Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Sareh Nouri Bride for an Elegant Black Tie Jewish Wedding on the Water at Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

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Paige & Ross, Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Who could do with a day at the beach right about now? You too? Well, we’ve got the next best thing for you: the fabulous waterfront Jewish wedding of Boston couple Paige, who works for a non-profit, and Ross, in venture capital. These two held their Jewish wedding right on the water in beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Cape Cod is not only a totally idyllic spot for dreamy photos (see Rebecca Love Photography’s wonderful images for evidence), but also a great spot for a “local destination wedding” for New Englanders, a place you can gather your loved ones together for a full-on weekend away from it all without long-haul flights. Which is exactly what Paige and Ross did.

During her wedding planning, Paige was also a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club, and we love hearing how much she benefitted from not only the support and amazing ideas shared in the community, but also the help finding vendors! Paige and Ross found their ketubah designer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Melanie Dankowicz, through the group, and they adore both the finished product and the experience they had working with Melanie.

We could go on and on about this elegant wedding – like, how chic did Paige look in Sareh Nouri?! – but we’ll turn you over to the bride for the rest of the story…

Paige & Ross, Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USAPaige & Ross, Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USAPaige & Ross, Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USAPaige & Ross, Wequassett Resort, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
How we Met

Paige, the bride: We met at work! We actually didn’t talk much until we were sent on a work trip to Austin, Texas. During that time, we were able to have conversations while walking and that was it.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Jewish Joy to the World: Making the Holiday Season More Inclusive with Hanukkah Decor

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Have you ever gone shopping and seen tons of fun Christmas decor but absolutely nothing for Hanukkah? I know I have – and it’s made me feel excluded from all the seasonal festivity.
 
You might wonder why I’m talking about Hanukkah in July. It’s because we’re partnering with Hanukkah Decor – a business on a mission to change that feeling of being excluded during the holiday season – and they’re running a kickstarter campaign this month that we are getting right behind!
 

The Story 

When Mark Perryman’s three-year-old daughter, Carlie, felt left out after seeing her neighborhood aglow with Christmas decorations, he was inspired to design a line of 5 outdoor light-up Hanukkah inflatables to bring seasonal cheer to Jews of all ages – menorahs, dreidels, even Zayde’s Kitchen complete with latkes frying!
 
These durable and long-lasting outdoor inflatable can be proudly displayed in your front yard, year after year – to paraphrase my favorite Hanukkah sweater, “Tis the season to let everyone know you’re Jewish,” after all!
 
And thanks to the Kickstarter Mark and his wife, Katie, started to get their new business off the ground, you can back the campaign to help Jewish children and families celebrate Hanukkah and make new memories and traditions each year. 
 
If the Kickstarter is successful, next year Hanukkah Decor will be not only expanding their outdoor collection but also adding a line of super fun indoor Hanukkah décor in classic and modern designs. 
 
But if the Kickstarter doesn’t reach its goal by July 26, none of this will happen – so be sure to back the Kickstarter today at hanukkahdecor.com/Kickstarter if you want to bring inflatable Jewish joy to the children and grownups in your life!

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13 Inspirational Jewish Wedding Photos

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Image: Ben Kelmer Photography

It takes someone really special to capture all the magic of a Jewish wedding. The traditions, the emotion, the dancing – a Jewish wedding day is pretty full-on from start to finish, and you want to make sure you pick a wedding photographer who can keep up!

Luckily, we know plenty of amazing Jewish wedding photographers – the kind who know exactly what a badeken is without you having to explain a thing – and we asked 13 of them to share a favorite Jewish wedding snapshot with us. So get ready to feel ALL the feelings!

1. Miki Studios


See more work by MIKI Studios

2. Herschel Gutman Photography


See more work by Herschel Gutman, who also offers 10% discount to Brides Club members.

3. Ben Kelmer Photography


See more work by Ben Kelmer Photography, who also offers 10% discount to Brides Club members.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

How to Find the Perfect Dress for Your Jewish Wedding

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Photo by Varna Studios

Wedding dress shopping… it’s one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning, yet it can also be one of the most overwhelming. For those of us who aren’t in a position to buy couture on the regular, wedding dress shopping will likely be a whole new world. There’s lots to learn – and, potentially, lots of pressures to navigate, too.

That’s why I’ve chatted with Maria Yiannikaris, cofounder of beloved London bridal boutique Mirror Mirror London, about some of her top tips for making your shopping experience as smooth as it can be. Mirror Mirror is one of the very best options for finding your dream dress in London – or even, dare I say it, the entire world!

