Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Monique Lhuillier Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding with a Peony Chuppah at L’Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy

by

Jewish wedding L'Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy_0055
We can hardly believe it ourselves, but this is our LAST real Jewish wedding of 2018!! Before Team STG heads off on our holiday break next week, we’re sending the year out with a bang (both literally and figuratively) with an amazing destination wedding in Tuscany, full of the most delicious Italian food, fireworks, and flowers for days.

We’ll be back with fresh content the first week of January, but until then be sure to check out our Instagram over the holidays for the latest and greatest Jewish wedding inspo.

So to close the year, we’ve got the fabulous Italian wedding of Meredith, who works in children’s fashion, and Sean, who’s in corporate finance. With the help of masterful planner Sara from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Infinity Weddings, the couple pulled together the wedding of their dreams all the way from New York.

We can’t get over all the wonderful details they put into the day, from a luxe peony chuppah (!) to surprise fireworks to a classic lace gown from Monique Lhuillier to a silk ribbon-strewn walkway on the way to the dinner — we’re totally obsessed with this last, ultra-creative idea, courtesy of the mother of the bride.

Not only did the colorful silk ribbons cast a magical ambience, each also had a handwritten fact about the couple, from where they met to their favorite vacation spots. Photographer David Bastianoni and videographer Marco Caputo did such a fantastic job of capturing the day in all its elegant splendor.

Oh, and did we mention that Meredith and Sean served their guests cacio e pepe out of a giant cheese wheel at dinner? Um, yes please!

There’s so much more we could say, but we’ll turn you over to the bride now…

Jewish wedding L'Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy_0055 Jewish wedding L'Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy_0055 Jewish wedding L'Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy_0055 Jewish wedding L'Andana, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy_0055
How we met

Meredith, the bride: We met on Jdate!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Win Tickets to the Berta 2019 F/W Fashion Show Launch {with The Wedding Club}

by


I’m so excited to tell you about a wonderful new competition STG is running with our friends (and beloved Recommended Vendor) The Wedding Club! We are offering five lucky members of our Brides Club invites to The Wedding Club’s exclusive press launch for the new Fall/Winter 2019 collection from legendary Israeli designer Berta (*SCREAM!*)

Not yet a member of our Brides Club? What are you waiting for? Join now!


Taking place on Thursday, 10 January at 6:30 pm, in the fabulous 5* luxury ballroom of the breathtaking – and brand new – Kimpton Fitzroy in central London, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Berta’s mega-glam Barcelona Collection alongside press and VIPs.


Head designer Berta Balilti’s trademark avant-garde bridal styles are as majestic as ever, and it’s going to be such a thrill to see them in person – I’ll be attending myself, and I would love to meet you there!


Our five lucky winners will each receive an invite (and a plus-one for the guest of their choice!), PLUS an appointment at Berta’s trunk show at The Wedding Club the weekend of Friday 11th – Sunday 13th January – PLUS 10% off the Berta dresses for that weekend! And as always, The Wedding Club’s appointment fee will be waived for Brides Club members. 

That’s a LOT of good stuff!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Made With Love Bride for a Luminous Jewish Wedding on the Beach at Kochav Hayam, Caesarea, Israel

by

Jewish wedding Kochav Hayam Casarea Israel_0049
What is it about beach weddings? Whether they’re in Israel, Florida, or somewhere further afield, we just cannot get enough of them. That blue water, the sound of the waves… throw in a palm tree (or several) and we’re sold.

And oceanside venues don’t get much dreamier than Kochav Hayam, where Milen who works in HR, and Arad, an accountant who also owns a judo club, held their stunner of a Jewish wedding.

From the exquisite sunset ceremony to the magical twinkly lights in the indoor reception hall to the lovely floral chuppah decked out in white flowers and greenery, it’s a seriously beautiful day — captured so exquisitely by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, who worked his photographic magic to capture the most luminous, elegant images.

