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Tammy & Tom | An Inbal Dror dress for a wedding by the sea, with a very special story, at Kochav HaYam, Caesarea, Israel

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Inbal-Dror-Dress
I don’t know where to start with this wedding, it has absolutely knocked me for six. When I first clapped eyes on the stunning photographs and video highlights of Tammy and Tom’s wedding, I was captivated by this ridiculously good looking couple, the chuppah set against a picture-perfect Israeli seascape, the high octane, carefree celebrations, the loved-up gazes between bride and groom and of course THAT Inbal Dror wedding dress – and just when I thought it couldn’t get any more breathtaking, I heard the incredible tale about the rabbi who officiated the wedding.

Many years ago as a young boy of eight, Sharon Shalom, the rabbi, was among a group of refugees making the arduous journey from Ethiopia to Sudan, where planes were on standby to help them flee to Israel. They travelled the entire distance to Sudan on foot, lead and protected by the IDF and Mossad agents.

At one point it all became too much for the youngster. Terrified, he was hugged and encouraged to keep going by one of the agents, who just happened to be Tom’s father. This shared experience helped forge a lifetime’s friendship, so much so, that when the young boy had grown and become a rabbi, he was told by Tom’s father that “one day you’ll be the rabbi for my son”. This wedding made that wish come true.

Understandably the tears flowed under the chuppah that day as the family and rabbi Sharon Shalom stood together for such a special and poignant moment in all of their lives. Truly beautiful.

So whilst it’s a very cool, stylish, fun, fun, fun wedding – complete with a flash mob dance – and did I mention the disarmingly attractive bride and groom? It’s a wedding with a huge heart. And given the incredible and humbling back-story of courage and kindness, the brides advice resonates very loudly “The whole point of the day is to be happy – stressing defeats the purpose. Your hubby and the meaning of the day is much more important than the napkins or your dress!”

Hear hear! (Even though her dress is actually perfection!)

The stunning photography is by Herschel Gutman one of our much-loved Smashing Suppliers, who can always be relied upon for beautiful images. The wedding film at the end of the post is by the superb Tal Herman

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Rabbi Sharon Shalom (far right) with Tom’s father (second from right) under the chuppah, beside Tammy & Tom

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Yael & Or | An astronomical party for an Israeli wedding at Tel Yah, Tel Yitzhak, Israel

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Israeli-wedding
Sometimes you just know when two people are made for each other and this is most definitely the case with Yael and Or.  Together since high school, this fabulous couple decided to celebrate the start of their married life –   the first step in building their own Jewish home –  not far from the small town in Israel where they both grew up and where their families still live. Theirs is a totally sweet, and totally stylish tale.

You can’t get much better than a wedding by night in Israel.  It’s hot, fun, life-affirming and just good for the soul and oh my how beautifully this is captured by Chrisman  Studios.

Yael and Or had been crazy about these photographers for a long time and made damn sure that they had them snap up some of the most impactful wedding photographs I’ve ever seen.

I mean really, some of these images are just ridiculously beautiful — and characterful.   The shots of the swimming pool in particular look like they belong in a Taschen coffee table book.   They’re almost theatrical in their vivacity and vibrancy — which perfectly sums up an Israeli wedding. And that final shot… the  bride sure knows how to party like a rock star. Amen to that!

My other stand out love of Yael and Or’s wedding is their unique ceremony.   After cocktail hour, all 300 guests stood, yes stood, in front of  the chuppah — which just so happened to be on stage —   singing along to the Jewish prayers and songs, creating a completely engaged and loved-up atmosphere.  Perfect.

And before I hand over to the bride, it would be churlish of me not to mention  that apart from Or, there is in fact another  “the one” in Yael’s life — and that is her wedding dress.   Theirs was also a match made in heaven and one that was also approved by the whole family… even the groom!

Israeli wedding
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Keren & Asaf | ‘swimming pool & popsicles’ Israeli wedding at the Ghetto Fighters’ Kibbutz, Western Galilee, Northern Israel

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Kibbutz-Wedding
You can tell from the way that Keren and Asaf approached the planning of their big day that they’re a fun-loving laid back couple. For a start, they followed the STG mantra of making their  day personal to them by getting ready together and welcoming friends and family into their home, enjoying coffee and cigarettes, before walking down the aisle to their chuppah hand in hand. Untraditional but pretty damn cool I’m sure you’ll agree.

I really love their big day for so many reasons: the tribute to the bride’s grandmother in the chuppah design, Keren’s amazing oversize floral crown, popsicles instead of wedding cake, outdoor frolics in the swimming pool, and of course the dreamy, luminous portrait shots of the pair of them in the kibbutz where they held their wedding.

I have a feeling you’ll love it too…

All of the  gorgeousness was captured perfectly by the very lovely Gamba Photographers.

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how we met

Keren, the Bride: Asaf lives in Northern Israel, and at the time, I lived in Tel Aviv. I was up North on holiday  and a mutual friend introduced us. It  was the most fun  that either of us  had ever experienced, and nothing could  separate us for three days after that.

It took Asaf six months to convince me to move up North with him, and after a year of living here, I just regret not moving earlier.

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Ori & Shani | Urban-Chic Jewish lesbian wedding at Avigdor 22, Tel Aviv, Israel

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Today will brighten up your Thursday whatever mood you’re in. Such joy and happiness radiates from every single image! Ori and Shani look super hot in their four Dany Mizrachi gowns (yes both brides wore two dresses each all by the same designer – how snazzy is that?!).

There are so many pretty decor touches too — I love the cute signage, the mini potted plant wedding favours, and the framed photos of Ori and Shani dotted about their achingly cool warehouse-style venue in the heart of the city.

And of course, not one, but TWO glasses were smashed at the end of their Jewish wedding ceremony!

These two brides have such a sweet proposal story and organised their whole affair in just 5 months. It’s a wonderful day full of smiles and happiness and it’s all stunningly captured by none other than one of our talented Smashing Suppliers, Igor Lubenski.

Jewish lesbian wedding
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Intimate and Joyful Israeli Wedding Organised in Just 3 Months at Lawrence Gallery, Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel

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I have a real sweet treat of a Jewish wedding for you this afternoon folks. Set amidst the boats and charm of Old Jaffa in Tel Aviv, today’s W-Day was planned in just 3 months (nope, I’m not even kidding!) and is bursting at the seams with lots of personal and thoughtful touches.

Rachel and Moshe both come from Modern Orthodox backgrounds, yet it was important for them to make their ceremony as egalitarian and personal as possible. For example, for the Sheva Brachot part of their Jewish wedding ceremony, they invited couples to come up to the chuppah together. The man said the traditional blessing, whilst the woman wrote a personal blessing. Rachel says, “hearing the personal blessings written by the closest women in our lives was so moving and special. They are words that will accompany me throughout my life.”

They also loved the concept of having a procession with klezmer musicians parading through the alleys of Jaffa, leading them to their chuppah in a park overlooking the city and the sea. To them, it felt very timeless, reconnecting to a special tradition that doesn’t happen so much anymore.

Today, not only do I have the usual dose of W-day eye candy for you, taken by the super talented Noa Magger (in particular I am loving the Jaffa harbour images, and the ‘party faces’ of the guests – you have to check them out!) but for those of you that may be stressing over every minute detail in the run up to the big day, Rachel’s words are both wise and super helpful. I particularly love what she says at the end of the post: “I think the biggest piece of advice is to find ways to incorporate friends and family in a meaningful way —  I think it makes for the best memories.”

So true… Let’s hear more from Rachel and Moshe, a smashingly creative, fun and outgoing couple.

Jaffa Wedding
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