Real Jewish Brides: Orli on Her Upcoming Wedding

Orli will be marrying Ben on 30th May 2021 at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, UK. Click here to read all Orli’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Orli and Ben met on Jswipe. (2) Although their venue, the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, couldn’t be more quintessentially London, Orli and Ben are going for a countryside feel. (3) Orli is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

When we first decided we were going to postpone in June of 2020, we had thought that by our new date 30 May 2021 everything would look normal and we would be able to have our planned wedding with 220 guests. We thought we would be able to get married with all of our family and friends around us and it would be at our original venue St Pancras Renaissance. However, the closer we got to our original date of 6 September 2020, the more we realised that things wouldn’t be back to what we used to think was a ‘normal wedding’. By November, we had postponed our honeymoon to South Africa and I had cancelled my hen. 

  

The closer we got to the end of the year the more we realised that the normal wedding as we knew it would not be the case. This was probably the hardest thing that we had to accept and we took a lot of time discussing and thinking about it. On my part, I totally ignored the situation and pretended it would sort itself out.

 

We both decided the most important thing to us which was being married to each other, and whilst we had dreamed and hoped that we would be able to have our closest family and friends to be around us, with the new roadmap in place all being well it will be our closest family around us. Our vision for our wedding has totally changed and we are now doing it in my parents garden which has such lovely memories for us all.

At the beginning of February we had a meeting with our wedding planner so we could start to get the ball rolling and to begin bouncing ideas about how we could make our day as special as possible. Then came a discussion with our band and also our caterer on different options we have and what we can do. Followed by our first lesson with the rabbi. These four things happened in the same week when the government announced the plans for a restriction free life. In the new government plans they shared that by the 17 May they are hoping to increase weddings to 30 people and by 21 June for the restrictions to be lifted for weddings.

Instead of raising doubts about whether we should move our wedding back later, we knew that for us keeping our date was very important to us providing we can get married in the eyes of the Jewish law. One thing that I have struggled to accept this week is that we will have a short run up of excitement before our wedding from the 17 May when they announce if weddings are being increased to 30 people. Yet, I know the uncertainty of the rest of the year despite the roadmap is something that I will have to accept and try to let it wave over me just like the rush of all of the other emotions I have been feeling.

Jumping back to wedding planning, seeing as we have less than 100 days to go, I knew I had to sort out my appointment with the seamstress to get my dress altered, my first makeup trial and hair trial arranged. So I let go of my worries and nerves for the numbers and got on the phone and started arranging these appointments. Next was closely followed by booking a mini moon trip to the Cotswolds or if we can go abroad to Italy. Now we have a definite date we are heading towards I can feel the excitement starting to build as well as the nerves as it’s totally dependent on the infection rates. Catch you at my next post when hopefully I have some finalised plans on how our wedding is going to look.

Orli is teaching a weekly yoga session for our Brides Club members. Click here to join.

Click here to read all Orli’ planning posts to date.

Orli & Ben’s Wedding Vendors booked so far:

Venue – St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Flowers – Blue Sky Flowers {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Band – The Function Band
Bride’s dress – found and fitted at The Wedding Gallery {appointment fee waived (normally £30) to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Caterer – Philip Small
Photographer – Promise
Videographer –  AT Motion
Chazan — Eitan Freilich

If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club for step-by-step guides, handpicked wedding vendor discounts, Jewish wedding action plans, a free smash glass pouch, Jewish wedding checklists and templates, and SO much more!

Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence. Join our Brides Club here.