Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Giveaway: Win a Custom Jewish Wedding Monogram to Brand Your Big Day

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To celebrate a simply smashing engagement session, we’ve teamed up with Jewish Wedding Monogram over on Instagram to give one lucky couple a unique emblem of your love to illustrate your wedding day and beyond.

Mega-talented artist Elise Lerner of Jewish Wedding Monogram specializes in helping couples brand their Jewish weddings with bespoke monograms – in Hebrew or English – that tell your one-of-a-kind love story.


We are such fans of the way Jewish Wedding Monogram beautifully ties together the spiritual and aesthetic elements of your special day, and one of her custom monograms is the perfect touch to personalize your stationery, benchers, kippot, and more.

Why Get a Custom Jewish Wedding Monogram?

When you choose to work on a custom Jewish wedding monogram with Elise, she’ll get to know the two of you so she can create a monogram that speaks to your personalities, styles, and relationship – this is so much more than a simple initial monogram like you’d get embroidered on a towel or tote bag!

After the Wedding

And while there’s no limit to the opportunities to use your monogram in branding your big day, having a custom monogram symbolizing your union as a married couple can serve as a wonderful souvenir to take into your married life, too. Put it on a challah cover or etch it onto a wine glass and be reminded of the wonderful memories of your wedding day, and the promises you made to each other. If you’re in the US, you can even have your monogram made into custom postage stamps – perfect for those thank you notes!

The Prize

The lucky winner of our competition will receive one custom designed Hebrew or English monogram incorporating the bride and groom’s initials to be used for wedding invitations & remembrances, valued at $500. Art will be camera ready.

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A Mediterranean Garden Wedding Full of Love, Lemons, and Olive Trees at Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, Israel

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Elinor & Daniel, Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, Israel

Some Jewish weddings just make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world. In the case of Elinor, a business manager in LA for people in the show business world, and Daniel, a software engineer, that world is a Mediterranean garden fantasia full of vibrant blue and yellow tones, olive and lemon trees, and, of course, plenty of flowers.

Elinor and Daniel knew they wanted to craft a wedding that would make their friends and family from abroad feel as if they were stepping into the couple’s home – and to make their vision a reality, they opted to work with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Bebke Productions. Gev and Inbal of Bebke are masters at putting together weddings that transport you, and they were the absolute perfect choice for this very special day.

In Elinor and Daniel’s words, Bebke Productions was “simply amazing,” working closely with the couple and handling every detail of the day with aplomb – as well as creating a killer atmosphere filled with fun touches like signs styled like Mediterranean tiles, an epic cocktail bar with signature drinks, a dining area modeled after an Italian courtyard, and so much more – don’t miss all the wonderful touches in the photos from Jen Sladkov.

There’s so much more to say about this very special Jewish wedding – read on for the whole story!

Elinor & Daniel, Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, Israel Elinor & Daniel, Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, IsraelElinor & Daniel, Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, IsraelElinor & Daniel, Beit al Hayam, Jaffa, Israel
How we Met

Elinor, the bride and Daniel, the groom: Our moms were in the army together and stayed friends. When I moved to LA, I was invited by Daniel’s mom to a Chanukkah party at her home and there I met Daniel.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Family-Focused Jewish Wedding in Teal and Silver at The Prado at Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

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Krystal & Richard, The Prado at Balboa Park, California, USA

We love it when a couple focuses their wedding on the things that really matter – which is exactly what today’s couple, Krystal, a chief in the Navy, and Richard, a construction manager, did. Early on, they decided they wanted to craft an intimate, budget-conscious day centered around family and faith, and their joyous San Diego Jewish wedding at The Prado at Balboa Park was exactly that.

Including family was key to the couple every step of the way. Krystal planned the wedding alongside her mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and sister-in-law, and on the day family members did everything from reading the seven blessings to leading the toasts. Including the memories of relatives who had passed away was also top of mind for Krystal and Richard, and, in addition to a memorial table with 4×6 picture frames with photos and names, during the ceremony the couple’s rabbi read out the names of late loved ones.

Family members also signed the couple’s stunning ketubah, which they found via Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com. They chose the Infinite Love Papercut design for its bright colors, and they loved working with Ketubah.com for their quick response times, variety, and ease of changes for text or delivery dates.

Krystal was a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club throughout her wedding planning, and we’re so touched to hear that she found the group a big source of support in everything from figuring out how to honor loved ones who have passed on, trimming down a guest list, and whether – and how – to manage a successful hora with a smaller crowd.

This was truly an incredible wedding – don’t miss the joy-filled photos by Bruna of Elegance in Frame Photography to see all the love and happiness of the day!

Krystal & Richard, The Prado at Balboa Park, California, USA Krystal & Richard, The Prado at Balboa Park, California, USA Krystal & Richard, The Prado at Balboa Park, California, USAKrystal & Richard, The Prado at Balboa Park, California, USA
How we Met

Krystal, the bride: Picture it, San Diego, 2020. It was Richard’s first time out in years and my first time out since returning from a six-month deployment. It was going to be a much needed ladies night since restaurants and bars were finally open again.

As the ladies were looking for an empty table, Richard was holding one down for the fellas who just stepped away. I asked if we could share his table to finish our drinks, he kindly obliged, and the rest is history. I remember he wore a black t-shirt with a hamster in the pocket (proof he didn’t go out that night looking for a girlfriend) and conversation sparked because we’re both Denver Broncos football fans.

He had such a bright and handsome smile that the first time he laughed, I swooned. Classic story of guy meets girl during a pandemic, right? It’s funny because earlier that week I deleted all the dating apps on my phone and told myself I was going to be single for a while. Well, clearly Hashem had other plans for me. We met on a Saturday night, first date was Tuesday, and by Thursday he asked me to be his girlfriend. 10 months later, he proposed!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

How to Turn Your Smashed Glass Shards Into a Keepsake Souvenir of Your Jewish Wedding

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Smashing a glass under the chuppah is THE defining moment of a Jewish wedding (not that I’m biased or anything!).   

