Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

A Madi Lane Bride for a Rustic and Relaxed Backyard Jewish Wedding in London, UK

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There’s something so special about a backyard Jewish wedding. That personal touch of making things official in your family home – there’s nothing like it. Even though today’s couple, Sara, a speech and language therapist, and Jason, a payments manager, didn’t initially plan to hold their wedding in the bride’s parent’s garden – their pre-pandemic plan A was Israel – in the end their day turned out to be everything they could’ve hoped for and then some.

Due to the pandemic, Sara and Jason kept the ceremony and dinner to just immediate family, and then invited a handful of close friends to join afterward for dancing and late-night snacks. Working with a fabulous team of vendors, the pair transformed the garden into the perfect rustic retreat, adorned with flowers and candles and all kinds of soft romantic touches.

Sara and Jason’s chuppah, rented from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Happy Chuppah People (who they found right here on STG!), was the perfect cornerstone for their rustically romantic aesthetic. They opted for “The Finchley,” built on natural branches that looked as if they were just growing out of the garden.

The couple report that one of the best decisions they made in their wedding planning was working with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Events with Grace as their on-the-day coordinator. Grace helped keep things organized during the last month of planning, and on the day she made sure everything ran smoothly and took the pressure off Sara and Jason and their families.

Scroll through Megan Donati Photography’s beautiful imagery and you’ll see what an absolute dream of a day this turned out to be. We’ll let Sara take it from here…

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How We Met

Sara, the bride: We first spoke on an Aish trip when were 17. We had actually met a year earlier but I had forgotten on the trip. Jason came up to me and started talking like we were old friends. I wasn’t sure at first but on the trip we became friendly. When we got home, we started a long-distance friendship. The rest is history; we dated for 4 years long distance until Jason made the move to Essex.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

How to Handle Wedding Planning Stress, Anxiety, or Overwhelm {Instagram Live with Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J}

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Before you got engaged, you probably figured that wedding planning would be a pretty exciting stage in your life. But what you might not have expected is that it can also be extremely stressful. Between family drama, financial struggles, overflowing to-do lists, and good old decision overwhelm, there’s an awful lot to manage. 

But if wedding planning is starting to feel more like a source of anxiety than anything else, it doesn’t have to be that way! And that’s why I’m thrilled to be going live on Instagram this Tuesday, March 29, at 8 pm BST / 3 pm EDT / 12 pm PDT with one of the very best wedding planners around, Michelle Jacobs of Elegante by Michelle J, who’ll be sharing her best tips and tricks for handling wedding stress and overwhelm and talk us through some of the most common challenges facing engaged couples.

We’ll also be giving away an incredible prize to one lucky viewer tuning in live: a 1-hour inspiration session with Michelle, plus 3 months of complimentary membership in Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club! This is truly an incredible value – so do plan on watching live if you can!

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Win a Romantic Stay for Two at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester’s Hottest New Luxury Jewish Wedding Venue

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I’m so delighted to offer you the chance to win an overnight stay in Manchester’s extraordinary new luxury hotel: the fabulous Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, where Victorian grandeur meets contemporary elegance.

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is such an exciting new property, and it’s an amazing place for a luxe city getaway – not to mention a truly fabulous Jewish wedding!

Every inch of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is steeped in 19th century history: the property is housed in a magnificent terracotta Grade ll-listed building, complete with oak panelling, dramatic chandeliers, and high ceilings.

But needless to say, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel never stints when it comes to top-of-the-line modern comforts! 

Photo by @LONDON

It’s truly the most wonderfully special space, and I’m so excited that we’ve teamed up with Kimpton Clocktower Hotel to offer one lucky couple (and you can be single with a plus one, engaged or married to enter) an unbelievable prize to experience the luxuries of the hotel to include:

  • A two-night stay in a glamorous suite
  • Breakfast in the Winter Garden both mornings of your stay
  • Gin and tonic trolley in your room on arrival
  • In-room massage for two
  • Dinner for two and a bottle of wine in The Refuge
  • Floral workshop with Giraffe Flowers (the hotel’s in-house florist) – build your own beautiful bouquet
  • Complimentary car parking during your stay
  • Total prize value = £1,000 

Photo by @LONDON

A Jewish Wedding at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

It practically goes without saying that Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is an incredible venue for an urban glam Jewish wedding right in the heart of Manchester.

