Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Julie Vino Bride for an Elegantly Ethereal Jewish Wedding Featuring a Sunset Chuppah at The Trask, Tel Aviv, Israel

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Adina-and-Maurice-The-Trask-Tel-Aviv-Israel

There’s nothing like a Jewish wedding on the water, and Adina and Maurice’s is truly something special. Adina, who made aliyah from Canada, and Maurice, who hails from England, found their dream venue in Tel Aviv’s The Trask, which they loved for its urban chic vibe with breathtaking views and a beachy twist – not to mention the opportunity to have an outdoor chuppah on the rooftop!

Drawing from their different backgrounds, Adina and Maurice’s wedding was a reflection of their shared values, traditions, and love for the fun, vibrant lifestyle they’ve adopted since coming to Israel. Featuring a sunset chuppah and fun personal touches like a custom Mad Libs game telling the couple’s story, this was a truly special day.

The couple’s photographer, the incredibly talented Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jossef Si, captured all the love and emotion of the day exquisitely. In Adina’s words,

Jossef has a unique gift for not only taking photos but truly capturing emotions. Every image felt alive, reflecting the joy, love, and magic of the day. His meticulous attention to detail, creative vision, and ability to catch candid, heartfelt moments left us deeply impressed and grateful for his work.

Now over to the bride, who looked radiant in her gown by Julie Vino…

Adina-and-Maurice-The-Trask-Tel-Aviv-Israel Adina-and-Maurice-The-Trask-Tel-Aviv-Israel Adina-and-Maurice-The-Trask-Tel-Aviv-Israel Adina-and-Maurice-The-Trask-Tel-Aviv-IsraelHow We Met

Adina, the bride: We met during Starguest’s luxury Passover program in Engelberg, Switzerland. My family joined their ski program in the Alps for the holiday, and needless to say, we became “that program couple.” Although we brushed past each other at first, by the second night seder, sparks flew.

Our first interaction happened when I asked Maurice for a caffeinated tea to get me through the evening. He flustered to present the full selection. Despite his busy schedule, Maurice always carved out time for me. Our first dates included snowy walks through the village, mountain hikes, and cozy after-hours dinner dates in the ballroom. Those magical moments set the foundation for our love story. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

New to Smashing The Glass for February ‘25

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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! 

Jonny Kustow | London, UK, and Europe

Jonny Kustow is a London-based professional and independent wedding celebrant with more than ten years of experience in officiating at wedding ceremonies both in the UK and abroad. He specializes in creating and leading Jew(ish) style weddings that weave in elements of other faiths and traditions. 
 
With no restrictions on time, location or content, he loves working with couples to build a tailor-made ceremony with as many traditions or individualized details as they want. He’ll listen to your ideas, offer expert guidance, and help you plan a ceremony that reflects your love, personality, values, and beliefs.
 

+44 7980 711116
info@jonnythecelebrant.co.uk
www.jonnythecelebrant.co.uk
Vimeo – About Me

Tchotchke | Based in NYC, Shipping Internationally

Tchotchke ketubahs are imagined with a nod to tradition mixed with buckets of whimsy and beauty. Designed for couples who think Judaism is an expression of ourselves and the spaces we inhabit, each stylish, contemporary piece is a work of art you’ll cherish forever. 

The Tchotchke team believes that filling our homes with Jewish artifacts and artworks is a key way to ensure that the Jewish people’s culture, customs and spirit thrive for generations to come.

+1-484-459-8357
adam@shoptchotchke.com
www.shoptchotchke.com
Instagram | Facebook

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A Veni Infantino Bride for an Interfaith Winter Jewish Wedding at The Rosewood London, UK

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Kirsty and Dean, Rosewood London, London, UK

We love a good winter wedding – and the fabulous London celebration of Kirsty, a Pilates instructor, and Dean, who works in technology recruitment, ticks ALL our boxes!

Opting to wed in November, the duo knew they didn’t want a typical all-white winter wedding, so they went for a soft color palette featuring nudes, blush pink, and gold, and warmed the room with candles everywhere. Their stunning venue, the Rosewood London, made for the perfect backdrop for this elegantly cozy day.

To make the day of their dreams a reality, Kirsty and Dean turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Elegante by Michelle J’s Piccolo premium coordination service, which brought all the suppliers together in the leadup and on the day, so that everything ran seamlessly and the bride and groom could enjoy their wedding stress-free.

Another Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, Big Day Designs, created Kirsty and Dean’s wonderful invitations. They wanted something relatively simple and minimalistic but that didn’t look the same as everyone else’s – and did Big Day ever come through: many of the guests reported that it was the nicest invitation they’d received!

Photographer Lynn Shapiro captured all the details of the day so beautifully, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Denee Motion handled the videography with their usual aplomb – don’t miss their fabulous trailer!

