Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

The War Against Israel: How to Feel Supported, Connected and Comforted with Everything Going On Right Now

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If you’re feeling isolated, shocked, heartbroken or scared, and unsure how to communicate about everything happening in Israel with your non-Jewish friends, colleagues, or on social media, watch the replay from last Sunday’s community get-together where you’ll learn:

  • How to handle friends who are outspoken about other issues, but are silent on Israel
  • Tips for talking about the war in Israel effectively
  • When to engage and when to walk away
  • How to handle comment trolls
  • Self care: How to deal with the stress of Jew hate
  • Basic history of the conflict, and resources on where to find out more

>> WATCH NOW

Some of the comments that have come in from people who have watched it are:

“I feel very confident now on how to approach others on the topic. Thank you so much”

“I’ve been feeling so alone. I don’t anymore!”

“Loved the ‘Chevruta”

“I might be able to sleep tonight for the first time in more than a week. It is just so nice to not feel alone.”

“Thank you for giving us straightforward ways of dealing with what we are all facing”

“I have felt so alone going through all of this, and now I feel connected + comforted”

“Thank you, you have brought light and made me feel better and hopeful”

“Not to waste time on idiots and trolls. More Jewish Joy and Hope!”

“Thanks for giving feeling of support, tips, just got to know you and love it!”

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COMMUNITY GET-TOGETHER: How To Talk about the War in Israel with People Who Don’t Get It

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How are you doing? I know that right now many of us are feeling isolated, shocked, heartbroken, and scared – and unsure how to communicate about it all with our non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and on social media.

It’s not easy to engage when we’re confronted with silence, or worse, hostility toward Israel.

But it’s so important that we speak up about what’s really going on – and I want to make sure you have the tools to do so confidently, safely, and effectively. 

That’s why this Sunday October 15, at 8:30 PM UK / 3:30 PM NYC / 12:30 PM LA I’m running a one-hour community get-together, where you’ll learn:

  • Tips for talking about the war in Israel effectively
  • When to engage and when to walk away
  • How to handle comment trolls
  • Basic history of the conflict, and resources on where to find out more
  • Plus, you’ll find a safe space to be with others who get how you’re feeling.

This event is free and open to the community, to please do register now and share with anyone you think could benefit.
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A Viktoria Chan Bride for a Boho Jewish Barn Wedding with Lot of DIY Touches at Kinkell Byre, St Andrews, Scotland, UK

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Genna-Raph-Kinkell-Byre-St-Andrews-Scotland

We love it when a couple plans a Jewish wedding that’s 100% totally them – which is exactly what Glasgow couple Genna, who works for an innovation charity, and Raphael, an architect, did for their big day in beautiful St Andrews.

Celebrating the groom’s Brazilian heritage as well as the couple’s home in Scotland and incorporating so many DIY touches from the couple and their mums, this is truly a wedding to remember.

The groom designed all the wedding stationery plus the ketubah – and also built the couple’s stunning minimalist chuppah – Genna’s mum handmade the kiddush cups over 50 wooden candle holders that were placed around the venue and on the tables, and Raphael’s mum baked the couple’s wedding cake! Don’t miss all the wonderful details in Christian Olliver’s beautiful photos!

Food is important to Genna and Raphael, and when it came time to choose a kosher caterer they went for the best of the best: Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Feast by Ed Shaerf. In Genna’s words, Feast by Ed “absolutely blew us away. Not only was the food incredibly tasty, but the presentation and the professionalism of the staff were also out of this world! Everything was seamless and ran like absolute clockwork.”