I’m obsessed with Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s array of swoonworthy spaces, from intimate affairs in the delightful wood-paneled Directors Room to big bashes (we’re talking up to 700 guests!) in the majestic ballroom. There are also a range of gorgeous smaller spaces that offer a perfect backdrop for your tisch or badeken. 

When it comes to food, their acclaimed kitchen team will guide you through the kosher-style menus and introduce you to their preferred kosher caterers.

The fantastic team at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel believes that your wedding should be as unique as you are, and they’re 100% committed to helping you realize all your wedding day dreams. The dedicated events team, with a wide-ranging experience hosting Jewish weddings, will ensure every aspect of your day is planned to perfection.

Another thing I love about Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is that they make it so easy to turn your big day into a big Manchester weekend with all your friends and family. Their discounted room blocks make it easy to gather your favourite people under one roof and share even more quality time together.

And if you’re a member of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club (our members club for Jewish and Jew-ish brides) Kimpton Clocktower Hotel are generously offering you 20% off private hire for weddings booked for 2023 and 2024 (blackout dates apply)!

If you want to find out more about Jewish weddings at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, email manchesterweddings@ihg.com or call +44 (0)161 288 1111. 

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An Oleg Cassini Bride for a Jewish Wedding with Southern Charm at Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

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Anna & Chance, Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

There’s nothing like a Jewish wedding with a little Southern charm… like our beloved Brides Club member Anna’s beautiful Charleston wedding to groom Chance!

Anna, who works for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Works, and Chance, a lawyer, wanted to show off the best of their home to their out-of-town friends and family, and we could not be more in love with the outcome, which was so wonderfully photographed by Natasha Coyle.

The indoor-outdoor vibes, the delightful pops of pink (Anna’s favorite color), the dreamy chuppah… it doesn’t get much better than this. We’re also obsessed with the couple’s Southern-inspired menu highlighting Charleston classics – they even started their meal with biscuits instead of bread and butter!

And how stunning did Anna look in her classic ball gown by Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal?! Loving the old-school glam vibes. We’ll let her take it from here…

Anna & Chance, Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USAAnna & Chance, Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USAAnna & Chance, Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USAAnna & Chance, Lowndes Grove, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
How we Met

Anna, the bride: We met at the University of Alabama while we were both in undergrad.  Chance and I met when he asked me to be his date at his fraternity’s semi-formal event.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Berta Bride for a Timelessly Glam Jewish Wedding with a Cannabis Bar at Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA

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Alana & Benjamin, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, USA

We are absolutely, positively in love with Alana and Benjamin’s jawdroppingly gorgeous Chicago Jewish wedding. Swathed in greenery and twinkly lights, the ambience these two created for their day was nothing short of magical (don’t miss the stunning photos by Avery House!) – and we love that they added in some unexpected personal touches, like a cannabis bar!

Perfectly matching their color scheme focused on neutrals, white, and gold was the couple’s fabulous ketubah from beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Ketubist. Featuring papercut gold peonies on a white background, the design is SO chic – and Alana and Benjamin loved working with founder Talia.

This wedding was full of so many more wonderful touches, but we’ll leave the rest to Alana, who looked nothing short of ravishing in her exquisite gown from Israeli designer Berta…

Alana & Benjamin, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, USAAlana & Benjamin, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, USAAlana & Benjamin, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, USAAlana & Benjamin, Chicago Illuminating Company, Chicago, USA
How we Met

Alana, the bride: Formally, we met on the Jewish dating app J-Swipe. However, Benjamin’s friend from Jewish summer camp happened to have been my college roommate and eventually became our Rabbi. He played a significant role in our courtship after we met. We are both psychotherapists.Continue ReadingContinue Reading