Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > Herschel Gutman Photography

A Martina Liana Bride for a Jewish Wedding at Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel

by

Sydney and Jared, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel

There’s no place like Israel. And Toronto couple Sydney, a teacher at a Hebrew day school, and Jared, who works in banking, knew from the start it was the only place that would do for their Jewish wedding post-October 7.

Caesar Yam in Caesarea, located right off the beach, was the most magnificent spot for the festivities – and it doesn’t hurt that Israel is the place where the pair started dating! With the most gorgeous floral chuppah, dreamy ocean views, and a beautiful ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ketubah.com gifted by the groom’s parents, this was one incredibly special day.

Sydney and Jared chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman to photograph their big day, and they couldn’t be any more thrilled with their decision. In Sydney’s words,

Herschel is one of the warmest and most fun photographers to work with. We felt we could completely be ourselves and just go with anything he was telling us to do. He got our vision quickly and just knew what to do without having to say. What was also so nice and our guests really appreciated was the fact that they captured us but also everyone at the wedding. He captured our wedding perfectly, we wish he lived in Toronto so we could have him at future events!

Read on for the full story in the bride’s own words… 

Sydney and Jared, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Sydney and Jared, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Sydney and Jared, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel Sydney and Jared, Caesar Yam, Caesarea, Israel
How We Met

Sydney, the bride: 11 years ago we met at high school, where we become friends. We then went on a summer trip through NCSY, called TJJ where we get to tour Israel from top to bottom for a month. That trip is where we everything started for us.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Adili Studio Bride for an Enchanting Outdoor Jewish Wedding at Habustan, Gan Iruim Bcfar, Israel

by

Ellie-and-David-Habustan-Gan-Iruim-Bcfar-Abu-Gosh-Israel

We’re in love with the magical garden wedding of Ellie and David, both Australian olim in Israel. Filled with greenery, sparkling fairy lights, and sweet rustic touches, this outdoor wedding was nothing short of enchanting.

Ellie and David opted to DIY their stationery – which they loved working on together in the leadup to their Jewish wedding – and we’re obsessed with Ellie’s super cool dress by Adi Hirsch of Adili Studio in Modiin, Israel. The couple’s photographer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman, captured the day so beautifully – and we’re not at all surprised to hear that he was a joy to work with from start to finish.

With both the bride and groom being from Australia, lots of friends and family members couldn’t make it to Israel to celebrate in person – and we love the duo’s clever workaround, in the form of a Whatsapp group! Ellie and David sent the link around to those who were unable to attend the wedding, and then on the day they had QR codes that guests could scan to join the group – along with instructions to record, film and photograph parts of the wedding to share to the group!

There’s so much more to say about this very special day – read on for the full story in Ellie’s own words…

 

Ellie-and-David-Habustan-Gan-Iruim-Bcfar-Abu-Gosh-Israel Ellie-and-David-Habustan-Gan-Iruim-Bcfar-Abu-Gosh-Israel Ellie-and-David-Habustan-Gan-Iruim-Bcfar-Abu-Gosh-Israel Ellie-and-David-Habustan-Gan-Iruim-Bcfar-Abu-Gosh-Israel
How We Met

Ellie, the bride: David and I are currently both students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. We went to the same school in Sydney, Australia, and in high school we were part of the same friend group, we became good friends and enjoyed hanging out together on school camps and at social events. In year 12 we started dating and soon after finishing school we went on the same gap year program to Israel with Bnei Akiva.

After outlasting all the relationships on our program, we both independently decided to make aliya and join the army. David served in Tzanchanim and I served in Search and Rescue. Despite the ongoing long distance when our off weekends weren’t in sync and when David returned to Australia to work, we managed to make it work. It only took us 5 years to understand that were made for each other and on a trip together to Australia in 2023, David proposed and the rest is history. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Miri Couture Bride for an Ultra-Moving Jewish Wedding Bringing Light to Dark Times at Gioia Mia, Kibbutz Nachshonim, Israel

by

Dalya-Zach-Gioia-Mia-Kibbutz-Nachshonim-Israel

Amidst the sorrow, anger, and heartbreak, we will never stop celebrating Jewish continuity because that is exactly what we are fighting for. Today’s real wedding is all about bringing Jewish joy into a dark time – something we could all use more than ever this week. 

Israeli couple Dalya, a data analyst, and Zach, a student and sales advisor, were originally scheduled to make things official on October 22, 2023. After October 7, they knew they had to postpone – but when their new Jewish wedding date rolled around in January, they were more focused than ever on bringing the light.

Dalya and Zach’s wedding was an emotional reunion with loved ones from abroad and friends serving in the army who got the night off to join their celebration. A highlight of the chuppah was a special prayer for the protection of the state of Israel and IDF soldiers – including Zach’s beloved brother.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman photographed the day and captured every moment of joy so perfectly. In Dalya’s words, “Herschel delivered on all fronts, capturing candid, dramatic, fun, and natural shots. He was also fantastic at improvising. On the day of our wedding, it was pouring rain, and he creatively used umbrellas to give us some of our favorite shots. He made sure the photos looked stunning despite the weather, capturing the moment and the beauty of the hall perfectly.”

This was such an incredibly special and meaningful day – in the bride’s own words,  “Being able to have a wedding during some dark times in Israel was the greatest way to show our enemies that we will always win and overcome anything they want to challenge us with.” Now over to Dalya…

Dalya-Zach-Gioia-Mia-Kibbutz-Nachshonim-Israel Dalya-Zach-Gioia-Mia-Kibbutz-Nachshonim-Israel Dalya-Zach-Gioia-Mia-Kibbutz-Nachshonim-Israel Dalya-Zach-Gioia-Mia-Kibbutz-Nachshonim-Israel
How We Met

Dalya, the bride: I moved to Herzliya, Israel on October 22, 2022. During my first weeks in Herzliya, Zach would come up and make small talk. When Chanukah arrived, Zach and his roommates hosted a community event. My roommate messaged me, asking if I was coming. I decided to join my friends at the event. There, Zach approached me, we started talking, and the rest is history. About a week into dating, Zach told me he would marry me, and little did I know that a month into our relationship, we would already be meeting each other’s parents.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Laid-Back, Rustic Same-Sex Jewish Wedding at Allenby Farms, Nezer Sereni, Israel

by

Nina-and-Tali-Allenby-Farms-Israel

There’s nothing like an Israeli wedding, and we’re absolutely in love with the same-sex nuptials of Nina, a customer success manager at a medical education company, and Tali, who is protocol manager at the British Embassy.

The couple wanted something simple and rustic, with the focus kept squarely on celebrating their love surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

We love that Nina and Tali hung up photos of themselves throughout their relationship at their venue, Allenby Farms, so that guests could get a glimpse of their life together.

When it came time for their wedding photos, the pair chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman. In Nina’s words, Herschel 

was absolutely amazing. He really listened to our needs and didn’t overwhelm us. He was super professional, was a great communicator and was just overall lovely to work with.

Read on for the rest of the story in Nina’s own words…

Nina-and-Tali-Allenby-Farms-Israel Nina-and-Tali-Allenby-Farms-Israel Nina-and-Tali-Allenby-Farms-Israel
How We Met

Nina, the bride: We both swiped right on Tinder AND OKCupid.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Mia Pava Bride for an Ultra-moving Wartime Jewish Wedding Full of Joy and Strength at The Agam at the Botanical Gardens in Jerusalem, Israel

by

Dani-Zev-The-Agam-at-the-Botanical-Gardens-Jerusalem

Daniela, a physiotherapist, and Zev, the COO of tour company Israel Maven Tours, thought long and hard about getting married in wartime – and when they decided to go for it, they wanted to make sure they threw a celebration that would bring joy and strength to all in attendance – and did they ever.

Nearly all of the couple’s guests have been directly affected by the war, and it was important to them that their Jewish wedding acknowledge all those whose ongoing sacrifices made the special day – and life in Israel generally – possible. And with prayers for the IDF, the state of Israel, and the hostages, a heartfelt shofar blast under the chuppah, and Israeli flags all around – in addition to some beautiful symbolic flowers, like olive branches for peace – they did exactly that.

One extra meaningful touch: Daniela and Zev gave their guests with loved ones serving in Gaza or on the border with Lebanon a gift box of cocktails along with a handwritten note with instructions to drink a l’chaim with their loved ones when they return safely home from the battlefield! In the bride’s words, “We didn’t realise how moving this would be for people and to this day we are still receiving pictures and videos of happy families reunited drinking the delicious cocktails.”

Daniela and Zev chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Herschel Gutman as their photographer, and they were thrilled with both the beautiful images he captured and his warmth and kindness throughout the planning process and on the day itself.

Read on for more about this incredibly moving day in the bride’s own words…

Dani-Zev-The-Agam-at-the-Botanical-Gardens-Jerusalem Dani-Zev-The-Agam-at-the-Botanical-Gardens-Jerusalem Dani-Zev-The-Agam-at-the-Botanical-Gardens-Jerusalem Dani-Zev-The-Agam-at-the-Botanical-Gardens-Jerusalem
How We Met

Daniela, the bride: As Zev says, “We were destined for one another, we just had to wait for someone to make the introduction. Luckily for us a mutual friend made the suggestion.”Continue ReadingContinue Reading