There are so many beautiful explanations for why exactly we break the glass – you can read some of them here – but whichever you choose to believe, there’s no denying that breaking a glass under the chuppah is one of the most meaningful Jewish wedding traditions. 

While some Jewish couples will opt to smash a cheap wine glass or even a light bulb, I’m seeing more and more STG readers opt to pick out a colorful glass specifically intended to be made into a bespoke wedding memento once the big day has passed – and this is one trend I absolutely adore! 

There are wonderful glass artists out there who’ll work with you to turn your chuppah glass shards into a mezuzah, kiddush cup, picture frame, or so much more, and what could be more meaningful than a Judaica object or piece of art that is literally made of the love you and your partner shared on your special day – and continue to share every day after?

However, once you’ve decided you like the idea of having your broken glass from under the chuppah made into a keepsake, there are lots of choices to be made, and it can be tricky to sort through it all. 

That’s why we were so delighted to chat with Talia Cywiak, the incredibly talented glass artist behind Talia C, about all things chuppah glass art.

Talia is such a font of wisdom – as well as a truly delightful person – and we so appreciate her sharing her insights into everything from why you might want to make a keepsake from your broken chuppah glass shards, to how exactly the process of turning your broken pieces into an art object works, to some of the most popular and attractive items to make with your glass. If you’ve yet to smash that glass – or if you have your old shards hidden away somewhere from years back – read on!

Why Make a Smash Glass Keepsake?

Plenty of couples will keep their smashed glass shards in a pouch as a souvenir, but it’s so easy for them to be forgotten at the back of the drawer or the bottom of a box this way – how much better would it be to turn those broken glass pieces into a keepsake you can cherish each day?

A Piece of Your Wedding Day to Cherish 

There are so few physical mementos from your wedding that you get to take home with you after the day has drawn to a close – and even fewer you can display proudly in your home. A keepsake made from the shards of your chuppah glass – whether a decorative piece or a functional Judaica item – is the perfect reminder of your love for one another.

This wonderful mission of keeping all those beautiful memories of your wedding day, and all the love and commitment that day symbolizes, alive is exactly what inspired Talia C to develop her beautiful collection of Jewish wedding glass breaking kits, which not only ensure you’ll end up with a stunning heirloom-quality souvenir but also make the process as easy as can be. 

The Ultimate Personalized Wedding Gift 

While plenty of couples will purchase a chuppah glass kit for their own wedding, one of these sets also makes a wonderful, meaningful present to another engaged couple in your life – if you’re looking to gift friends or family approaching their big day with something a truly unforgettable, unique Jewish wedding gift, set them up with everything they need to create a beautiful keepsake item out of their smashed glass shards.

How It Works 

If You Don’t Yet Have a Glass

If you’ve yet to smash the glass, by far the easiest way to guarantee a stunning chuppah glass keepsake is to order a kit that includes everything you need for the big day. 

Talia C. offers Jewish wedding glass breaking kits that include a beautiful glass in the color of your choice and a pouch to smash it in. After the big day, you’ll send the shards back to her after the big day to be transformed into a mezuzah, kiddush cup, picture frame, or whatever you choose from Talia’s wonderful array of options (which she’s constantly expanding!). 

Whatever you choose, you can opt to have your names and/or wedding date added if you like, too. Once your keepsake item is complete, Talia mails back the completed artwork, as well as the extra shards placed in a small bottle.

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A Lilian West Bride for an Autumnal City Jewish Wedding at the Pan Pacific London, London, UK

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Freya & David, Pan Pacific London, London, UK

Happy 2023! We’re starting off the new year with a bang in the form of a truly FABULOUS London Jewish wedding – prepare to be wowed by the super-stylish nuptials of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Freya and David!

For their chic, urban, autumnal nuptials, these two chose one of our very favorite venues, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Pan Pacific London (which they found right here on STG!). Freya and David can’t stop raving about the stylish space and exquisite service – and once you have a look at the magazine-worthy photos by Dominika Miechowska, you’ll see why.

In Freya’s words, “Between their devoted venue floor able to be split in two for both the ceremony and reception in one place, and their incredible Singaporean menu, it was the perfect place for us. I cannot stress enough how fabulous the wedding team were – small things I had not even thought about, they had a plan for on the day. Nothing was too big of an ask and they made the day go off without a hitch.”

We loved following Freya’s wedding planning journey during her time in Brides Club, and we’re so thrilled that the group helped her find so many of her wonderful vendors, from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Dimitria Jordan, who designed the pair’s on-the-day stationery and signs, to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Happy Chuppah People, who supplied their lovely chuppah, to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ink With Intent, the artist behind Freya and David’s egalitarian ketubah illustrated with autumnal flowers.

This really is one very special wedding – read on for the rest of the story in Freya’s own words…

Freya & David, Pan Pacific London, London, UK Freya & David, Pan Pacific London, London, UKFreya & David, Pan Pacific London, London, UKFreya & David, Pan Pacific London, London, UK
How we Met

Freya, the bride: We met on Tinder! Dave was about to move to London for his masters degree and I was already here, working in legal research. We met up three days after he arrived from the US and simply did not want our first date to end; a casual coffee in Marylebone turned in to dinner and drinks in Shoreditch, which turned in to seeing each other at least five times a week.

After graduation, he had to go back to the US for work – so I followed and started my PhD in St. Louis in international law. Four years, a pandemic, another across the world move, and a ginger cat later, I feel so lucky to have spent nearly every single day since with my best friend.Continue ReadingContinue Reading