MAYvonne-and-Gabriel-Endicott-Estate-MAYvonne-and-Gabriel-Endicott-Estate-MAYvonne-and-Gabriel-Endicott-Estate-MA
How we met

Yvonne, the bride: We met in 2014 through a mutual friend (his medical school friend and my residency friend). When the mutual friend found out Gabriel was coming to Boston to train as a fellow in trauma surgery, he immediately said that we should meet and the rest is history!

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Join Us at Bridelux, the Ultimate Day Out for Jewish Couples—Wherever You Are in the World!

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Over the past couple of years, Bridelux Atelier has risen to the very top of my social calendar. I don’t attend many wedding fairs, but I always make time in my schedule for the world’s finest luxury wedding show’s yearly stop in London.

If you’re looking for inspiration and ideas for your wedding, you can’t do any better than to attend their upcoming event at London’s stunning One Marylebone, an 1826 property moments away from Regents Park. Plus, for this season’s event Bridelux is partnering with renowned society magazine Tatler to bring you some truly incredible content  – AND they’re  offering 60 lucky STG readers the chance to attend FREE, either in person or virtually.

The World’s First Hybrid Wedding Fair

Usually, Bridelux is an in-person event. But this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will be the world’s first ever hybrid wedding fair. So even if you live far from London – or don’t feel comfortable attending indoor events just yet – you can still attend virtually. And whichever way you choose to participate, you’ll be able to fully enjoy all of the fantastic offerings.

And those offerings are pretty amazing. This year at Bridelux, however you choose to attend, you can expect:

  • Some of the world’s top wedding designers and suppliers, including Vera Wang, Reem Acra, Vivienne Westwood, The Wedding Gallery, Balloonista, and many, many more
  • Devoted 1:1 time slots where you can speak with vendors – whether you’re attending in-person or virtually
  • Access to Bridelux’s Tatler Wedding Talks, curated by Tatler’s Wedding Guide editor, Astrid Joss, where planners and wedding suppliers will impart their knowledge and expertise – whether you’re attending in-person or virtually, you’ll be able to join in live or access recordings at your convenience
  • Live music
  • Swag bags
  • Cocktails and refreshments for in-person attendees
  • Complimentary copy of Tatler
  • A special discount just for STG readers – see below for details!

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Free 7-Day Rosh Hashana Challenge – We Start Tomorrow!

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Image: Peace Love Light Shop 

Happy Wednesday! Just a quick one to say that we start our Rosh Hashana challenge tomorrow!

With the New Year coming up, how about making some new Jewish friends inside the challenge community?

Whether you’re Jewish or Jew-ish, married, engaged or single, you’ll meet new people, and go from unprepared and “where do I start?” to leaning into your identity to create a fun, meaningful and fabulous Rosh Hashana.

FUN PRIZES!

I’m also giving away Starbucks vouchers, Amazon vouchers and a mystery grand prize!

So whether you’re able to get together with family or not, come and join our warm and inclusive Rosh Hashana community and have fun, win prizes, and have an even more authentic and beautiful Rosh Hashana than you ever thought possible.

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Real Jewish Brides: Jenna on Making the Most of Postponement

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Jenna will be marrying Mat on 13th June 2021 at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. Click here to read all Jenna’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Jenna + Mat have known each other all their lives – they met when they were both one-year-old at a baby class! (2) Their relationship began at the University of Arizona in March 2012 (3) Mat proposed at Jenna’s parents house in December 2018


It’s so crazy to think that our wedding was supposed to be in 16 days (from the date I’m writing this post, 8/21/20). September 6, 2020 was supposed to be our wedding date. But we postponed at the end of May to June 13, 2021 due to being cautious with Covid (the dreaded C-word), and that we wouldn’t be able to have the wedding we dreamed of with all our friends and family there.  For my fiancé and I, while we hate having to wait 9 extra months to get married, not having all of our friends and family at our ceremony especially (and the fact that dancing looked like it wouldn’t be able to happen) made us feel strongly that we wanted to postpone the wedding.

Jenna and Matt
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