There’s so much more to say about this joyous, love-filled day – but we’ll leave it to Genna, who looked so radiant in her minimalist gown by Swedish designer Viktoria Chan – to fill you in on the rest…

Genna-Raph-Kinkell-Byre-St-Andrews-ScotlandGenna-Raph-Kinkell-Byre-St-Andrews-Scotland Genna-Raph-Kinkell-Byre-St-Andrews-ScotlandGenna-Raph-Kinkell-Byre-St-Andrews-Scotland
How We Met

Genna, the bride: We met through my brother, Adam, who has been Raph’s best friend since they were 10 years old. About 5 years ago, Adam and his then fiance, now wife, Olivia suggested that we go for a drink together because we had ‘lots in common’ – and it went from there! After a few years of a long distance relationship between Glasgow and London, we settled in Glasgow, where we’re both originally from.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Timelessly Elegant Jewish Wedding at Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA

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We can’t get enough of today’s gorgeous Jewish wedding on the water on the Florida coast! Jennifer, an ICU nurse, and Danny, a urologist, made things official at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, where they found the perfect venue for their timeless and elegant three-day celebration.  

Naturally, Jennifer and Danny needed the perfect classic ketubah to complement their vibe – and they found just the thing from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Noa Attias. Like all of Noa’s ketubahs, the gorgeous design the couple chose is truly a piece of art, and Jennifer and Danny are thrilled to be able to display it in their home. Don’t miss it in the beautiful photos from Carrie Wildes! 

We also love that when it came time for their mini-moon, Jennifer and Danny opted to spend it at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas! Just a 1.5 hour flight from their home in Tampa, it was the absolute perfect spot for the couple to relax and decompress after all the excitement of the wedding – and they especially enjoyed eating at the hotel’s kosher Asian fusion restaurant, Cinko!

There’s so much more to say, but we’ll let Jennifer fill you in on the rest…


How We Met

Jennifer, the bride: We met in early 2020 on bumble while we were living in Washington, D.C.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

How to Plan a Stress-Free Jewish Wedding Your Way {with Events by Natasha}

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Photo by Rafe Abrook

Wedding planning is such an exciting time in your life – but there’s no denying that it can be stressful, too. Between decision overload, family drama, budget challenges, and more, it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the details and lose focus on the big picture: you’re marrying the love of your life!

It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s not always easy, but with some smart decisions you can keep wedding planning joyful and, yes, low-stress – and I sat down with Natasha Levine of Events by Natasha, one of London’s top Jewish wedding planners, to chat through some top strategies for keeping wedding planning fun and drama-free.

In her years in the wedding industry, Natasha’s seen it all – and I’m so happy she’s sharing her hard-earned wisdom with us. 

Photo by David Pullum Photography

Top Tips for Low-Stress Wedding Planning    

When I asked Natasha for her very biggest tips to keep wedding planning stress-free, she shared four bits of wisdom – all of which speak to some of the most common struggles I hear from Jewish brides and grooms. 

First off, when it comes to selecting suppliers and planning various elements of the day, break it down and isolate each element. If you look at the big picture, it can be very overwhelming, but focusing on one individual component at a time feels much more manageable.

Second, try to not take on board too many opinions from friends and family members. It’s natural that your loved ones will want to help and guide you as best they can, but everyone has different experiences, tastes, and expectations. What might be a wonderful band for one couple might not be the best for another. Too many opinions can lead to confusion, overwhelm, and stress.  

I wasn’t at all surprised when Natasha reported that the most common wedding planning stressor among her couples is family. So many of us have a natural desire to keep the peace and try to please all the major players in the big day – but sometimes that’s just not possible, and letting go of that need to satisfy everyone is one of the hardest yet most essential steps toward a joyful wedding planning experience. 

Photo by David Pullum Photography

Third, delegate where possible. Don’t take on too much of the planning yourselves if you don’t have to. Ask a trusted family member to help source some suppliers or assist in gathering names and addresses for sending out invitations. Alternatively, you could hire a professional like Natasha to assist you with the entire planning production – a great planner will always be on hand at the other end of the phone, and they’ve got years of experience and contacts that can smooth the process (and save you money, too).

Finally, take breaks. Even with the best of intentions wedding planning can be overwhelming at times, and it’s important to remember to take breaks and engage in activities that help you relax and rejuvenate. It could be spending time with your partner, going for a spa day with your girlfriends, a weekend away, or any fun days out in your nearest city.Continue ReadingContinue Reading