Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog - Page 3 of 256

A Heidi Hudson for an Intimate Second Marriage Destination Jewish Wedding on a Budget at the Mount Zion Boutique Hotel, Jerusalem

28/10/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Gorgeous chuppah alert! We’re obsessed with the way Nicki, head of trust fundraising at a national charity, and Andrew, who runs his own business as in commercial energy surveying and is a qualified pilot on the side, worked with their venue’s already stunning in situ outdoor foliage-laden chuppah, by adorning it with white roses and marking the path down the aisle with pillar candles and eucalyptus leaves. Pure perfection!

This was a second marriage for both members of the UK-based couple, and we love how they kept things intimate and family-focused, with a clear understanding of what mattered – celebrating with their nearest and dearest – and what didn’t. This was really a day all about love, and that comes through so clearly in the wonderful, natural photos from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman.

With a tightknit guest list of just 50 people and a commitment to spending sensibly, Nicki and Andrew made sure to involve their families in the big day – their four children participated in the ceremony, and other relatives read the Sheva Brachot.

There’s so much more to say, but we’ll leave the rest to Nicki, who looked stunning in her off-the-shelf (and affordable!) Heidi Hudson gown (chosen with the help of her 16-year-old daughter/bridal stylist!)…

How we met

Nicki, the bride: We met on JDATE!

An Adam Zohar Bride for a Laid-Back Israeli Jewish Wedding on the Beach at Al Hayam, Caesarea, Israel

25/10/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

We’re so excited to be sharing the beautiful Israeli beach wedding of our beloved Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Genna to Yoni!

These two were faced with the touch task of planning an epic Jewish wedding thousands of miles from their home in NYC in under five months – and did they ever pull it off! To scroll through their gorgeous photos from Idan Hasson, you’d never guess it all came together on such a tight timeline.

And we’re so delighted to hear that Genna attributes her success in large part to the beautiful community that is Brides Club – which she was introduced to by her wonderful wedding planner, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Vanessa Ohayon, the other key ingredient in bringing this amazing day together seamlessly.

In her own words, on joining Smashing The Glass Brides Club

“I instantly felt a sense of calm that I had a supportive community of women I could bounce questions and ideas off of. I was able to make the quick decisions I needed to by reaching out of the many other brides who were married in Israel.”

Thanks Genna – hearing this makes us sooooo happy!!!

We’re totally in love with the laid-back, totally Israeli beach aesthetic the couple went for – Israeli groom Yoni wanted to make sure the big day kept that Israeli party vibe. There’s a fab chuppah, the most incredible seaside setting, the dreamiest florals… and we’re obsessed with Genna’s bridal style, too. She wore a stunning lace mermaid gown by Adam Zohar (an Israeli designer, natch), and we don’t think she could possibly have looked any more gorgeous.

Over to you, Genna!

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How we met

Genna, the bride: Yoni and I met at a party on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12!) when we were both living in Tel Aviv. We started off as friends, and then dated, at points we were “on and off,” but our relationship grew and morphed into a truly solid, loving friendship and partnership. I moved back to New York in 2016 and he arrived shortly after. He proposed in Central Park in February of this year, after a 6-year relationship full of lots adventure, hard times and plenty of good.

Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra’s Search for an Unorthodox Rabbi

23/10/2019 by Smashing The Glass Leave a Comment

Alexandra will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

My fiance and I are pretty up on the major Jewish holidays. When we scheduled our wedding on May 10th, 2020 in Ostuni, Italy, we thought it would be the perfect time to find an officiant; we were wrong. Most rabbis in Italy are Orthodox and we are getting married during the counting of the Omer when weddings aren’t conducted.

If you are like me, you may not know what the forty-nine day period that constitutes the counting of the Omer is all about. It begins on Passover and ends on Shavuot and we are getting married in the middle of it. The idea of counting each day between the two holidays represents spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

It is considered a time of semi-mourning. During this period, Orthodox Jews are forbidden from getting haircuts, shaving, listening to instrumental music, or conducting weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing.

