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An Elbeth Gillis Bride for a Modern and Sophisticated Jewish Wedding at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, UK

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Tamara-and-Reuben-St-Pancras-Renaissance-Hotel-London-UK

Cool chuppah alert! London couple Tamara, who works in marketing, and Reuben, a broker, opted to skip out on flowers (partly to avoid aggravating the bride’s hay fever), and did they ever find the perfect way to craft a standout chuppah, no blooms required.

Letting their venue, the stunning St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, set the tone, Tamara and Reuben opted for a simple, elegant Perspex chuppah, covered with Reuben’s grandfather’s tallit. It was the absolute perfect complement to the Art Deco-style ballroom where the wedding took place – as was the couple’s choice of black linen and Perspex candelabras for the tables at the reception.

Music was a top priority for Tamara and Reuben, and they found the perfect fit in the amazing Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Sensation Band, who handled both production and live music throughout the night, with Guy Barzily who blew everyone away with his chuppah singing and simcha set. The duo wanted a mix of 80s, 90s, and soul for the dancing sets, and Sensation delivered that and so much more.

The couple’s photographer, the incredibly talented David Pullum, captured everything flawlessly – and Tamara and Reuben report that he was an absolute dream to work with throughout the day.

Now over to Tamara, who looked so chicly elegant in her Elbeth Gillis dress…

Tamara-and-Reuben-St-Pancras-Renaissance-Hotel-London-UK Tamara-and-Reuben-St-Pancras-Renaissance-Hotel-London-UK Tamara-and-Reuben-St-Pancras-Renaissance-Hotel-London-UK Tamara-and-Reuben-St-Pancras-Renaissance-Hotel-London-UK
How We Met

Tamara, the bride: We had mutual friends and our paths had crossed in our teenage years but we “officially” met on JSwipe nearly 8 years ago.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Ketubah 101: Everything You Need to Know about the Ketubah

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Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

Your ketubah is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a beautiful, meaningful document that represents your love, commitment, and the unique story of your marriage. But if you’re just diving into the world of Jewish wedding planning, you might be wondering: What exactly is the significance of a ketubah? Do we really need one? How do we pick the right one for us?

To answer all these questions (and many, many more!), we sat down with Adam Paskow, founder of Judaica brand Tchotchke, to get the lowdown on all things ketubah. 

Evilish Eye Ketubah

Tchotchke, best known for their playful menorahs, mezuzahs, and kiddush cups, has just launched their brand new ketubah line. Featuring whimsical designs with a nod to tradition, each piece is designed for couples who feel that Judaism is an expression of ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. Based in New York City and shipping internationally, Tchotchke’s ketubah designs are some of the coolest we’ve seen—and we see a lot!

Papercut Ketubah

Whether you’re looking for guidance on selecting a design, navigating different text options, or even choosing the best pen for signing, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for your ultimate ketubah crash course.

Ketubah 101

Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

What is a ketubah?

Simply put, a ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract. It was originally created to financially protect women in case of divorce or widowhood, and ensure that the wife was properly cared for throughout the marriage. For most of us these days, it’s more of a symbolic representation of a couple’s union.

Why should we get a ketubah?

The reason to get a ketubah has evolved for most of us—what was once a legal document, for many people, is now a personal artifact from the most magical and transformative day of your life. We believe that couples should have a ketubah they want to hang proudly in their home not only for sentimental reasons, but also to celebrate their Judaism, regardless of what Judaism means to them. It’s our responsibility to fill our homes with Jewish art to preserve our history, customs and culture.

Full Cup Ketubah

What does a ketubah say?

We have many options of ketubah text to choose from, as well as an option to write your own. While these days, different denominations have different requirements and allowances for ketubah text, it is essentially a contract between partners on their wedding day, stating their obligations to each other. Some denominations use text that is relatively standardized, for example, an Orthodox ketubah does not generally differ from couple to couple, whereas a secular couple may choose to write their own ketubah, treating it more like an extension of their vows.

Petals Ketubah

Can we have a ketubah for our interfaith wedding?