And with over 30 years of experience running Mirror Mirror, Maria knows more about the ins and outs of wedding dress shopping than just about anyone. Plus, her ethos of helping each bride to look and feel her most beautiful, confident self on her wedding day couldn’t be any more aligned with ours here at Smashing The Glass!

Photo by Voyteck Photography

Do Your Research

Get a Sense of Your Preferred Styles

Figuring out what looks you like best -and which brands design them- will make it easier to decide which bridal salons to hit up. You can find inspo on Pinterest, in bridal magazines, in past real wedding features on Smashing The Glass, and on boutiques’ websites. And be sure to note any designers (and even style numbers) you’re particularly smitten with.

Knowing which designers you like and which don’t speak to you as much will also make it easier to figure out which shops to visit. A lot of boutiques will carry the full spectrum of styles – Mirror Mirror carries a fabulous range of 8 international designers, showcasing styles from classic minimalism to soft boho vibes or a truly opulent gow – but some have a more narrow focus. 

Photo by Voyteck Photography

Shop Your Closet

Well, not exactly. But taking a look at the clothes you already own can be helpful in trying to decide what silhouettes will work best for you. If there are certain similarities in a lot of the items you already own, let those elements guide you. It can also be helpful to think about physical features you’d like your dress to highlight.

Photo by Varna Studios

Brush Up on Dress Terminology

It’ll be easier communicating your preferences at appointments if you know a mermaid from an A line.

Photo by Varna Studios

Know Your Wedding Theme and Venue

Knowing your venue and vibe before you start shopping will make it easier to choose the right dress.

Photo by Varna Studios

Find Out about Religious Restrictions

If you’re having a religious ceremony, check with your rabbi to find out if there are any attire guidelines you’re required to follow, such as covering your shoulders for the chuppah. 

If you do find yourself in need of a chuppah coverup to add to your bridal ensemble, it’s smart to shop someplace where the team is experienced working with Jewish brides. Mirror Mirror, for example, has a wonderful, longstanding relationship with London’s Jewish community, and all of their stylists are well-versed in the needs of brides from Orthodox to Jew-ish.

Photo by Varna Studios

Figure Out Your Budget 

Before your first appointment, figure out how much you’re able to spend on your gown – and choose where to shop accordingly. For instance, Mirror Mirror offers gowns ranging in price from £1850 – £8000.

Photo by Varna Studios

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A Galia Lahav Bride for an Intimate Destination Jewish Wedding Weekend on the Italian Riviera at the Belmond Caruso, Ravello, Italy

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Marianna-Ari-Belmond-Caruso-Italy

Get ready to be blown away by one of the most exquisite Italian destination Jewish weddings we’ve seen in, well, ever! Travel lovers Marianna, an artist and handbag, footwear, and accessory designer, and Ari, a hospitality entrepreneur, worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Infinity Weddings to plan a truly unforgettable multi-day celebration with 50 of their nearest and dearest, making the most of the Amalfi Coast’s incredible food, vibrant culture, and stunning landscape. 

Being a designer herself, Marianna wanted to be closely involved in the design process, yet she and Ari also wanted to work with a planner who could help them execute their vision with as little stress as possible. Sara of Infinity Weddings was the absolute perfect fit, executing the couple’s vision perfectly and allowing them to be fully present to enjoy the day.

We couldn’t be any more in love with the couple’s venue, the Belmond Caruso, which Marianna calls “the epitome of Italian Riviera.”  The whole thing looks like a dream, and the amazing Nakutis Photography captured it all so artfully.

There’s lots more to say about this exquisite wedding – we haven’t even mentioned the bride’s unreal Galia Lahav gown – but we’ll leave it to Marianna to fill you in on the rest…

Marianna-Ari-Belmond-Caruso-ItalyMarianna-Ari-Belmond-Caruso-ItalyMarianna-Ari-Belmond-Caruso-ItalyMarianna-Ari-Belmond-Caruso-Italy
How we Met

Marianna, the bride: Ari reached out to me on Facebook when I came up for him as a suggested friend. After a few unanswered message and pick up lines about “sending me a kiss” (my last name is Senderkis), I finally replied. A few days later he surprised me by calling me through the Facebook app. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our conversation. I agreed to meet him for lunch near my office. Although we only had 20 minutes together before I had to rush back to work, we were both instantly attracted to one another. We became a couple very soon afterContinue ReadingContinue Reading