Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Limor Rosen Bride for a Gorgeous Garden Jewish Wedding at the Groom’s Parents’ Home in the North of Israel

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Today’s Jewish wedding is giving us SERIOUS garden envy.

Lauri, a veterinary nurse and student, and Gal, who is a poet and teacher in addition to managing the Eduard Bar in Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, always knew they wanted to get married at Gal’s parents’ home in the north of Israel — and if you take a quick scroll through their fantastic, ultra-stylish photos from ultra-talented Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, you’ll see why.

This picture-perfect outdoor space was basically an intimate wedding venue waiting to happen. With plenty of stone (so Israeli!), a veritable backyard forest of trees, and even a pond, it’s just the absolute loveliest.

Also pretty lovely? Lauri’s super cool Limor Rosen dress. With stunning beadwork, lace, and a contemporary slim fit and halter neck, it looked just SO perfect on this stunning bride.

We’ll let Lauri take it from here…


Bringing it All Home

Lauri, the bride: We got married at Gal’s parents house in the north of Israel. A small moshav called Mistpe Abirim. We loved the idea of getting married in Gal’s family home. Lauri’s parents got married in her mother’s parents garden and we loved the idea of doing the same. They have a very beautiful garden and it is home to us.
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Real Jewish Brides: Rebecca’s Only Got Two Weeks To Go!

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Rebecca will be marrying David on 7th October 2018 at a secret location in Israel! Click here to read all Rebecca’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Rebecca and David met on JSwipe (so old school we know 😉 ) (2) They are having a destination wedding in Israel at a secret location! (3) They are getting married on Rebecca’s grandparents wedding anniversary (who have been married for 64 years). We LOVE that!


Almost There…

Well, we made it! Two weeks to go! And what a journey this has been.

I must say whilst it has been crazy.. David and I have learnt a lot about ourselves and have worked together well to get everything ready in time for the big day. The flat is FINISHED, it was a race against time but everything has arrived and I am almost fully moved in now, ready to leave West Hampstead when we come back from Israel. It’s been hard work doing lots of the work ourselves but we did it!

David had his Stag Do in Kent which he enjoyed (I’m happy to say he came back in one piece!). Lots of the boys came from all over including the US and Israel so he was really touched they made the journey.

Jewish Wedding Brook Farm Cuffley, Hertfordshire, UK_0015
Image by Tom Webb and Dan McCourt from Rachel and Josh’s wedding (soon on Smashing The Glass)

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A Monique Lhuillier Bride for an Ultra-Glam Old Hollywood Jewish Wedding at the Four Seasons, Los Angeles, California, USA

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Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Los Angeles CA USA_0011
We are totally obsessed with the bride, Natasha’s fab Monique Lhuillier gown in today’s mega-glam Jewish wedding. The lace, the fit, that gorgeous pouf at the bottom… LOVE.

It’s no wonder lovely Natasha ended up with such a fab gown — as a buyer for Forever21, she knows a thing or two about fashion. So does dapper groom Ariel, as the CEO of an LA-based clothing manufacturer.

From the stunning outdoor palm-tree lined ceremony space (so LA) to the ever-so-glam reception space, the couple’s style is out in full force. And if you needed further evidence of their fantastic taste, they used one of our very own Smash Glass Pouches under the chuppah! Check it out in Wind Productions’ fantastic photo just below.

Beyond the aesthetics, we’re also super touched by the efforts Natasha made to include her parents, who live all the way on the other side of the world in London, in the planning.

She chose her mega-luxe venue partly because it just happened to be the hotel her parents had stayed at (and adored) on their very first visit to her after she made the big move across the pond, and even let her mum and dad design the wedding invitations!

