Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Join Us For a Jewish Community Get-Together This Sunday, March 3

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Photo credit: Israel and You 

Every day, I’m hearing from so many of you who are struggling with the current environment of pervasive Jew hate. It’s really rough out there right now – but at the same time, it’s more important than ever to be proud and empowered in our Jewish identities. 

But none of us can do it alone – and that’s why I’m running a FREE 90-minute community Zoom get-together for everyone who could use some support and connection from other Jews who are going through the same things as you.

The event will take place this Sunday, March 3, at 8:30 PM UK / 4:30 PM NYC / 1:30 PM LA, and you’ll find:

  • Connection, community, and comradery with fellow Jews who understand what you’re going through right now – including breakout sessions to share whatever you are feeling
  • Step-by-step guidance on effectively combatting Jew hate and misinformation about Israel, online and off
  • Q&A session – for advice and guidance on anything you want to talk about or share.

This event is free and open to the community, so please do register now  – and share with anyone you think could benefit.
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A Berta Bride for a Romantic and Modern Jewish Wedding in White at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, Florida, USA

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There’s just something about an all-white color scheme – and we are absolutely loving Adiel and Murray’s monochromatic masterpiece of a Jewish wedding at Florida’s St. Regis Bal Harbour!

The couple’s floral chuppah is just beyond, and we can’t get enough of the gorgeous centerpieces either – don’t miss them in the wonderful photos by Andrew of Luvrox Photography and trailer by Ray Roman!

Another touch we adore? Adiel and Murray chose a gorgeous ketubah featuring roosters from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ketubah.com, in honor of the groom’s late grandparents who had rooster figurines throughout their home in keeping with Syrian tradition that roosters are good luck.

We also love that Adiel was committed to wearing a gown by an Israeli designer, and she could not have looked more stunning in her sparkly Berta gown! We’ll turn you over to her now for the rest…

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How We Met

Adiel, the bride: We met at Murray’s sister’s wedding in NYC March 2017.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Win a Romantic Stay at the Pan Pacific London, A Haven of Serenity in the Heart of the City

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Freya and David‘s Jewish wedding at the Pan Pacific | Photo by Dominika Miechowska

I’m so delighted to be able to offer you the chance to win an overnight stay at Pan Pacific London, a stunning luxury hotel that combines Singaporean hospitality with London design!

If you’re looking for a luxurious and contemporary haven in the heart of London to host your Jewish wedding, look no further.

Located in the center of the City in One Bishopsgate Plaza, Pan Pacific London‘s location is unrivaled. Juxtaposing the best of old and new London architecture, One Bishopsgate Plaza showcases not only a modern bronze tower, but also the 144 year old One Devonshire House. Add in some serene Singaporean flair, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for a Jewish wedding.

Freya and David‘s Jewish wedding at the Pan Pacific | Photo by Dominika Miechowska

Naturally, Pan Pacific London is known for its world-class service. The hotel’s events team are passionate about working with each and every couple to plan a day tailored to your individual needs and tastes. 

The hotel’s dedicated Event Emporium – the only one of its kind in the city – is an immersive experience that turns those important occasions into sensory experiences. Absolutely no detail is spared during inspirational one-on-one sessions; from the softness of the linen to the curation of personalised menus and the scent of the room, there are no limits other than your imagination. Pan Pacific London’s dedicated Celebrations Connoisseurs are ready and waiting to help you create a bespoke Jewish wedding that will exceed your wildest dreams. 

Focus on Wellbeing

Part of what makes Pan Pacific London special is its focus on bringing serenity and wellbeing to the bustling City. Nowhere is this better encapsulated than in the hotel’s world-class SENSORY Wellbeing, a destination floor dedicated exclusively to holistic health and featuring the most technologically advanced hotel gym and facilities in London.

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A Galia Lahav Bride for a Relaxed Jewish Wedding All About the Party at Riverpark, New York, USA

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When they set out to plan their Jewish wedding, New Yorkers Samantha, a software engineer, and Alex, an endocrinologist, knew they wanted their big day to be all about dancing and celebrating.

They turned to their phenomenal planner, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Andrea Adelstein of NYLUX Events, and she went above and beyond in making the day of their dreams a reality. She helped them find the perfect NYC venue, Riverpark restaurant, and craft the perfect relaxed evening full of dancing and fun.

A few special touches we can’t get enough of: the gorgeous birch chuppah, the 11 PM espresso martinis and fries, and the fact that Samantha and Alex each smashed a glass at the end of the ceremony! Oh, and we can’t forget Samantha’s stunner of a gown from beloved Israeli designer Galia Lahav!

Take one look at Karlie Louise’s wonderful photos and you can tell what a blast the duo – and everyone around them – was having! Read on for the rest of the story.  


How We Met

Alex and Samantha met at a math competition in high school, where they were both competing. Samantha offered to put her number in Alex’s calculator and the rest is history. 14 years later, they are newlyweds. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Things to Consider When You’re Planning a Jewish Destination Wedding in Mexico and the Caribbean

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Who doesn’t love Jewish destination wedding? Just imagine making it official in a tropical paradise like Mexico or the Caribbean, with the ocean breeze drifting through your chuppah – pure perfection!

That said, there are some extra considerations you’ll need to keep in mind when planning your Jewish wedding abroad – and we brought in our friends at Destination Weddings by Vacationeeze to walk you through them.

Vacationeeze is a family-owned full-service travel advisor specializing in destination weddings in Mexico and the Caribbean. They’ve helped many Jewish couples from all kinds of backgrounds create the weddings of their dreams, and they’ve got an awesome portfolio of top resorts who understand how to bring a Jewish wedding to life.

The team at Vacationeeze understands how important your Jewish wedding is, and they’ve shared with us some of the key things to consider when planning your special day. We’ll let them take it from here…

What type of ceremony?

One of most important decisions you need to make is about what kind of ceremony you want. Do you want a traditional Jewish ceremony, or something more personal with Jewish touches? Or maybe you’re interfaith?

Regardless, you’ll need to secure your officiant – whether a rabbi or cantor or otherwise. You might choose to fly out someone from home, or you can work with your planner or venue to help find a suitable local officiant who suits your needs. Not all locales will have a rabbi or cantor available – especially if you need one from a particular denomination – so this is something to sort out right at the start of your planning.

 

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