Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A David’s Bride for a Dreamy Outdoor Jewish Wedding Just Before Lockdown at HaGiva, Giv’at Brenner, Israel

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Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Naomi and Daniel are one seriously lucky couple. Their ridiculously gorgeous Jewish wedding in Israel took place as the COVID-19 crisis was becoming increasingly more serious, just days before the country banned gatherings of more than ten people. And while the bride, a physics teacher, and the groom, an aerospace engineer, didn’t have their big day go untouched by coronavirus – there was plenty of stress about increasing restrictions and whether family and friends from the UK would be able to make it, and in the end many guests weren’t able to make the trip – their close relatives made it out to Israel in time, and most of the wedding went to plan.

And it was an awesome plan! We’re in love with the garden vibes of their gorgeous venue, Giv’at Brenner, and we’re obsessed with the efforts these two made to personalize their day, like making a list together of seven things to pray for and then reading and praying for one item each time Naomi circled Daniel under the chuppah, and finding ways to honor female guests in their Orthodox ceremony.

And how cute is it that the couple got matching personalized Converses to wear for the reception?! The photos from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman Photography are so full of love and emotion, with each moment captured so beautifully.

Now over to the bride, who looked radiant in her simple David’s Bridal dress (the first she tried on!), which she had altered to add in sleeves and a higher neckline…


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How we met

Naomi, the bride: We both grew up in London, with similar social circles, same year group but never knew each other, it wasn’t until we both made aliyah that we met!

We first met at a party in Jerusalem a few days after I had made aliyah, we chatted for about 5 minutes and Daniel wanted to ask me out but felt it wouldn’t be fair on me as I needed time to settle into the country. Over the next couple of months he hadn’t forgotten about me but some friends had told him they knew a girl who they thought would be good for him.

He agreed to meet her at a Purimseudah but thought to himself that if it didn’t go well he would try to find the number of the girl from the party. But when he walked into the Purim seudah he was surprised and delighted to find the girl from the party, me, sitting there. The rest is history! He proposed to me in September and I proposed to him in October. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra On how she spent her Original Wedding Date

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian in May 2021 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

When I first sent out the email about postponing the wedding I was sort of zen about it. I realized that this is how things had to be and that we would have an amazing wedding next May (it now may be May 2022 depending on how things pan out virus wise). The zen quickly wore off and I was crying over Swedish pancakes at my parents’ house a few days later. What can I say – it’s a process!

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A Pronovias Bride for an Elegant Rustic Israel-Meets-Tuscany Jewish Wedding at Achuza Beit Hanan, Israel

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We’re so excited to be featuring the magnificent Jewish wedding of our beloved STG Brides Club member Davina, a hotel developer, and Adam, head of digital product for a legal publisher! These two had a positively dreamy destination wedding at Achuza Beit Hanan.

We adored following Davina’s planning journey in Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club, and we’re so touched to hear her kind words about the group:

Talking to the other girls getting married in Israel was a massive help. I could ask anything on the group and get advice, like my virtual bridesmaids… I also met some amazing girls who are now really close friends.”

Davina also found a bunch of her incredible vendors through Brides Club, including Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Emily & Jo, who helped the couple craft a pretty, classic design featuring their monogram that they were able to send both by post AND digitally, for their further-flung friends and family.

And then there’s Davina’s gown, which is pure, classic bridal glamour. Although she visited a number of bridal boutiques, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Mirror Mirror was the uncontested winner – and the place she found the Pronovias dress of her dreams. Davina can’t stop raving about the impeccable service she received from the whole team at Mirror Mirror, from the moment she stepped in the door through the final fitting.

Davina found the perfect match for her gown in an elegant pair of heels from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Emmy London – not only did the lace on the shoes match her gown, but Davina raves that the heels were comfortable, too!

Keep scrolling for some serious wedding magic – we’re positively head over heels for the simply magical photography from Haim Afriat and videography by Nir Tenenbaum.

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Davina and Adam, Achuza Beit Hanan, Israel
How we Met (both sides!)

Adam, the groom: About 2 years ago I was at a Shabbat dinner with some friends at the Marriott in Regents Park, London. On arriving I met and chatted with a friend named Lisa, while also noting a large attendance. During the evening, my attention was drawn to one of Lisa’s friends, who didn’t stop smiling and laughing. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I thought she was stunning!