Image by Maloman Studios from Lindsey and Corey’s wedding

Calling All Jewish and Jew-ish Couples: Take the Journey of a Lifetime with Honeymoon Israel

22/10/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

Photo: Honeymoon Israel

If you’re a regular reader of STG, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I love Israel. From the landscape to the culture to the spirituality to the history to the food (THE FOOD!), it’s a truly incredible country.

Photo: Betsy Biglin / Honeymoon Israel

Being half Israeli myself, it’s a place that’s especially close to my heart – and one I think every Jewish and Jew-ish couple should take the time to get to know a little better.

Photo: Lindsay Arnold / Honeymoon Israel

There’s no question that it’s a fab vacation spot, whatever your interests, and it’s also the perfect place to explore your Jewish (or Jew-ish) identity – whatever your background, connection to Judaism, or political views on Israel.

Photo: Honeymoon Israel

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about Honeymoon Israel, a fantastic organization on a mission to bring Jewish life and understanding into the home of every Jewish or Jew-ish couple, in a personal, meaningful, and agenda-free way – through highly subsidized couples’ trips to Israel!

Photo: Lara Sparks / Honeymoon Israel

On a Honeymoon Israel trip, the two of you will spend nine exhilarating, romantic, and memorable days exploring Israel in luxury, alongside 19 other couples from your home city. You’ll take in all the classic tourist spots – the Western Wall, Jerusalem’s Old City, the beaches of Tel Aviv – and also catch some unique experiences you wouldn’t get on a standard vacation, like meals with local families and meetings with high-level public officials and business leaders.

Photo: Whitney Kirk / Honeymoon Israel

It’s also a chance for you and your partner to step back, recharge, and take some time to reconnect with each other and with other Jewish and Jew-ish couples at a similar stage in life from your city. A Honeymoon Israel trip will support your exploration of Jewish life and empower you to find your own connection to Judaism, individually, as a couple, and as part of a larger community.

A David’s Bridal Bride for a Jewish Wedding Steeped in History at The Old Palace, Hatfield House, Hatfield, UK

21/10/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

What better spot for a history-loving couple to wed than at Henry VIII’s summer palace?! That’s exactly what Natalie, a project manager, and Samson, who works in architecture, did when they opted for Hatfield House as their venue, and we are LOVING IT! Between the stunning 15^th-century building and the manicured knot gardens, this venue’s got serious wow factor.

And so does the couple’s chuppah, a wooden structure covered in soft white blossoms (also, how romantic is it that the chuppah aisle was lined with flowers and lanterns?!). And we love that the chuppah canopy was made by a friend, who quilted a design that will be turned into a family tree – and also a family heirloom for Natalie and Samson’s own future children to marry under one day.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz did the most amazing job capturing the photo and video, as always. The groom, who works in architecture, was especially drawn to the fact that the Luz team bring their own architecture backgrounds to their photography style – and the rest is history!

Natalie and Samson had The Matzoh Boys as their band – whose lead singer is the incredible Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jonny Mosesson – and the band brought their trademark soulful sound to the day.

A Venue with History

Natalie, the bride: We got married at The Old Palace, Hatfield House. Samson and I planned everything leading up to the day ourselves, which included the venue search. Hatfield House was the first venue we saw, and we found ourselves comparing every venue thereafter to it. That’s how we knew we had found the right one. The venue itself is steeped in history. It is King Henry the VIII former summer palace, and the location that Queen Elizabeth I found out that she would be queen. We both love history.

The space itself was incredible. The manicured knot gardens together with the 15th century building meant that the beauty was truly something spectacular. Being Australian, my aim was to pick a venue that our foreign guests would be ‘WOW’ed’ by. I think we achieved that aim!

The team at Hatfield House Hospitality were another massive selling point. They were kind, professional and engaged. I would recommend them to anyone.
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