Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > Creation Showband > Page 2

A Watters Bride for an Egalitarian Jewish Wedding with Fairy Lights and Sunflowers at The Oakley Court, Windsor, UK

by

Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068
Is this the perfect English country Jewish wedding, or what? We are totally obsessed with Miri and Jon’s sweet sunflower chuppah — not to mention the bride’s epic flower crown (which she opted for instead of a bouquet) and the charming table centers in repurposed whiskey bottles strewn with fairy lights. It was all the work of florist Gabriella Shem-Tov, who crafted the perfect colorful arrangements to complement the festival vibes and idyllic outdoor setting.

We also love that Miri, a project manager at the British Library, and Jon, community development director for Masorti Judaism in the UK, crafted an ultra-personal egalitarian ceremony totally in step with their values, where they circled each other, exchanged rings, and both smashed a glass.

Don’t miss Miri’s beautiful writeup, or Marianne Chua’s luminous documentary-style photography… and whilst you’re at it, you won’t want to miss our amazing FREE online event for Jewish and Jew-ish Brides happening later today called, ‘The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding”. Sign up here if you haven’t already – I can’t wait to see you there!

Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068

Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068

Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068

Jewish wedding The Oakley Court Windsor UK_0068
How we met

Miri, the bride: We had been friends for a few years but then accidentally went on a date, and were engaged a year later!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides – Charlotte: My Personal Highlights And Lowlights Of Wedding Planning

by

Charlotte will be marrying James on 26th August 2018 at The Brewery, in London, UK. Click here to read all Charlotte’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) James proposed to Charlotte in Florence… on her parent’s 36th wedding anniversary (aaaah – we love that!)  (2) They are planning a Jewish urban-rustic wedding in East London (3) They have already decided on their wedding hashtags — it’s #dropitlikeitshart !


As our wedding is now only 5 weeks away, I thought it would now be a good time to put together some of the defining highlights and lowlights from our time of planning our wedding. And there have been a few!

  • Knowing that The Brewery is the only place you want to get married, and it ticks all the boxes immediately.
  • Finding a florist who got my chuppah vision, and could do it for the budget we had allocated!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Enzoani Bride for a Rustic, Bright, Colorful and Whimsical Jewish Wedding at Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK

by

Jewish Wedding Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK_0040
Woweeee! After a very cold and (beautifully!) snowy weekend here in central London, we could definitely use a splash of color to transport us out of deepest, darkest winter and into a bright, whimsical dreamscape of a Jewish wedding! Who’s in?

Claire and Dave tied the knot in a rustic, vintage-inspired celebration in the grounds of beautifully picturesque Micklefield Hall. Graphic designer, Claire, turned the full force of her fantastic creative eye to her big day, with expert attention to detail.

Every last decoration was bursting with color and perfectly matched the theme, from the magical paper lanterns by The Hanging Lantern Company to the quirky and adorable grass “LOVE” letters by Ever So Vintage Party Hire. Butterflies were dotted everywhere, from the floral arrangements to the stationery suite and beyond. The entire effect is truly something to gaze longingly at – absolutely breathtaking. 

Of course a wedding with THIS much pretty in it had to have a supermodel of a chuppah. And what a beauty Claire and Dave’s outdoor chuppah was – a rustic wooden dream with bright and bold flowers adorning the sides. We couldn’t take our eyes off it, and we’re sure you won’t be able to either. Alexandra’s Florist did just the most amazing job. 

Claire looked like an A-lister in her glamorous Enzoani gown, surrounded by her best gals in picture-perfect floral, flowing dresses.

The details, love and joy of the day were all captured by the expert eye of photographer Jordanna Marston, who really brought the camera-shy couple out of their shell to create a spread of sublime shots, while the romantic trailer below was created by none other than wonderful STG Recommended Vendor, the one and only Denee Motion.

We’ll leave you in Claire’s capable hands for the full writeup – we hope you enjoy this visual feast of a wedding, and that it warms you all up too!

Jewish Wedding Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK_0040

Jewish Wedding Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK_0002 Jewish Wedding Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK_0026 Jewish Wedding Micklefield Hall, Rickmansworth, UK_0025
How we met

Claire, the bride: We met on Tinder in 2013 and it just grew from there.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides – Charlotte: Picking our Wedding Vendors

by

Charlotte will be marrying James on 26th August 2018 at The Brewery, in London, UK. Click here to read all Charlotte’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) James proposed to Charlotte in Florence…. on her parent’s 36th wedding anniversary (aaaah – we love that!)  (2) They are planning a Jewish urban-rustic wedding in East London (3) They have already decided on their wedding hashtags — it’s #dropitlikeitshart !


The venue is booked, now begins the search for vendors. Having been to many weddings over the past few years you get to know what you like and just isn’t your style or taste. Do your research and look at reviews, I found that vendors Instagram feeds are really useful and really show what they can do in abundance. ­

Make sure you go to each vendor with a clear idea of what you want and have your questions ready. This is your wedding and the one day in your life where you get to celebrate your marriage. Make sure you stick to what is right for you both. I’m very fortunate that James has the same vision as me for our big day, and that I have very open minded parents as well.

Tony Page Kosher Caterers
Image: Robert Shack from Georgia & Sam’s Jewish Wedding (Catering by Tony Page)
Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Stunning Midsummer Night’s Dream Jewish Wedding at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, UK

by

St Pancras Renaissance Jewish Wedding
Hands up who wants to see the ULTIMATE London Jewish wedding? Set at an iconic London venue, with some of the city’s finest Jewish wedding vendors, and styled like an absolute dream, Lauren and Mark’s magnificent big day deserves to have praise HEAPED upon it.

Before we get to the gorgeous aesthetic of the wedding, we must acknowledge just how much this brave couple went through before the big day. Losing Mark’s mother shortly after their engagement was a terrible blow, and Lauren and Mark honored her memory in beautiful and moving ways.

Bride Lauren broke her foot, and so her dream of showing off glitzy heels in her stunning Suzanne Neville dipped-hem gown was replaced with a new dream of walking down the aisle in glitzy Converse, with groom Mark surprising her with his own matching pair.

The big day came together like a dream – a Midsummer Night’s Dream, to be exact, with an abundance of flowers, expertly arranged by Tony Marklew, culminating in the ultimate floral arch chuppah. Your eyes will pop out of your head when you see it. This was matched only by the stunning production by Outrage Events.

Of course, a Jewish London wedding was buzzing with incredible Smashing the Glass Recommended Vendors, including much-raved-about kosher catering by Food Story, sensational cinematography by the inimitable Imaginarium Cinematography, who will, incidentally, be joining me for a Facebook live chat tonight at 8pm GMT with… (drum roll) one of my all-time favorite photographers, Blake Ezra Photography, another much-loved insanely talented STG Vendor. Blake is widely known for being one of the UK’s top photographers, and the pictures below really do speak for themselves.

We’ll leave you in Lauren’s capable hands for the full report of the day – we’re sure you’ll be swooning (and Pinning) the whole way through!

St Pancras Renaissance Jewish Wedding

jewish-wedding-St-Pancras-Renaissance-London-UK-new

jewish-wedding-St-Pancras-Renaissance-London-UK

Midsummer Night Dream Wedding

jewish-wedding-St-Pancras-Renaissance-London-UK

jewish-wedding-St-Pancras-Renaissance-London-UK-new
How we met

Lauren, the bride: Mark and I actually met in 1991! We attended the same school when I was six and Mark was almost eight. Although he doesn’t remember me, I do remember him. It wasn’t until we were at his dad’s house when his mum had died, and got out all the memorabilia to look at, that we found an old Westwood 1991 school play programme and we were both in it! It brought the happiest of smiles to all of our faces during a very hard time. We have since watched the footage and we were standing yards apart on stage.

We finally came together almost three years ago when I was in Brasserie Zedel with my brother and his future wife. Mark and my brother go back a very long way. As fate would have it, my brother and Mark’s brother have also been best friends from the age of about 12, and even shared a ‘romantic’ trip to Marrakech together a few years ago.

Mark added me on Facebook the next morning, and the rest, as they say, is history. I knew from our first date that he was going to be the one. It was clear from the start that we shared a very special bond, and that even though our paths had tried to cross over 26 years ago that the timing was now right and that we were always destined to meet.
Continue ReadingContinue Reading