Absolutely. We have an interfaith text option that celebrates mutual respect, understanding and compassion for each other’s beliefs while recognizing that shared religion isn’t a necessary ingredient for a healthy, happy, fulfilling union.  

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An Anne Barge Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding Featuring Tradition with a Twist at Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA

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Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA

We love it when a couple puts their own spin on their Jewish wedding ceremony – which is exactly what Yael, an enterprise relationship manager at LinkedIn, and Josh, a vice president at Alphasights, did when planning their big day at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey.

The couple’s Judaism was central to their day, and we adore the way they put their own spin on classic traditions. Working with their rabbi, Yael and Josh crafted a bespoke ceremony that was totally them – including circling each other 3.5 times each, having women involved in the ketubah reading and Sheva Brachot, and having Yael say a statement of betrothal to Josh.

Amy Sims Photography captured the day so beautifully, and the couple’s videographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kiss the Bride Films, caught all the love, emotion, and energy of the day in their unmissable trailer.

This wedding was full of so many special touches – from an ice sculpture shot tower to a 45-minute hora set to Yael’s ultra-elegant Anne Barge gown purchased at Kleinfeld – but we’ll turn you over to the bride for the rest of the details…

Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USAYael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA Yael and Josh, Temple Emanu-El, Closter, New Jersey, USA
How We Met

Yael, the bride: The short answer is Hinge. The longer answer is that Yael saw Josh on Hinge and noticed he went to Vanderbilt, where her best friend Hannah went. Figuring Jews at Vanderbilt must know each other, Yael sent a screenshot of Josh’s profile to Hannah, who gave Yael a thumbs up and said “he’s one of the good guys.” We both work in Account Management.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Crystal Springs Resort

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The perfect setting for your Jewish and Kosher weddings is at Crystal Springs Resort, offering eight unique wedding venues and located just one hour from NYC. Addressing every aspect of your celebration, our spectacular 4-season property is a welcoming venue for the Jewish community.

Whether you grew up immersed in the Jewish religion and culture, or don’t practice your faith regularly, there are a variety of Jewish wedding traditions and requests which we can readily accommodate. Our destination weddings are second to none, and your wedding will be the only one held on your special day at the time which works best for you. We offer multiple unique rooms to host your Tisch and Bedeken, and can provide all luxury services including exceptional vendors, a detailed wedding planner, versatile Maître d and more. 

Additionally, the Resort is working with a collection of renowned culinary resources including Exquisite Caterers, Foremost Caterers and Prestige Caterers, ensuring your Kosher wedding is authentic and to your specifications. These professional teams are proud to bring you an extensive menu of creative, delicious Kosher catering.

Further, the Resort’s Executive Chef and his staff offer a complete selection of Glatt Kosher breakfast, break, lunch, cocktail reception and dinner menus. Theme party, picnic and custom menus are also available. Rest assured that every detail will be managed to perfection when your wedding is at Crystal Springs Resort.

Let Crystal Springs Resort be the destination choice for your dream wedding. We invite you to marry in the mountains, surrounded by the natural beauty of wooded forests and sparkling lakes.

BALLYOWEN WEDDING SPECIALS FOR APRIL – AUGUST 2026:

·        3 Complimentary Hotel Rooms for a 2-Night Stay

·        Complimentary Bagpiper

·        Waived Ceremony Fee 

Please contact one of our Wedding Specialists for full details. Call 888.534.3870 to learn more. 

The Painted Ketubah

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Drawing inspiration from nature and contemporary design, artist Hadass Gerson reimagines ketubahs as dreamy watercolor paintings. At The Painted Ketubah studio she works with you to create modern ritual objects that compliment and elevate your wedding style while becoming treasured family heirlooms.

The Painted Ketubah offers a beautiful selection of hand-painted watercolors and archival giclee fine art prints created with highest grade artist quality inks and paints that are lightfast and fade resistant. Hadass also creates completely custom ketubot that weave together imagery, colors and symbolism unique to a couple’s love story.

A classically trained painter with an MFA and MA from the San Francisco Art Institute, Hadass’s distinctive watercolor style and attention to color harmony ensure that your ketubah will be a stunning touchstone of your wedding ceremony and art collection.