There’s so much more to love about this wedding, but we’ll let Natasha fill you in on the rest…

Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Los Angeles CA USA_0011Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Los Angeles CA USA_0011

Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Los Angeles CA USA_0011

Jewish Wedding at Four Seasons Los Angeles CA USA_0082
Old School Hollywood

Natasha, the bride: we got married at the Four Seasons, Los Angeles. It’s actually funny because 6 years ago when I moved to Los Angeles on my parents’ first trip to visit me here they stayed at this hotel. I remember at the time them seeing a wedding while being there and saying what an amazing place to make a wedding… six years later I ended up having my wedding there.

This wasn’t the only reason , it’s close to where we live and very old school Hollywood with a beautiful outdoor setting… but the fact that my mum and dad loved the venue so much swayed me as I always try and make them happy too. As my dad kept saying to me… this is really our wedding Natasha… when you have a daughter and she gets married – then it will be your wedding!

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From Sketch to Dress: A Q&A with Master Bridal Designer Caroline Castigliano

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So you’re a newly engaged bride — yaaaaay! What’s the first thing on your mind (after sharing the big news with your family and friends, of course)?

If you’re like us, it just might be the dress. It may even have been on your mind way before you got engaged — how many of us can truly say we’re not guilty of sneaking the occasional peak at a favorite designer’s website, or in their shop window?

Your dress is such a huge component of your wedding style, and we know finding one that’s the right fit for you is of the utmost importance. So what could be better than having a bespoke gown made? And by master wedding dress designer Caroline Castigliano, no less?

One of our absolute favorite designers here at STG, Caroline Castigliano has been working at the forefront of British bridal design for 27 years. She’s known for her ultra-unique bespoke gowns, featuring all kinds of fantastic details from the finest fabrics to the signature hidden corset (designed to define and balance your figure to perfection).

Every Caroline Castigliano gown is a one-of-a-kind piece, and each is handcrafted in the UK, and the dreamy Knightsbridge store is one of the world’s ultimate bridal destinations.

That’s why we’re so thrilled to bring you a Q&A with the Caroline Castigliano team on what you can expect from Caroline Castigliano’s bespoke design process. Read on for some serious bridal fashion inspo.

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A Viktor & Rolf Bride for an Enchanted Garden Jewish Wedding at Havat Ronit, Israel

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Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002
A bridal cape, candy butterflies, tango music… swooooon. Today’s French-Israeli destination Jewish wedding is just SO full of fantastic, unique touches. Sarah, a lawyer (and member of our Brides Club), and Uri, who works in real estate, created the most wonderful, distinctive day — partly thanks to their “wedding bible,” (in Sarah’s own words!) Smashing The Glass!

Sarah reports that she found lots of her vendors through STG, found inspo for details, and more. Our fave quote from her awesome writeup? “It’s a miracle I didn’t find my husband on it too.” LOVE.

But back to the cape. We are OBSESSED. Our friends at fab London bridal boutique and STG Recommended Vendor Mirror Mirror deemed 2018 “the year of the cape” on the Facebook Live they did with us earlier this year, and after seeing how Sarah pulled hers off we’re inclined to agree. Photographer Camellia captured the glorious fashion — plus all the other details of the day — so exquisitely.

Sarah looked just so elegant and distinctive in that cape — obviously her hyper-glam dress (that tiered skirt!) from Viktor & Rolf didn’t hurt either — and we love how it’s an easy way to add that little something extra for the ceremony. And the story of how Sarah ended up with it is pretty cool in its own right.

We also love that Sarah chose to depart from the bridal script and walk down the aisle to… a tango! How’s that for a dramatic entrance (you know, to go with that cape)? Turning it over to the gorgeous bride, Sarah…

 Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002

Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002

Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002

Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002

Jewish wedding Havat Ronit Ronit Farm Israel_0002
How we met

Sarah, the bride: I am French but grew up between Paris and Madrid and moved to New York 11 years ago. Uri grew up in Hertzlyia in Israel, and moved to New York 6 years ago.

We were set up by our only friend in common at the time, we kissed on our first date. 2 years later Uri proposed in the middle of Washington Square Park where we had wandered around on our first date. Our matchmaker was our witness at our civil wedding in New York.Continue ReadingContinue Reading