competitions Archives - Smashing the Glass

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

22/03/2022 by Karen Cinnamon

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 19^thcentury 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.

Oh, and did I mention that Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is offering Smashing The Glass readers 20% off private hire for weddings booked for 2022 and 2023 (blackout dates apply)?!

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 25% off private hire for weddings booked for 2022 and 2023 (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.

Win a Romantic Night for Two at Kimpton Fitzroy London

28/09/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

There’s no place like Kimpton Fitzroy London for a Jewish (or Jew-is wedding). If you’ve been following Smashing The Glass for a while, that won’t come as any surprise – you may remember the epic live Jewish music event we put on there over the summer, and then there are the exquisite real Jewish weddings we’ve featured on the blog.

But Kimpton Fitzroy London isn’t only a wedding venue – it’s also an incredible luxury hotel, located oh-so-centrally in Bloomsbury’s Russell Square, and the absolute perfect place to spend a romantic night.

That’s why I’m so excited that we’re teaming up with Kimpton Fitzroy London 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.

The lucky winner will be treated to a truly swoon worthy stay including all of the following:

An overnight stay in a luxury corner suite
Champagne and sweet treats on arrival
Pre-dinner cocktails in Fitz’s Bar
3-course dinner with a bottle of wine in the stunning brand new restaurant Galvin Bar & Grill
Breakfast the following morning
The total prize value is £1300 !

Read on to find out how to enter!

All about Kimpton Fitzroy London

Kimpton Fitzroy London’s combination of historic charm and modern luxury makes it an incredibly elegant spot – and did we mention the Bloomsbury location is unbeatable? We also love that the property is equally suited for an intimate micro wedding or a celebration with up to 200 guests, and everything in between.

Originally built in 1898 (on the site of Emmaline Pankhurst’s onetime home — how’s that for a bit of feminist history to add to your wedding?!), Kimpton Fitzroy London undertook a two-year, £85 million refurbishment of the hotel before opening it in April 2018 as the first Kimpton property in the UK.

A Jewish Wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy

Did we mention that the wonderful weddings team at Kimpton Fitzroy London is incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic about Jewish weddings? We can’t say it any better than real Jewish bride Ivi, whose incredible wedding we featured on STG earlier this year:

The Kimpton Fitzroy is an absolutely rare gem – its glamorous opulence yet intimate warmth sets it worlds apart from the conventional swanky hotels a stone’s throw away in Mayfair. What we treasured the most is the loving way Jen and all of the hotel’s staff made us feel like royalty on our big day. No requests were too big or too small, we were met with smiles and genuine well wishes all day, we truly felt the hotel’s joy and pride of hosting us on the most special day of our lives. We are still pinching ourselves that we managed to get married in such an exceptional and luxurious venue. The Kimpton Fitzroy London will eternally be special to us and we cannot wait to return to spend our first wedding anniversary there!

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London | Photo by Fire & Ice

We also love that, depending on your specific needs, you’ll have your pick of a range of delightful spaces – from the dramatic ballroom to eight-intimate rooms and four restaurants and bars, all flooded with natural light and historic details at every turn. With a capacity of up to 180 for a seated dinner and dancefloor, or 450 standing, it can accommodate a big bash.

The centre of the property — at least when it comes to weddings — is the ballroom, a grand event space perfect for a standout Jewish ceremony followed by a beautiful reception, boasting a private entrance on Bernard Street, original 19^th-century architectural details, a full wall of windows, and a mezzanine gallery.

And the adjoining Palm Court is the most magical backdrop for reception drinks, with a soaring glass ceiling that floods the room with light, comfortable clusters of seating, an outdoor terrace, and lots of gorgeous greenery — the vibe is conservatory meets lounge meets members club, and it is exactly as fabulous as it sounds. Intimate yet fun, hip yet classic.

Ivi and Ben’s Jewish wedding at Kimpton Fitzroy London | Photo by Fire & Ice

And if you’re a member of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club (our members club for Jewish and Jew-ish brides) Kimpton Fitzroy London are generously offering you 20% off ballroom hire (blackout dates apply)!

Win a Performance from Balagan Roaming Band That ALL Your Wedding Guests Will Be Talking About!

14/01/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

We’re so excited to announce something totally new from the team behind Sensation Band… Balagan, the first and only roaming acoustic band in the world that offers Jewish wedding music sets – this is seriously the ULTIMATE in live Jewish wedding entertainment!

We’ve long been fans of Sensation Band, who’ve been bringing music from the biggest stages around the world to Jewish and Jew-ish weddings in London and around the world. Since launching five years ago, they’ve worked with some of the most creative and talented vendors around and entertained tens of thousands of guests in some of the coolest venues across the globe ( and of course we’ve featured Sensation in so many gorgeous real Jewish weddings here on Smashing The Glass over the years).

Now, with Balagan, they’re ready to crank the fun factor up to 11. Offering a 5-6 piece band consisting of singing guitarists, saxophone, percussion, and even an unmissable sousaphone! The band can roam around singing, dancing and interacting with guests during reception drinks, dinner, or during your party set.

