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A Jewish Wedding in Pink at The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, Wales, UK

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Jess and Louis, The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, UK

We’re so excited to be publishing our first-ever Jewish wedding in Wales today! Though Jess, a primary school teacher, and Louis, a tax advisor, now live in London, Jess hails from the small but mighty Welsh Jewish community, and it was important to her to get married back home in South Wales.

They chose The Vale Resort in Pontyclun as the venue for their summery wedding weekend in pink, filled with tons of gorgeous blooms in all shades of the tone, and we can’t get enough of it. Neither could Jess – she loved planning her big day so much that she’s since launched a small business, The Wedding Desk, where she support couples who are planning their own wedding so that they can feel prepared and ready to hand over to their suppliers / on-the-day coordinator on the day!

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Claudine Hartzel captured the day so beautifully – in Jess’s words, “She was just like having a best friend and supporter with us every step of the way. From our engagement shoot, we instantly felt at ease and comfortable in front of the camera and knew we were in for an absolute treat after receiving our engagement shoot photos. On the wedding day itself, Claudine and her team were everywhere but never in the way – she made sure every second was captured and her photos really show the emotion and positive energy of our special day.”

We also love that, in addition to their general wedding registry with The Wedding Shop, Jess and Louis also set up a Judaica registry with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Contemporary Judaica – such a smart way to make sure you’ll be gifted Judaica you’ll be proud to display in your home!

Now over to Jess…

Jess and Louis, The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, UK Jess and Louis, The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, UK Jess and Louis, The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, UK Jess and Louis, The Vale Resort, Pontyclun, UK

How We Met

Jess, the bride: Jess is from Cardiff and Louis is from Manchester but we both moved to London after university. We met during Covid on Hinge but after a couple of dates, we realised that both our families share very close family friends – turns out we were both at a lot of simchas together when we were younger and there’s lots of photos of us! We were also on an Israel trip together during uni but had no idea!

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A Jewish Wedding Filled with Good Ruach, Good Vibes, and Good People at The Langham, London, UK

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Gabi and Harry, The Langham, London, UK

We adore a London Jewish wedding – and Gabi and Harry’s at Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Langham is really something special.

The bride, who works in sustainability for an insurance company, and the groom, an associate engineer, knew The Langham was the one as soon as they visited. They fell in love with not only the gorgeous ballroom but the whole vibe, which really encapsulates all the elegance and glamour of London.  

Gabi and Harry’s vision for the day was “good ruach, good vibes and being with all our favourite people,” and you can see that they absolutely pulled it off. Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Claudine Hartzel took the most beautiful photos and made Gabi and Harry feel so comfortable on the day – in Gabi’s words, “It was more like having a friend in the room taking pictures of us. She was also EVERYWHERE and captured also the right moments, but also was somehow never in the way!”

The couple’s videographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michael Pearl Films captured all the energy of the day so perfectly – and Gabi and Harry report that nearly two years on, they still can’t get enough of their wedding video and watch it frequently!

We also love that, in addition to their general wedding gift list, the duo opted to set up a We Judaica registry with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Contemporary Judaica – such a smart idea!

Now over to Gabi…

Gabi and Harry, The Langham, London, UK Gabi and Harry, The Langham, London, UK Gabi and Harry, The Langham, London, UK Gabi and Harry, The Langham, London, UK

How We Met

Gabi, the bride: Harry and I met when we were 15 years old at a Jewish Youth Group (JLGB) on a Winter Camp. We became good friends and also went on Israel Tour together when we were 16. At 17 we started dating and the rest is history! Gabi went off to uni and Harry did an apprenticeship so we navigated a long-distance relationship for a few years. In 2021, we moved in together and then engaged in 2023. We got married in 2024 and then last year (2025) we moved across the world together to Sydney.

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Create the Jewish Wedding Gift List of Your Dreams with Contemporary Judaica

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Modern Kiddush Cup and Plate in Silver by Nadav Art |Photo by Stuart Wood Photography from Bringing the Hamptons to the UK: Jewish Wedding Inspo on Osea Island

It’s no secret that Contemporary Judaica is my very favourite source for stylish, modern Judaica in the UK. I’m obsessed with their gorgeous holiday popups in London’s picturesque Hampstead Village, and whenever I need a new piece for a holiday, a Jewish gift, or a gorgeous piece of Jewish jewelry, they’re always my go-to. But did you know that they also offer a fantastic wedding gift list service, easy to share with family and friends and complete with international shipping?

Aquila Shabbat Candlesticks by Lou Henry for Nambé

Why a Jewish Wedding Gift List?

Whether or not you want it, you’re going to have some guests who want to buy you Judaica – so you might as well make it easy for them to purchase pieces you’re guaranteed to love by setting up a Judaica gift list alongside your main registry.

Ceramic White Mezuzah with Gold Shin by Yahalomis

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Get Ready for London’s Dreamiest Hanukkah Pop-up

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This is a guest post by Danya Kay, founder of Contemporary Judaica – my very favourite source for stylish, modern Judaica in the UK. 

This year has whizzed by, and the recent cold spell has ensured the winter festivities of spreading joy and light feel more real now, and on top of that, because Hanukkah is so much later this year, the build-up is even more exciting.

Find Jonathan Adler at Contemporary Judaica 

It’s a cosy feeling of colour, family and smells of fried latkes, but also, we can’t help but think of those unable to enjoy it with us—we can’t forget and for that reason the importance of spreading even more joy and light at this time, is more significant than ever.

Find Chewdaica at Contemporary Judaica 

At Contemporary Judaica, we’re thrilled to do our part by reopening the doors of our Hanukkah pop-up this December 10—15 in the charming village of Hampstead. Nestled between Roni’s Bakery and Ottolenghi, and just moments from Hampstead Heath, our pop-up shop will once again showcase an exquisite selection of Judaica from talented artists around the globe.

Arch Chanukiah by Steven Bronstein

A Celebration of Style and Tradition

Our pop-up shop offers a unique opportunity to browse our curated collection of functional yet beautiful Judaica designed to be cherished all year round—not just during the holidays—featuring designers like Jonathan Adler, Michael Aram, Tchotchke, L’Objet, and more. 

Chai Necklace in Silver by Shlomit Ofir

This is our third year of popping up in Hampstead—times have changed and, from a personal standpoint, the way artists, customers, friends, and acquaintances have rallied together to stand up, support one another and connect with their Judaism more deeply than ever is the most wonderful and positive feeling to be had in 15 years of running Contemporary Judaica.

Rova Chanukiah by L’Objet

It feels more like being part of an extended family—making connections and spreading joy through the process of selecting beautiful Judaica and seeing the Jewish joy it brings.  Whether you’re treating yourself, selecting a meaningful gift for a loved one, or honoring a significant milestone—like choosing a tallit for your child or transforming a smashed chuppah glass into a treasured keepsake—each piece tells a story of joy and connection.

Heart Dreidal by Michael Aram

The unique experience of the pop-ups to date has been special–friends randomly meeting, people popping by and stories told.  Come and see for yourself!

‘Ripples’ Marbles Concrete Chanukiah by Logifaces

If you’re thinking of creating a bespoke online Judaica Wedding List [note from Karen: I highly recommend doing this to ensure the Judaica gifts you receive match your taste and style!], this is a great opportunity to pick your favourite pieces out in person!

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Set Up the Jewish Wedding Gift List of Your Dreams with Contemporary Judaica

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Raw Silk Hand Woven Small Tallit by Yair Emanuel and Modern Kiddush Cup and Plate in Silver by Nadav Art |Photo by Stuart Wood Photography from Bringing the Hamptons to the UK: Jewish Wedding Inspo on Osea Island

It’s no secret that Contemporary Judaica is my very favourite source for stylish, modern Judaica in the UK. But did you know that they also offer a fantastic wedding gift list service (complete with international shipping)?

Trace Chanukiah in Clay by Via Maris

Easy to set up and manage online, with a Contemporary Judaica gift list you’ll have an unrivaled choice of gifts from over 50 Judaica artists worldwide, not to mention full flexibility and exceptional service.

Acrylic Solid Challah Board and Magnetic Matching Knife

Offering kiddush cups, shabbat candlesticks, challah boards, mezuzahs, havdalah sets, seder plates, smash glasses for under the chuppah that can be turned into keepsake art, and so much more, a Contemporary Judaica gift list is the perfect way to ensure you receive Judaica gifts you know you’ll love, the kind that will enhance the Jewish home you’re building together for a lifetime.Continue ReadingContinue Reading