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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra On Postponing her Wedding

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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!

In a turn of events that will surprise no one due to what the last month has looked like under quarantine, we had to postpone our wedding that was to be on 5-10-20. It was the perfect date but it was not meant to be. Everything was ready to go. We just had to do a few more small things like write our wedding vows, buy gifts for the parents and the bridesmaids, get my wedding dress fitted, and accessorize Ian’s tuxedo.

While it’s very disappointing to have to pull the brakes, we have been trying to focus on the bright sides. What’s nice about being so far along in the process is that we are way ahead of the game for next year. It also gives us time to think of new fun details to add to the wedding. 

  

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A Noa and Ayelet Bride for a Masquerade Jewish Wedding at Beit Shmuel, Jerusalem

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Devorah-Yitzchak-Beit-Shmuel-Jerusalem

In need of a little vacation from reality? We’ve got just the thing, in the form of the fantastic masquerade-themed Jewish wedding of Devorah, who (fittingly) works in theater, and Yitzchak, who works for GoDaddy and blogs on the side – where you can read his take on the wedding.  

Because they got married on Rosh Chodesh Adar – the first day of the month of Purim, they decided their theme would be masquerade. With masks as favors and candelabras wrapped in roses on every table, this wedding could not have been more atmospheric – and how great that the guests totally got into the spirit, attending in masks and dress-up items of their own. The photos and video from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor aya-avi – a husband and wife duo, with Aya on photography and Avi on videography – are truly breathtaking, and we’re not at all surprised to hear the couple have been receiving an endless stream of compliments on them.

We’re also obsessed with Devorah and Yitzchak’s chuppah – and not just because of the stunning views overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City. Devorah crafted the chuppah herself, using her beloved late grandfather’s tallit for the canopy, draped over wooden poles wrapped in roses. So simple, and so perfect.

We love that the couple, who are Orthodox and had a traditional ceremony, went out of their way to make sure some of their female guests could participate in the ceremony, with four women who’d played important roles in Devorah and Yitzchak’s relationship holding the poles of the chuppah, and a close friend serving as MC. And both bride and groom spoke under the chuppah – just goes to show that even the most traditional of ceremonies hold plenty of space for personalization.

And how awesome is it that these two crafted their ketubah together, with the groom taking charge of the calligraphy and the bride handling the artwork?

There’s so much more we could say, but we’ll let the bride – who looked stunning in her Noa and Ayelet dress – take it from here…

Devorah-Yitzchak-Beit-Shmuel-Jerusalem Devorah-Yitzchak-Beit-Shmuel-JerusalemDevorah-Yitzchak-Beit-Shmuel-JerusalemDevorah-Yitzchak-Beit-Shmuel-Jerusalem
HOW WE MET

Devorah, the bride: We met at a Shabbat meal of a mutual friend. I tried to get him to come see me perform, hoping I’d impress him and that would get the ball rolling. He never came to that run of the show. A few weeks later I invited him for a Shabbat meal I was hosting and we haven’t stopped talking since. He did make up for not showing up to my show. We did another run of the show a few months later and he proposed at the end of one of them!

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Why Quarantine is the Perfect Time to Nail Down Your Bridal Beauty Routine

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Photo courtesy of Susan Yates

One good thing about quarantine? It’s the perfect time to squeeze in some self care and make sure your skin and hair are in tip-top shape for your wedding day… even if right now you’re not 100% sure when that will be. 

To find out the best ways to go about it, I chatted with a panel of our resident beauty experts, consisting of London-based makeup artists Szilvia Balog and Susan Yates, Israel-based makeup artist Keren Rimon, and Israel-based hairstylist and makeup artist Liat Ben Shimshon. All agree that this is a great time to prioritize taking care of yourself, and they’ve shared some great tips on things you can do right now to get your skin and hair wedding ready. 

Photo courtesy of Liat Ben Shimshon 

Don’t Stress About Your Skin

First off, our experts agree that the stress we’re all facing right now can trigger a whole host of skin issues, from irritation to acne. Try not to worry about it if your skin is looking a little worse for the wear lately – more stress won’t do you any good – and remember that, like coronavirus, this will pass.

Photo courtesy of Szilvia Balog

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

One of the best things you can do for your skin is staying hydrated! Liat Ben Shimshon recommends drinking at least one and a half liters of water per day, plus making sure to eat lots of veggies and fruits for both their liquid content and vitamins. And Susan Yates – who admits to regularly checking in with her brides to make sure they’re drinking enough water as they prep for their weddings – attests that “the difference in skin is incredible when a bride has upped her water game in the run up to the big day.”

