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New to Smashing The Glass for April ‘25

02/05/2025 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Photo by Christian Gideon Photography 

Here at  Smashing The Glass, we’re constantly thrilled to bring together the best wedding professionals who understand the unique needs of Jewish and Jew-ish couples. This past month, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming some incredible new Recommended Vendors to our community, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them! 


Cosmic Violet Events | UK and Europe 

Cosmic Violet Events believes every couple should have a wedding as one-of-a-kind as they are. As a proud family-owned business with over 20 years of experience, they bring together refined design, seamless planning, and emotional resonance to make your event unforgettable. 

They take pride in offering a fully bespoke service tailored to your unique needs, values, and vision, with a range of flexible planning packages, including Full Event Management, Partial Planning, and their signature 6 Weeks Before service—ideal for those who need expert support in the final lead-up to their big day. 

Cosmic Violet Events also specializes in delivering full-service event production and AV solutions, expertly managing every technical aspect—from dynamic staging and atmospheric lighting to crystal-clear sound. With a passionate team of creatives, technicians, and planners, they take your vision and elevate it—combining elegant design, intentional planning, and top-tier production to create events that resonate long after the final guest has departed.

020 7870  8065
https://cosmicvioletevents.com/ 
hello@cosmicvioletevents.com
Instagram | Facebook
Location: Offices based in Borehamwood, UK. Travel in the UK and Europe.


Galia Lahav | London, UK

Beloved Israeli bridal designer Galia Lahav has long been a favorite among STG brides, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about their new London flagship store in Mayfair!

A female-founded brand with deep Jewish & Israeli roots, Galia Lahav is all about making bridal dreams come true. Every one their gowns is handcrafted with love and artistry in Israel, carrying with it a rich heritage of design, craftsmanship, and tradition. 

As a Jewish-owned brand, they get the beauty and significance of Jewish weddings and love being part of unforgettable celebrations around the world. 

+44 7564 783637
www.galialahav.com
office@galialahav.com
Instagram | Facebook
Location: 66-67 South Audley Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 2QX
 

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Ketubah 101: Everything You Need to Know about the Ketubah

30/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

Your ketubah is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a beautiful, meaningful document that represents your love, commitment, and the unique story of your marriage. But if you’re just diving into the world of Jewish wedding planning, you might be wondering: What exactly is the significance of a ketubah? Do we really need one? How do we pick the right one for us?

To answer all these questions (and many, many more!), we sat down with Adam Paskow, founder of Judaica brand Tchotchke, to get the lowdown on all things ketubah. 

Evilish Eye Ketubah

Tchotchke, best known for their playful menorahs, mezuzahs, and kiddush cups, has just launched their brand new ketubah line. Featuring whimsical designs with a nod to tradition, each piece is designed for couples who feel that Judaism is an expression of ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. Based in New York City and shipping internationally, Tchotchke’s ketubah designs are some of the coolest we’ve seen—and we see a lot!

Papercut Ketubah

Whether you’re looking for guidance on selecting a design, navigating different text options, or even choosing the best pen for signing, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for your ultimate ketubah crash course.

Ketubah 101

Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

What is a ketubah?

Simply put, a ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract. It was originally created to financially protect women in case of divorce or widowhood, and ensure that the wife was properly cared for throughout the marriage. For most of us these days, it’s more of a symbolic representation of a couple’s union.

Why should we get a ketubah?

The reason to get a ketubah has evolved for most of us—what was once a legal document, for many people, is now a personal artifact from the most magical and transformative day of your life. We believe that couples should have a ketubah they want to hang proudly in their home not only for sentimental reasons, but also to celebrate their Judaism, regardless of what Judaism means to them. It’s our responsibility to fill our homes with Jewish art to preserve our history, customs and culture.

Full Cup Ketubah

What does a ketubah say?

We have many options of ketubah text to choose from, as well as an option to write your own. While these days, different denominations have different requirements and allowances for ketubah text, it is essentially a contract between partners on their wedding day, stating their obligations to each other. Some denominations use text that is relatively standardized, for example, an Orthodox ketubah does not generally differ from couple to couple, whereas a secular couple may choose to write their own ketubah, treating it more like an extension of their vows.

Petals Ketubah

Can we have a ketubah for our interfaith wedding?

Absolutely. We have an interfaith text option that celebrates mutual respect, understanding and compassion for each other’s beliefs while recognizing that shared religion isn’t a necessary ingredient for a healthy, happy, fulfilling union.  

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An Anne Barge Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding Featuring Tradition with a Twist at Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA

28/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA

We love it when a couple puts their own spin on their Jewish wedding ceremony – which is exactly what Yael, an enterprise relationship manager at LinkedIn, and Josh, a vice president at Alphasights, did when planning their big day at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey.

The couple’s Judaism was central to their day, and we adore the way they put their own spin on classic traditions. Working with their rabbi, Yael and Josh crafted a bespoke ceremony that was totally them – including circling each other 3.5 times each, having women involved in the ketubah reading and Sheva Brachot, and having Yael say a statement of betrothal to Josh.

Amy Sims Photography captured the day so beautifully, and the couple’s videographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kiss the Bride Films, caught all the love, emotion, and energy of the day in their unmissable trailer.