Win a show stopping Performance from Balagan Roaming Band

We’re teaming up with Balagan to offer one lucky couple a chance to win a 5-piece Balagan acoustic roaming band to play at their wedding, free of charge! This is a truly incredible prize, worth over £3000 – so if you’re getting married between 1st March 2020 and 1st March 2021, read on to find out how to enter!

Why Choose a Roaming Band?

The greatest feature of a roaming band like Balagan is that it is designed from the outset to be fully mobile and fully personalized, so it’s perfect for receptions, dinner music or regular parties where the band can roam from table to table.

The band members are all highly talented musicians with outgoing personalities – they love getting in amongst the crowd and getting the party started.

The Jewish Wedding Set

Balagan is the only roaming acoustic band in the world (that we know of!) that offers Jewish sets. Fronted by an Israeli folk singer, you get truly authentic Israeli music brought to life in an immersive and fun way never seen before (why oh why weren’t Balagan around when I had my wedding?!).

This is an amazing alternative to the traditional format of having a band performing the Israeli set on stage – with Balagan you are in amongst the music. The band can also perform on a central podium with guests gathered around for dancing.

An immersive experience

Balagan gets everyone involved and makes the experience as immersive and participative as possible. They often suggest providing guests with personalised drums and tambourines, so even if they don’t know the words to the songs on the set list they can help create the music!

Why We Love Balagan for Jewish Weddings

You can’t beat the fun factor of a roaming band – Balagan creates an intimate, informal atmosphere guaranteed to get your guests talking
As a roaming band, Balagan connects with guests and tables in a totally personalized way that will make each and every attendee feel effortlessly comfortable and engaged in the celebration from the very beginning
Roaming bands are great in situations where there are specific sound restrictions, and Balagan can play acoustically without issue even where there are sound limiters in place
Without the need for a stage or any sound equipment, Balagan can work in pretty much any space available, no matter how small or large
And they also work with a range of budgets, depending on your needs
Give your guests a huge surprise by introducing the band out of nowhere with a guerrilla/flash mob entrance, guaranteed to get the whole room on their feet
Balagan can go fully wireless, so you get all the advantages of being fully mobile and acoustic, but you still get a big sound, mixed by a sound engineer

Win the Ultimate NYC Wedding at Carnegie Hall

03/10/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

Photography by Andre Maier / Planning by Andrea Adelstein, NYLUX Events

Are you looking to plan the ultimate New York City wedding? Something at an iconic venue in the heart of the city, with killer views of the magnificent skyline? Perhaps you’d even like to wed at a legendary cultural hotspot?

Photography by Andre Maier / Planning by Andrea Adelstein, NYLUX Events

All that and more is possible at one of our very favourite NYC Jewish wedding venues, Carnegie Hall. One of the world’s most iconic performance spaces, Carnegie Hall also happens to be home to a variety of fantastic event spaces, from a killer rooftop terrace to a private dining room with historic fixtures to rooms with dramatic windows showcasing Central Park.

Photography by Andre Maier / Planning by Andrea Adelstein, NYLUX Events

And right now, our friends at Carnegie Hall are running a competition for one lucky couple to win their dream wedding at this amazing venue!

Win the World’s Most Lavish Kosher Dessert Display from Luxury Cake Purveyors GC Couture

23/07/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

GC Couture’s kosher Indulgence Bar^®

I’m SO excited to offer you the chance to win the hottest new innovation on the kosher catering market for your very own wedding – an ultra-Instagrammable Indulgence Bar^® from international luxury cake purveyors GC Couture. Say what?!!! I know! What a show-stopping (not to mention off-the-scale delicious) detail to add to your big day that EVERYONE will be talking about!

Introducing the Indulgence Bar^®

A new design concept created by GC Couture, an Indulgence Bar^® is the perfect way to bring some serious wow factor to your wedding. An assortment of luxe sweet treats from cookies to cake pops to macarons to brownie bites to cupcakes (and so much more) – not to mention an exquisite centerpiece cake or macaron tower – catered to serve anywhere from 30 to 500 guests (and beyond), an Indulgence Bar^® is truly a sight to behold.

Wow Factor

An Indulgence Bar^® is a bespoke production, designed for each couple to fit with the theme and colour scheme of their day. With four options to choose from, Bebe, Petit, Classique and De Luxe, an Indulgence Bar^® is the sure-fire way to impress your guests whatever the grandeur of your occasion. They’re also perfect for corporate events, private parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and baby showers.

Kosher Couture

GC Couture are known for their amazing designs, attention to detail, and exemplary level of service – and no request is too much for them. With ten years of experience in the luxury cake market, we’re thrilled that GC Couture have recently opened a dedicated kosher production kitchen, endorsed and under the guidance of the KLBD.

No one else is doing anything quite like their lavish Indulgence Bar^® under the highest kashrut standards, so this is a really exciting innovation to the market.