Keren Rimon‘s makeup for Shelly and Harel’s wedding | Photo by Noa Magger

Treat Yourself

Times are tough right now. That means this is the perfect time to pamper your skin – and yourself. In addition to your daily routine, Susan Yates recommends “supercharging your skincare on a weekly basis with a pampering session; exfoliating, massaging, moisturizing, using those eye masks, face sheets, and whatever you have readily available. Don’t forget it’s not just your face on show on the big day – remember those elbows, hands, arms, and of course your chest and neck. You want everything to be gorgeous, hydrated and glowing!”

Szilvia Balog’s also a big fan of self care via face mask: “On days when I dedicate extra time for pampering, I put face masks on while I’m doing some other activity like meditation or even housework – just be mindful not to appear on a conference call with one by accident! Whoops!” She also recommends a gentle scrub every few days to get rid of impurities stuck in the pores.

And Keren Rimon recommends not neglecting your regular hair and makeup routines – even if you’re not leaving the house. Feeling good about yourself is key to keeping your spirits up in this weird rollercoaster of a time!

Photo courtesy of Szilvia Balog

Nail Down Your Bridal Style

Keren Rimon thinks this is the perfect time to think about what kind of look you want for the big day – take advantage of the time to browse Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram and see what speaks to you.

Photo courtesy of Szilvia Balog

Spring clean your makeup stash

Susan Yates says, “Now is the time to make like Marie Kondo and declutter your makeup and skincare. Date check your products (oh hey mascara from 2017, I see you). Purge anything that doesn’t serve you well, flatter you, or work for your skin.  And anything you haven’t used in 18 months, bin. Be. Ruthless. Group products into your everyday ‘go-to stash’ for easy access and keep separate to your less used products. This will not only make your day to day routine much more efficient but the whole process can be therapeutic.”

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What to Know If You’re Planning a Jewish Wedding During the Coronavirus Outbreak

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Karen Cinnamon Smashing The GlassWhen you’re planning an event of a lifetime you never dream of doing it in the context of a global pandemic. My heart goes out to you – it’s a challenge – but the bottom line is, Coronavirus or no, you’re going to have an amazing wedding – even if it may look a little different than it did prior to the pandemic. And I’m here to help ensure that happens.

First off, I’ve produced a free guide with step-by-step actions for what to do depending on your wedding date, and tomorrow, Thursday April 16, I’m hosting a free online event – details below, both of which will be invaluable to you if your wedding is planned in 2020 – whether that’s in the coming months, or later on in the year.

If You Have A Wedding Planned in 2020:

Number One: Make sure you download our Coronavirus and your wedding – what to do if you have a wedding booked in 2020 free guide.

The guide is split into five parts:

  1. What to do if your wedding is planned in the next 8 weeks.
  2. What to do if your wedding is planned from July 2020 to December 2020.
  3. What to do if you are planning a wedding internationally in 2020
  4. The steps to take if you need to postpone your wedding
  5. How to have a Zoom wedding

Number Two: I’m going live on Thursday April 16 so that I can guide you 1:1 about your situation plus I’ll be covering:

  • The steps you need to take if your wedding is planned in the next 8 weeks
  • What to do about your ketubah and kippot and other items that may have your previous date already printed on them
  • What to do if your wedding Is planned for July 2020 through to December 2020
  • Deposits – can you get them back?

The free event is taking place this Thursday April 16, 2020 @ 3:30 PM EST (that’s 3:30pm New York // 12:30pm Los Angeles // 8:30pm London // 10:30pm Israel)

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE AND GET A REMINDER

After you register, keep an eye out for another email from me with your link to join the event.

I’m here for you, and can’t wait to connect, help, and guide you on your journey towards the chuppah. 

Love Karen x

Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Charlotte + Adam: How They Met To The Present Day…

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Today on the blog we’re introducing our latest gorgeous crop of 2020 / 2021 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Charlotte, who will be marrying Adam on 25th April 2021 at Swynford Manor in Newmarket, UK.

THREE FACTS: (1) Adam proposed to Charlotte on holiday in Cyprus (2) Charlotte and Adam met at work in London (3) Charlotte is a member of STG Brides Club!

CHARLOTTE AND ADAM

How we met

Adam, the groom to be, and I met in October 2014 when I was working in London. Things had been a little chaotic and my manager at the time recruited an advisor to come and provide support to the company on a temporary basis. One day my manager came to me and said, “I bought you a present”. Me being me (who loves a present!) got incredibly excited only to find out it was a person, the advisor.

Filled with utter disappointment I wasn’t bought a present I met this man, Adam. Aim of the day was to get to know the business so; he rolled up his sleeves and helped me work. While I was handling various issues Adam questioned me on my plans for the weekend, telling me he had to travel back to Southampton ready for a blind date. Later I would find out this was his poor effort to determine if I was single.

While I continued to work he found a post-it note, wrote his number on it, gave it to me and left! Adam effectively being my boss made me unsure so after many coffee dates and waffles with best friend Natalie (and bridesmaid to be!) I text him on January 14th 2015!

Charlotte Adam

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