At the end of the night I was determined to find her, as I feared I may never see her again. Searching through the crowd I found her and we had a quick conversation that ended with me suggesting that we meet again. Two years later, I’m very excited to be marrying that girl, the beautiful Davina.

Davina, the bride: My flatmate, Yael suggested we go to the 2016 CJL Shabbat dinner with some of her friends. We arrived at the Marriott, Regents Park to find the room packed with more than 300 young people. We looked for Lisa, Yael’s best friend and saw her talking to a guy, so we just said hi and moved on. I noticed he was wearing a very nice original grey and burgundy jacket and had amazing blue eyes.

At the end of the evening, I was talking to some friends when Yael told me that she was going home. I was about to pick up my coat to leave, when the guy with the grey and burgundy jacket stopped me and told me that Yael was looking for me. I reassured him, said that she found me and continued my route.I was on my way out when Yael, said to me “I think Adam wants to talk to you”. I looked at whom she was referring to and thought “Why not?” I asked her to wait 2 minutes so I could find out what he wanted. I didn’t know that this would be the first conversation with my future husband!

Three days later (yes, 3 days… what the hell was he doing?!) he added me on Facebook and invited me for a date. As I was travelling that week we had to wait until Sunday to meet. We couldn’t wait to see each other, so we started writing in the first week and didn’t stop. Two years later on the 29 September 2018 Adam surprised me by going down on one knee and asking me to marry him in a very romantic setting with candles and rose petals everywhere.

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A Helena Kolan Bride for a Colorful, Multicultural Jewish-Hindu Wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, California, USA

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Get ready to be BLOWN AWAY by the incredible Jewish-Hindu wedding of our beloved Brides Club member Jaime, who has an online fitness business, and Varun, who is CEO of a tech company. These two wanted a one-of-a-kind day that felt larger than life, and did they ever achieve that goal – thanks in no small part to the expertise of their wedding planner, Leora of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Best Bride, who Jaime describes as “the best wedding planner on the planet. Period.”

Blending two different faiths and cultures is no small feat, but Leora made it a breeze, working with Jaime and Varun to craft a jam-packed day – and we do mean a full day; this wedding went from noon until midnight! – including two ceremonies (one Hindu, one Jewish), a positively mouthwatering bicultural food experience featuring Israeli and Indian street food, and, of course, a rocking party to end things off.

The results were thoroughly, breathtakingly beautiful – we’re equally obsessed with the color and energy of the Hindu ceremony and the romance and drama of the sunset Jewish ceremony. And how beautiful is the couple’s floral ketubah, created by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Delicate Brush?! Jaime can’t stop raving about her experience working with founder Rachelle to create the perfect design to match the color and décor scheme for her Jewish ceremony.

You really, really don’t want to miss the fantastic photos from Clane Gessel and Sanaz Photography. Because their day had so much going on, planner Leora encouraged Jaime and Varun to hire two photography teams to make sure none of the good stuff went undocumented, and Jaime is SO glad she followed that advice. And the trailer by AndHer Visuals is equally unmissable.

Now over to the bride, who had not one, not two, but THREE dresses for the big day – her gorgrous, vibrant dress for the Hindu ceremony was made by Vama Designs, and her gown for the Jewish ceremony was custom made by Israeli designer Helena Kolan (who also created Jaime’s reception dress)…

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How we met

Jaime, the bride: We met on OKCupid in San Francisco when we were both working in the start up scene. 

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My Brand New Workshops for Wedding Vendors

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Wedding vendors, I have exciting news for you! For the first time ever I am presenting the expertise that I normally reserve solely for my 1:1 clients and sharing it with you in two interactive FUN workshops for wedding vendors.

If you’re looking to increase enquiries from Jewish couples, and turn those enquiries into sales, read on, my workshops have been created especially for for you!

WORKSHOP ONE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JEWISH WEDDINGS

In this 2-hour workshop we’ll cover:

  • Family dynamics
  • Understanding the client
  • Key differences between a Jewish and non-Jewish wedding
  • What you need to know about Jewish wedding traditions
  • Typical Jewish wedding timeline
  • The correct processional order for a Jewish wedding
  • Jewish wedding music
  • Live Q&A

WORKSHOP TWO: SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY + SALES

In this 2-hour workshop we’ll cover:

  • How to grow your audience of brides on Instagram and Facebook
  • How to turn your audience into customers and raving fans
  • Social media strategy and closing sales for wedding vendors
  • Live Q&A

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