Videographer Roey Harazy was no slouch either — he surprised the couple with a drone (!) on the day, which he used to capture some absolutely breathtaking footage of the Caesarea coastline.

Milen was the epitome of a radiant bride in her two dresses — one for the ceremony that she custom designed from a simple gown with the help of a seamstress, and the other (for the reception) from Made With Love — and we’re delighted to put you in her capable hands for the rest of the story…

Jewish wedding Kochav Hayam Casarea Israel_0049Jewish wedding Kochav Hayam Casarea Israel_0049Jewish wedding Kochav Hayam Casarea Israel_0049Jewish wedding Kochav Hayam Casarea Israel_0049
How we met

Milen, the bride: We both graduated from IDC – we met in the cafeteria!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

2019 Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Lindsay + Dan: How They Met To The Present Day…

by

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 4th gorgeous bride from our crop of 2019 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Lindsay, who will be marrying Dan on 25th August 2019 at Kochav Hayam in Caesarea, Israel.

THREE FACTS: (1) Lindsay and Dan were set up by Lindsay’s cousin! (2) They are planning an English-style destination wedding with a few modern twists in Caesarea, Israel. (3) Even though they are both Jewish, Lindsay is more interested in the religious element of the day than Dan, so they are working to balance tradition with their personal style – our favorite!


How We Met To The Present Day

Dan and I were introduced by my cousin. We’d both tried swiping, but after a long list of terrible dates, neither of us had been particularly lucky.

I was on a big family weekend away, and was kindly told that I must find a boyfriend because I was the next in line to get married — no pressure! This meant that I spent the whole weekend being shown pictures and Facebook profiles of all my potential “future husbands.” Dan was the one who got the seal of approval from me (and of course the rest of my family).

At the same time, Dan was at a friend’s wedding, surrounded by couples and received a text from an old school friend he’d only just got back in touch with (my cousin). She had the “most amazing girl” (definitely an exact quote) for him. After he did some of his own Facebook stalking, he agreed to take me out.

We planned to go on a date later that week, and on the day he told me he had been offered two tickets to see James Bay that evening. I panicked. Who goes to a concert on their first date?! But my colleagues convinced me that even if he was terrible, at least I’d get to see James Bay. Fortunately, it was a success, and here we are two and half years later, planning a wedding!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Theia Bride for a Jewish Wedding at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey, USA

by

Jewish wedding Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange New Jersey USA_0016

Okay, how adorable is Carly and Seth’s antique chuppah?! So unique, and such a perfect fit for their country venue. And we also love that they went on an antiquing trip — a tradition in Carly’s family — with the intention of finding their wedding canopy — aww! The one they chose needed a little extra TLC, but you’d never know to look at it in their beautiful photos by Kathy Thomas.

Carly, who runs HR at a private equity firm in NYC, and Seth, a retail operations consultant, opted for just some light floral accents — in the form of roses, natch — so as not to detract from the vintage structure, and we think they got it just right.

Between the gorgeous rustic-chic aesthetic and the fab party, courtesy of Reggie Woods from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Hank Lane — who led an 11-piece band in funk and oldies all night long— this is one wedding we seriously wish we could’ve attended.

Now over to Carly, who looked so effortlessly elegant in her Theia dress…

Jewish wedding Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange New Jersey USA_0080Jewish wedding Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange New Jersey USA_0016Jewish wedding Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange New Jersey USA_0016Jewish wedding Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange New Jersey USA_0016
Jersey Chateau 

Carly and Seth, the bride and the groom: We got married at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, NJ. We were trying to find a place in between where our families were (New York > Southern New Jersey). Carly’s father had a friend who had attended a wedding at this location which prompted a visit.

We really wanted an easy outdoor feel. The Pleasantdale Chateau offered the structure of a well organized wedding venue with the ease of an outdoor ceremony and cocktail reception. They also have an amazing solarium. When we (Seth and Carly) saw that room in our initial visit, we decided that we would have the first look in that room.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading