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Inspired Jewish Weddings

My Favourite Jewish Wedding Dresses from The Wedding Club X Berta FW23 Runway Show

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I’m so excited to report back from THE wedding event of the season: the Wedding Club X Berta FW23 Runway Show at the Bvlgari Hotel in Knightsbridge. 

Israeli bridal designer Berta is so popular with STG readers – you can see past Berta brides’ weddings we’ve featured here – as is beloved #STGvendor The Wedding Club, one of London’s top bridal boutiques.

The Wedding Club also happens to be Berta’s exclusive stockist here in London, so if you’re as smitten with this fabulous new collection as I am, reach out to The Wedding Club ASAP to book your appointment. 

Berta’s dresses are truly the epitome of luxury, each one handmade from the finest fabrics in Berta’s studio.

I was absolutely blown away by the elegance and sophistication of the designs I saw.

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A Kallmeyer Bride for a Parisian Chic Jewish Wedding at Pavillon Dauphine, Paris, France

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Susie-Axel-Pavillon-Dauphine-Paris-France

It’s not easy planning a Jewish wedding long-distance – and that goes double when it happens to be halfway across the world, as was the case for California-based couple Axel and Susie! In honor of Axel’s French roots – he’s originally from Lyon, France – the couple opted to make things official in none other than the City of Lights.

And they found the perfect partner in making their dreams come true in their wedding planner, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor La Fete. Working with a knowledgeable planner is so key when planning your big day from afar – and if you scroll through the beautiful photos from Dream Prod, we’re pretty sure you’ll agree La Fete knocked it out of the park.

Everything about this exquisite wedding was perfectly Parisian chic from the venue, Pavillon Dauphine, to Susie’s 4-piece custom wedding outfit by Daniella Kallmeyer of Kallmeyer. And naturally, the food was nothing short of gourmet.

Read on for all the wonderful details of this very special day…

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How we Met

Axel and Susie met in April 2019 in San Francisco, California on the dating app “Hinge.” Axel, originally from Lyon, France, had been living in SF since 2015. Susie, originally from Washington, D.C., moved to SF from Mexico City in March 2019 and met Axel shortly after – very shortly in fact: he was her first date since moving to SF. On their first date, they met for dinner on a Tuesday night and were the last two to leave the restaurant. A few months of persistence later, Axel asked Susie to join him on a trip to France in September 2019 – and the rest is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Berta Bride for an Ultra-Romantic Destination Jewish Wedding in White at Finca La Concepcion, Marbella, Spain

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Natasha-Adam-La-Concepcion-Marbella-Spain

Buckle your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff to sunny Marbella, Spain, where UK couple Natasha and Adam held their fabulous Jewish wedding!

The couple’s venue, Finca La Concepcion, was the perfect spot for their romantic summer garden wedding, and they found the perfect partner to bring their dreams to life in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Dyana Dessar, who they found right here on STG! In Natasha’s words, “Straight away we knew it was a perfect match as she completely understood my vision. I have always wanted an all-white wedding, ultra-romantic wedding with a lot of candles and sparkly lights. Dyana made sure all my visions came to life.”

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Emily & Jo carried on that vision in their beautiful wedding stationery, featuring simple, classic designs in white with highlights of gold. Natasha and Adam loved working with Emily & Jo, and they were thrilled with the results – don’t miss them in the fabulous photos by Bloomfield Photography.

Also on theme was Natasha’s exquisite Berta gown, which fit perfectly with the surroundings – and was light and comfortable enough for the Spanish summer weather!

There’s so much more we want to tell you about this absolute fairy tale of a day, but we’ll let Natasha take it from here…

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Natasha, the bride: We first met nearly 10 years ago, I was 18 years old it was the night I finished my last A-level and Adam had just got back from his gap year. We are both from Manchester and went to the same high school but never bumped into each other before then. Adam proposed towards the end of lockdown, almost 8 years of being together. We were renovating our 1st house and he had decorated the house full of white roses and candles and I said yes!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained – Jewish Wedding Dancing (The Hora)

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All imagery by Blake Ezra Photography. This is part 8 of the 8-part Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained series.

So far in this Jewish Weddings Explained series, we’ve gone through the entire day from morning to evening, now the real fun begins. Let’s be honest, Jewish weddings are known for their dancing. If there’s one thing that most non-Jewish guests know about a Jewish wedding, it’s that someone is going to be lifted on a chair and there’s going to be some crazy dancing.

In fact, we recently photographed a stunning and intimate non-Jewish wedding in the rolling hills of Devon. A couple of months before that day, the Groom’s brother had married a Jewish girl in New York. The Groom enjoyed the dancing at his brother’s wedding so much that he insisted his guests hoist him and his new wife onto chairs, which they did, as other guests around them clapped and made vaguely Jewish-sounding noises like ‘oy, oy, oy’. Even at non-Jewish weddings, lifting the couple on chairs will always be awesome!

Firstly, what do we call it? Most people nowadays refer to this part of the wedding as the ‘Israeli Dancing’. For me, it’s not as though everybody in Israel dances down the street in a circular fashion on their way to the local shops, and when you go into a club in Tel Aviv, you don’t see everyone being lifted up on chairs… so I call it ‘Jewish dancing’.

Images from Jewish dancing at Weddings. Images from Jewish dancing at Weddings. Images from Jewish dancing at Weddings.
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Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Romantic Getaway at the Glamorous Kimpton Fitzroy London

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Are you looking for a London Jewish wedding venue that’s stylish, luxe, and boasts ultra-personal service from a team that knows Jewish weddings inside and out? Kimpton Fitzroy London ticks ALL those boxes and then some.

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London  | Photo by Fire & Ice

Since opening in 2018, Kimpton Fitzroy London has fast become a favourite venue for  STG couples – and it’s easy to see why, between its array of stunning event spaces, central Bloomsbury location, and luxe accommodations for the two of you as well as your out-of-town guests.

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London  | Photo by Fire & Ice

Kimpton Fitzroy London offers the perfect blend of modern comfort and classic elegance, and it’s the absolute perfect place to spend a romantic night in high style.

Danielle and Rob‘s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London  |  | Photo by Mike Garrard

That’s why I’m so excited that we’re teaming up with Kimpton Fitzroy London to offer one lucky couple (and you can be single with a plus one, engaged, or married to enter) a chance to experience the luxuries of the hotel.

The lucky winner will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime stay including all of the following:

  • An overnight stay in a luxury suite
  • Champagne and sweet treats on arrival
  • Pre-dinner cocktails in Fitz’s Bar
  • 3-course dinner with a bottle of wine in the Galvin Bar & Grill
  • Breakfast the following morning
  • The total prize value is £1300 !

Read on to find out how to enter!

All about Kimpton Fitzroy London

Originally built in 1898, Kimpton Fitzroy London offers the perfect package of historical charm, opulent elegance, and bespoke service fit for the Jewish wedding day of your dreams. And we love the flexibility the property offers: it’s equally suited for an intimate micro wedding or a classic Jewish celebration with up to 200 guests, and everything in between.

Needless to say, Kimpton Fitzroy London also offers sumptuous on-site accommodation for your guests, with over 300 beautifully appointed guest rooms designed to provide maximum comfort. The hotel also boasts several luxurious suites that are perfect for bridal parties – there’s no place more elegant to get ready on the big day!

A Jewish Wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy

Did we mention that the wonderful weddings team at Kimpton Fitzroy London is incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Jewish weddings? We can’t say it any better than real Jewish bride Ivi, whose incredible wedding we featured on STG:

The Kimpton Fitzroy is an absolutely rare gem – its glamorous opulence yet intimate warmth sets it worlds apart from the conventional swanky hotels a stone’s throw away in Mayfair. What we treasured the most is the loving way Jen and all of the hotel’s staff made us feel like royalty on our big day. No requests were too big or too small, we were met with smiles and genuine well wishes all day, we truly felt the hotel’s joy and pride of hosting us on the most special day of our lives. We are still pinching ourselves that we managed to get married in such an exceptional and luxurious venue. The Kimpton Fitzroy London will eternally be special to us and we cannot wait to return to spend our first wedding anniversary there!

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London  | Photo by Fire & Ice

Depending on your needs, you’ll have your pick of a range of delightful spaces – from the dramatic ballroom to eight-intimate rooms and four restaurants and bars, all flooded with natural light and historic details at every turn. With a capacity of up to 200 for a seated dinner and dance floor, or 350 standing, there’s plenty of space for the kind of big bash beloved by the Jewish community.

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London  | Photo by Fire & Ice

The centre of the property is the ballroom, a grand event space perfect for a standout Jewish ceremony followed by a beautiful reception, boasting a private entrance on Bernard Street, original 19th-century architectural details, a full wall of windows, and a mezzanine gallery.

And the adjoining Palm Court is the most magical backdrop for reception drinks, with a soaring glass ceiling that floods the room with light, comfortable clusters of seating, an outdoor terrace, and lots of gorgeous greenery — the vibe is conservatory meets lounge meets members club, and it is exactly as fabulous as it sounds.

Kosher Catering

Whether you’re looking for fully certified kosher catering or a delectable kosher-style menu, Kimpton Fitzroy London has got you taken care of. They’re partnered with popular London kosher caterer Ben Tenenblat, serving up modern, innovative KLBD-certified meals, as well as Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Adam Nathan Catering, who provides bespoke kosher-style menus fit for the day of your dreams. 

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