We also love that Kirsty and Dean set up their chuppah canopy such that it was rigged to the ceiling, so that after the ceremony they could remove the poles and repurpose it as a fabulous floral chandelier to enjoy all night long!

Read on for more on this very special day in the bride’s own words…


Kirsty and Dean, Rosewood London, London, UKKirsty and Dean, Rosewood London, London, UK Kirsty and Dean, Rosewood London, London, UKKirsty and Dean, Rosewood London, London, UK

How We Met

Kirsty, the bride: We met at a golf club in Chigwell, watching the Champions League final in May, 2021. Dean moved to Chigwell from Australia around eight years ago and quickly slotted in with his English cousin’s group of friends – the same group of friends that Kirsty grew up with. They started speaking, saw each other a few times within the crowd over the next two weeks, went on a date and the rest is history!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A New Venue for London Jewish Weddings: Introducing the Natural History Museum’s New Garden Kitchen

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If you’re looking for a breathtaking venue for your Jewish wedding in London, we’ve got exciting news for you. The Natural History Museum, one of the most majestic wedding venues in the capital, has just launched a stunning new indoor-outdoor event space – the Garden Kitchen.

The Natural History Museum has long been a favourite for couples seeking a wedding with a touch of grandeur, thanks to its famous Romanesque arches, jaw-dropping exhibits, and of course the iconic Hope the blue whale. And now, with the introduction of the Garden Kitchen as a new space perfect for an indoor-outdoor Jewish wedding, you have even more ways to make your wedding day truly extraordinary.

All About the Garden Kitchen

Nestled in the museum’s beautifully transformed Evolution Garden, the Garden Kitchen offers an open-plan space with wooden beams and expansive windows that allow natural light to flood in. Available for exclusive hire after museum hours, the Garden Kitchen is the perfect venue for any summer evening celebration, from a chic reception to a full-scale wedding.

Just imagine standing under the chuppah under the gaze of Fern the Diplodocus, surrounded by flowers, plants, and the sounds of nature (yes, even in bustling South Kensington you really will feel like you’re nestled in a calm oasis away from it all). The Garden Kitchen can accommodate up to 300 guests for standing, or 100 for a seated dinner.

A Natural History Museum Wedding

The Garden Kitchen is just the beginning when it comes to the museum’s wedding offerings. With the adjoining Darwin Centre and Wildlife Gardens, the grand Hintze Hall (accommodating 450 for dinner and dancing), and the more intimate Earth Hall (accommodating 200 for dinner and dancing), the museum has spaces perfect for all kinds of Jewish weddings. If you’re planning a really big bash, you could even hire the whole museum: for the first time, the Natural History Museum is offering exclusive full-day hire of its entire venue!

Jewish Wedding Experts

In addition to the breathtaking spaces, another perk of getting married at the Natural History Museum is that the dedicated events team are seasoned Jewish wedding pros. They know all the ins and outs that make Jewish weddings so special, and they’ll be on hand to assist you from the planning stage right through to delivery on the day. And with kosher catering partner Dvash available to provide contemporary gourmet cuisine for couples who require kosher certification, you’ve got everything you need for the Jewish wedding of your dreams.

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An Eisen Stein Bride for a Boho-Chic Jewish Wedding at Kahi Resort, Israel

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Shira-and-Yoav-Kahi-Resort-Israel

Some weddings just radiate magic, and Shira and Yoav’s stunning bohemian-chic celebration at Israel’s breathtaking Kahi Resort was exactly that! The couple created a deeply personal, unforgettable day, filled with heartfelt touches and dreamy aesthetics that perfectly matched the Maldives-inspired venue.

Shira, who works for baby stroller company Doona, and Yoav, who runs a cyber security company, knew they wanted a wedding that felt meaningful, stylish, and full of love. Enter Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Vanessa Ohayon, their incredible wedding planner, who – in Shira’s words,

was the cherry on the cake, and the entire cake itself! She helped with everything you could think of, she provided emotional support and spiritual guidance, giving the entire planning process and the day itself meaning.

And let’s talk about the photography! The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh, whose warm and natural approach made them feel at ease right away. From their first meeting, they knew he was the perfect person to capture their love story.

This wedding is a true boho-chic dream, filled with meaningful moments, stunning design, and a whole lot of love. Keep reading to see every breathtaking detail!

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How We Met

Shira, the bride: Shira’s boss, Tal, is best friends with Yoav. One day, Tal asked Shira how she’d feel about being set up with his best friend. Believing in always giving things a chance, she said yes. She sent Tal pictures of herself, and her Facebook. Within two hours, Yoav Facebook messaged her, and the rest as they say… is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading