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2018/19 Real Blogging Brides: Introducing Harlie + Ben: How They Met To The Present Day…

15/05/2018 by Smashing The Glass

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 3rd gorgeous bride from our crop of 2018 and 2019 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Harlie who will be marrying Ben on 19th August 2018 at the Landmark Hotel, London, UK.

THREE FACTS: Harlie met Ben on an ‘Aish’ trip to Israel during their university years (2) They will be bringing in lots of Spanish influences into their London wedding, for a variety of reasons, not least because that that’s where they got engaged! (3) They will be having a fairly traditional orthodox London wedding, but are including lots of modern twists.

How we met

Ben and I met in Israel during our University summer of 2013, on a tour that was part of a Jewish youth programme for students. I was at University in Leeds and Ben was at law school in London. We got talking over Shabbat lunch in the beautiful, spiritual city of Tzfat, and in the spirit of romance completely ignored each other for the rest of the trip!

It wasn’t until December that year when we both ended up in Spain with the same organisation that the sparks started flying. On the last night after a few shots of tequila, we both plucked up the courage to start chatting. After some grafting in the weeks to follow (although he wont admit it!), Ben won my heart.

Our dating days… up and down the country.

We only had a few low key casual dates back home, and it then wasn’t long until Ben was travelling up to Leeds and back from London to visit me at University. We went on a five week travelling stint around South East Asia that summer after only five months of dating, and have since made many amazing memories around the world. That was our story for the next three years, both travelling up and down the country every other weekend to see each other and spending many summers together jetting off around the globe.

2018/19 Real Blogging Brides: Introducing Jennifer + Charlie: How They Met To The Present Day…

08/05/2018 by Smashing The Glass

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 2nd gorgeous bride from our crop of 2018 and 2019 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Jennifer who will be marrying Charlie on 5th August 2018 at Dartmouth House in Mayfair, London, UK

THREE FACTS: (1) Jennifer and Charlie first met when they were just 17 years old! (2) They are planning an intimate elegant black tie trad(ish)ional Jewish wedding incorporating plenty of personal touches, their sense of humour, and love of all things rose gold (3) Jennifer is a wedding photographer herself so is planning her wedding as an industry insider!

How We Met

Charlie and I met when we were 17 years old. We shared our first kiss on the tennis courts in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Six months later, I was cruelly dumped in the window seat of a coffee shop in full view of every school girl and boy in Highgate Village.

Ten years later, having successfully avoided each other – despite living in the same postcode – our paths crossed once again in the Steeles pub on Haverstock Hill. All it took was one misinterpreted pat on the knee for Charlie to think I was interested (again) and before I knew it we were on our second ‘first’ date.

One month later we went away on holiday together, where I essentially forced Charlie to be my boyfriend. Our history allowed us to skip those first few awkward months of dating. There were no doubts about where our relationship was going. We share such similar values and goals; it was as if we were meant to grow up apart to meet again at the right time in our lives.

A Demetrios Bride for a Stylish Jewish Wedding at Super Cool Venue Aynhoe Park, Banbury, UK

30/04/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

You’re in for an EPIC start to the week with today’s Jewish wedding, set at one of my all-time favorite venues: Aynhoe Park and featuring one of STG’s all-time favorite bands (and Recommended Vendor) The Function Band!

Britain’s coolest listed estate, Aynhoe Park is a 17th-century country house bursting at the seams with taxidermy animals (including a polar bear — and a unicorn!), classical sculpture, disco balls, and an eclectic art collection.

Gorgeous couple Danielle and Alex looked at venues all over the world, but none compared to Aynhoe. Take a peek at photographer Alex Beckett’s delightfully quirky snaps of their day, and I think you’ll agree with them. I just love how Aynhoe Park combines old-fashioned English eccentricity with 21st-century edge. Saying this place has character doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I also want to mention here that groom Alex planned this whole wedding on his own, top to bottom — how awesome is that?! Danielle had her hands full taking care of the couple’s adorable baby boy, and she had enough faith in her husband-to-be’s good taste to hand the reins over — though she drew the line when he offered to choose her gown!

And it’s a good thing she did, because the racerback fishtail Demetrios dress she ended up with could not have been more perfect. Now over to Danielle…

How we met

Danielle, the bride: I met Alex when he first came to Dubai on holiday and we had a mutual friend. We had some really good nights out as friends, but he lived in the UK and I lived in Dubai.

I came back to the UK for Xmas 2012 and we ended up having our first kiss and then we spoke every single day, every single minute of the day. We managed a long distance relationship for one year. I would fly back when I could, and he would come to Dubai when he could. I think we managed to see each other every 4-6 weeks.

Once the year was up Alex asked me to move back and move in with him, which eventually I said yes to. It was hard for me leaving all my family in Dubai, but I knew I wanted to be with Alex and knew I had to give this a go.

Two months after moving back we had a dog, one year and half after moving back I fell pregnant and we had a beautiful baby boy called Arthur, and then obviously the wedding 🙂

So we started dating from December 2012 / I moved back to UK in January 2014 / I had Arthur on May 13, 2016 / we got married July 20, 2017.

A Romantic English Country Garden Jew-ish Wedding at Northbrook Park, Surrey, UK

15/01/2018 by Karen

Today’s real Jew-ish real wedding is a very special one and we’re ridiculously excited about it, as lovely Caroline and Robbie were one of editor Karen’s fabulous consultancy couples and to see their wedding come to life has been a total and utter joy! One of our favorite things about Smashing The Glass is the way we so often feel involved, directly or indirectly, in our couples’ big days, and this is particularly true today!

In fact, Caroline and Robbie were so delightful to work with, that they are one of 12 very special guests at our ‘Your Jewish Wedding Your Way’ Smashing Summit on the 31st January 2018 which we are SO excited for! Mindy Weiss, Monique Lhuillier, Ron Ben-Israel, Galia Lahav‘s Chief Designer, Duke Photography, Bruce Russell, Blake Ezra, Food Story, and a whole host of wedding industry superstars will talk live, covering everything (and we mean EVERYTHING!) you need to know to plan your Jewish (or Jew-ish) wedding your way. It’s going to be unmissable so make sure you reserve your (totally free!) front seat today here.

So onto today’s truly fabulous totally dreamy and romantic English country garden Jew-ish wedding! Caroline and Robbie, with so many international connections, could have tied the knot in many places, but chose picturesque Northbrook Park in Surrey, an area with family connections for the happy couple.

Beautiful bride Caroline absolutely rocked her bold, unique and jaw-droppingly gorgeous Liz Martinez gown, with its stunning plunge neckline and layers of fairytale tulle.

There were no fewer than three of our much-loved recommended vendors involved in Caroline and Robbie’s wedding. The Function Band, who created magical moments with their music and kept the party going into the early hours, Philippa Louise whose epic makeup skills brought out Caroline’s best features and Rabbi Paul Glantz, who worked with the couple to create the perfect traditional Jew-ish ceremony.

All of the delightful decor details and happy moments were captured by fabulous photographer Philippa James.

It’s finally beautiful Caroline’s turn in the spotlight on the Smashing The Glass pages – please give her a very warm welcome!

How we met

Caroline, the bride: Robbie and I met five years ago in Sydney, Australia. I was a backpacker on a year’s work and holiday visa, while Robbie was working there as a junior doctor for the year. We met completely by chance in a nightclub in Sydney’s famous Surrey Hills neighbourhood, and the rest is history!

We spent our first three years together traveling the world, including a few months’ journey on the Trans-Siberian Express through China, Mongolia and Russia, and living in Australia and South Africa. Two years ago, we relocated back to Robbie’s hometown of London and have been here ever since.
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An Amanda Wakeley Bride for a London-Chic, Rose Gold and Grey Jewish Wedding at Rosewood, London, UK

03/01/2018 by Karen

So how are you settling into 2018?! And have you heard the big news about our super exciting ‘Your Wedding Your Way’ online summit on 31st January? It’s going to be EPIC – just like today’s real Jewish wedding that’s breathtakingly beautiful — inside and out.

With a rose-gold and slate grey color scheme, Emma and Liam accented the best features of gorgeous London venue, Rosewood, and complemented the already divine surroundings with fashion-forward geometric shapes.

At just five feet tall, bride Emma had a unique challenge when searching for the perfect wedding dress, but found her saviors in the team at Amanda Wakeley, who worked to create the perfect design for her frame. I think we can all agree that the result was just sensational! Emma added some height with a pair of iconic Valentino rock stud heels – a classic designer wardrobe staple we just ADORE.

We’re also all aquiver for the stunning chuppah, decorated with fresh flowers by Wildabout – what a beauty!

There were so many friends of Smashing The Glass involved in making this day happen, from submitter Aron from Whitepaper Event, who we love, love, LOVE, to THREE incredible Recommended Vendors: The Function Band, who created an out-of-this-world party atmosphere, Food Story and their delicious catering (and thoughtful cold towel idea for the Israeli dancing) and Denee Motion, whose sensitively captured, romantic trailer can be seen below.

A dear friend of the couple, Tom Archer Photography, led a team of photographers capturing every last detail of the day, and Emma and Liam worked together to provide the loving and wonderful writeup below. We’ll leave you in their capable hands now – get ready to fall in love!

How we met

Emma, the bride: We met six years ago, travelling in Australia. We were both looking for flatmates on Gumtree and Liam replied to my advert. As they say, the rest is history!