This wedding was full of so many special touches – from an ice sculpture shot tower to a 45-minute hora set to Yael’s ultra-elegant Anne Barge gown purchased at Kleinfeld – but we’ll turn you over to the bride for the rest of the details…

Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA
How We Met

Yael, the bride: The short answer is Hinge. The longer answer is that Yael saw Josh on Hinge and noticed he went to Vanderbilt, where her best friend Hannah went. Figuring Jews at Vanderbilt must know each other, Yael sent a screenshot of Josh’s profile to Hannah, who gave Yael a thumbs up and said “he’s one of the good guys.” We both work in Account Management.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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5 of Our Favorites: DIY Jewish Weddings Full of Ideas and Inspo

25/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Emily and Brant, Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas, USA

Emily and Brant‘s DIY Jewish Wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London | Photo by Caitlin McWeeney Photography

Welcome back to “5 of Our Favorites,” where we showcase five breathtaking Jewish weddings each week, all curated around a special theme. This week, we’re celebrating creativity and personal touches with 5 of our favorite DIY Jewish weddings.

DIY weddings offer couples the chance to bring their vision to life, with every detail thoughtfully crafted by their own hands or with the help of close family and friends. From homemade decor to hand-built chuppahs to personalized favors and even home-baked wedding cakes, these weddings reflect the unique personality and love of the couple, creating a truly intimate and meaningful experience. Whether it’s an elegant outdoor affair or a cozy indoor celebration, these DIY Jewish weddings are full of heart, charm, and inspiration.

We can’t wait to share these beautiful, handcrafted celebrations with you and offer some ideas for incorporating your own personal touches into your big day!


Leah and Alex‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Alex Gordias

Leah and Alex’s Literary Jewish Wedding with DIY Touches at the Bride’s Parents’ Family Home in Falmouth, Massachusetts

We love it when a couple makes their Jewish wedding 100% truly THEM. And that’s exactly what Leah and Alex did in their literary-themed backyard wedding, which celebrated the pair’s love of reading, family, and of course their beloved cats!

Jewish-wedding-bride’s-parents’-family-home-in-Falmouth-MA

Leah and Alex‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Alex Gordias

Their wonderful wedding planner, Luba Gankin from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Primavera Dreams, helped them pull all these strands together to make one ultra-memorable day. We can’t get enough of all the fun details like centerpieces made of old books and escort card bookmarks made of recycled book pages – plus the super colorful chuppah canopy, made from a piece of traditional Egyptian wedding tent cloth the bride brought back with her after spending three years living in Egypt!

Leah and Alex‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Alex Gordias

Oh, and did we mention that the bride – who looked lovely in her wedding dress from BHLDN – baked the wedding cake (for 150 guests) herself?!


Emily and Brant, Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas, USA

Emily and Brant‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Caitlin McWeeney Photography

Emily and Brant’s Jewish Wedding Full of Wildflowers, Tacos, and DIY at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas

We always love featuring the gorgeous Jewish wedding of one of our Brides Club members – and that goes doubly for bride Emily, who was a beloved member of our Smashing Life community for Jewish women for years prior to her engagement to groom Brant. During her engagement, Emily was the absolute DIY queen of Brides Club, and we loved following along with all her fabulous projects. 

Emily and Brant, Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas, USA

Emily and Brant‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Caitlin McWeeney Photography

In Brides Club, Emily couldn’t get enough of the supportive community, inspiration, and helpful resources. In her words,  

The encouragement and support was also invaluable as my mom passed 9yrs ago, and I just didn’t know who to ask about some of the important things. Coping with decisions I would normally ask my mom is also where Karen and her monthly sessions made me feel less alone – I could again, brag or problem solve or just talk weddings. Karen and the other Brides Club members stepped in, in a way, where I was missing my mom. 

Honoring her mom was a big part of Emily’s wedding planning vision – and the couple’s stunning venue, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, was chosen in part because Emily had fond memories of visiting with her mom during her student days at The University of Texas at Austin.

Emily and Brant, Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas, USA

Emily and Brant‘s DIY Jewish Wedding | Photo by Caitlin McWeeney Photography

We’ve also got to tell you Emily’s hilarious ketubah story. She won her gorgeous tree ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ink with Intent via a Smashing The Glass giveaway – before she was even engaged!

We adore everything about this very special wedding, from Emily’s DIY prowess to the chuppah built by the groom to the taco menu.

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A Multicultural Nigerian-Jewish Wedding at LJS and Dyrham Park, UK

21/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Justin-and-Emma-Dyrham-Park-Hertfordshire-UK

We love it when a couple crafts a one-of-a-kind wedding that truly reflects both of their backgrounds and the life they’ve built together – which is exactly what London couple Emma, an investment analyst in finance, and Justin, who works as a senior manager in digital marketing, did.

Emma and Justin’s shared Jewish faith plays a central role in shaping the way they live, so it was only natural for them to choose to hold the religious part of their wedding at their beloved shul,  LJS in St. John’s Wood.

The next part of their day was focused on celebrating Emma’s Nigerian heritage: after the chuppah, everyone moved on to the reception and vibrant Nigerian cultural ceremony at Dyrham Park, a beautiful country house and golf club located in Hertfordshire. The Igbo-Arochukwu cultural wedding featured a wine carrying ceremony, a symbolic moment where the bride carries wine from her father to present to her groom, followed by the blessing of the marriage. The evening also included performances from Ekombi dancers, paying tribute to Emma’s maternal Oron-Nigerian heritage. Helen Weir captured the day so beautifully from start to finish – don’t miss her exquisite imagery!

Now over to Emma…

Justin-and-Emma-Dyrham-Park-Hertfordshire-UK Justin-and-Emma-Dyrham-Park-Hertfordshire-UK Justin-and-Emma-Dyrham-Park-Hertfordshire-UK Justin-and-Emma-Dyrham-Park-Hertfordshire-UK

How We Met

Emma, the bride and Justin, the groom: We met towards the end of the Covid lockdowns, as restrictions began to ease in late 2021, through the dating app Hinge. Our first date was at the Patch Bar near Moorgate, where we ended up trying karaoke and exploring central London. The rest, as they say, is history! Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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