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A Lihi Hod Bride for a Jewish Wedding with an Epic Chuppah at Hotel Eden Roc Ascona, Switzerland

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We see a lot of gorgeous chuppahs here at STG HQ, but today’s really takes the (wedding) cake. Gemma, a senior associate solicitor, and Kevin, a CEO and director, chose to wed at Switzerland’s Hotel Eden Roc Ascona because of its significance in the bride’s family history. But it also happened to be the absolute perfect spot for that breathtaking outdoor chuppah overlooking Lake Maggiore in the sunshine.

The chuppah had transparent sides to ensure that all guests got a good view of the ceremony,  and the jewels hanging down from the sides of the chuppah picked up the reflections of the sun hitting the glistening lake. Add in some soft florals in Gemma and Kevin’s color scheme of pale pink, pale blue, and cream and you’ve got pure perfection.

We also love that Gemma opted to have a bespoke dress made by Israeli designer Lihi Hod in Tel Aviv – and how cool was Gemma’s custom veil, with the couple’s names and wedding logo embroidered?!

The whole day was captured exquisitely by Ash Davenport of MIKI Studios – scroll on for some serious eye candy…

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How We Met

Gemma, the bride and Kevin, the groom: We met on Hinge, Switzerland.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Mira Zwillinger Bride for a Romantic Jewish Wedding Weekend at the Fairmont Hotel, Windsor, UK

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If you love a good floral chuppah, have we got a treat for you! Today’s couple, Ellie, a fashion stylist and interior designer, and Nick, a property investor, knew they wanted their chuppah to make a statement – and does it ever! Covered in the bride’s favorite flower, gypsophila, it’s serious #chuppahgoals.

Given Ellie’s design background, it’s no surprise she had a strong vision for not only the chuppah, but the whole aesthetic of the day: a white and neutral color scheme, with lots of candles and white flowers to create a mystical and romantic fairytale theme. And it goes without saying that the bride opted for a super-stylish gown, from Israeli designer Mira Zwillinger.

But there was so much more than looks to this wonderful Jewish wedding – it was also an epic party, thanks to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Sensation Band who got everyone dancing with the perfect mix of current music and wedding classics.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Denee Motion filmed the day beautifully, capturing every moment and editing the highlight reel to perfection – and James Mason is behind Ellie and Nick’s most wonderful photos.  

And we love that the duo opted to set up their Jewish wedding gift list with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Wedding Shop – nor are we in the least surprised to hear that Ellie and Nick were thrilled with their experience!

There’s so much more to say about this fabulous wedding – read on for all the details in the bride’s own words!

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How we Met

Ellie, the bride: We met at a Jewish charity event in 2016 and have never really spent a day apart since! We got engaged after 5 and a half years of being together in November 2021, we had a 9 month long engagement which was such a perfect amount of time to plan our wedding.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Anna Georgina Bride for a Foodie’s Dream Winter Jewish Wedding at the Corinthia Hotel, London, UK

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Welcome to the glorious winter Jewish wedding of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Rebecca, an event coordinator, to groom Danny, a plumber.

In addition to an absolutely mouthwatering menu (HOW delicious do Chiko Photography’s incredible captures of the food look?), we love the fact that, in memory of a close friend, they opted not to have any flowers at the wedding, and instead to donate the money they would’ve spent to Chai Cancer Care. Not only is this incredibly moving, the alt décor they came up with – focused on candles and tealights for the tables – looks so good we’d hardly even have noticed the absence of flowers if they bride hadn’t brought it to our attention!

We’re also in love with Rebecca’s perfect wintry glam bridal look, with a dreamy longs-sleeve gown by Anna Georgina and impeccable makeup by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Susan Yates – who Rebecca praises for taking the time to understand each bride’s preferences AND, crucially, her skin type as well.

Now over to the bride!

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Luxurious Surroundings

Rebecca, the bride: We got married at Corinthia, London – working in events I wanted to choose somewhere that a) I haven’t worked at a lot, I didn’t want to associate my wedding with work and b) somewhere totally luxurious. I may work in hotels, but I don’t often stay at them, so I checked in the day before with just my siblings and parents, it was such a treat and we had the best time just the six of us.

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A Calla Blanche Bride for a Jewish Wedding at Al Hayam Caesarea, Israel

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Is there anything better than an outdoor Jewish wedding by the ocean in Israel? We’re betting on no… and so did Sophie, a primary school teacher, and Elliott, a financial advisor, who opted for an epic destination wedding at Caesarea’s always stunning Al Hayam. This is one seriously stunning day – you don’t want to miss the splendid photography and videography by Camellia Art (who used a drone to capture some seriously awesome landscape shots).

This is a venue that really speaks for itself, and these two let the natural beauty of the location speak for itself, timing their chuppah for sunset, and going for a beautiful green and white chuppah that made a statement yet didn’t distract from the natural splendor of the surroundings.  

We love that the couple opted to follow the tradition of doing the badeken on the aisle, honoring Elliott’s Sephardi heritage, so that the groom AND all the guests all got their first look at the beautiful bride as she walked down the aisle.

Speaking of that beautiful bride – who totally smashed it bridal style-wise in Calla Blanche – we’re going to turn you over to her now for the rest of the story…

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A Wedding in Israel

Sophie, the bride: Back in October 2016, Elliott proposed to me by the Bahai Gardens in Haifa which is his favourite place in the world. He is half Israeli and with his family living there, he would go there throughout his childhood to visit them, and so Israel is a very special place to Elliott. Getting engaged there, we knew straight away that was where we wanted get married. We got married at Al Hayam, Caesarea, Israel – the minute we heard about the venue we instantly feel in love with it.

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A Monique Lhuillier Bride for a Jewish Wedding at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London, UK

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For years, we’ve been dreaming of blogging a Jewish wedding at one of the most spectacular venues in all of London: the majestic Natural History Museum in lovely South Kensington. An absolute masterpiece of Victorian architecture, it doesn’t get much more iconic than this.

And today, our wedding blogger dreams are coming true with the epic wedding of Orly and Zak! Following a ceremony at the New West End Synagogue in Bayswater — no slouch in the architecture department itself — the pair and their guests decamped to the museum’s stunning Hintze Hall — if you’ve been, or seen it in pictures, it’s the main space with the whale skeleton overhanging! HOW awesome is that?! And how cool are the epic action shots from Pascale at Reportage Gallery?

Orly, an OB/GYN, and Zak, who works in property development, rounded out their marvellous day with kosher catering from fabulous STG Recommended Vendor Food Story (the pair are STILL getting compliments on their unique canapà©s, cocktails, and everything else by the amazing Food Story team), and they also benefitted from the ultimate day-of coordination (plus a little assistance wrapping up the last few weeks of planning) from the amazing Georgia of Moriarty Events.

Orly’s princess-perfect Monique Lhuillier gown purchased from much-loved STG Recommended Vendor The Wedding Club (who added the PERFECT lace straps to keep Orly’s shoulders covered for the ceremony).

If that’s not enough to catch your attention, there’s also a super sweet story about the couple’s history with the venue, plus a dramatic Hora incident (don’t worry, though, it all ended well!).

We’ll hand you over to the bride in a moment, but first a quick reminder that our FREE online event, ‘The secrets to an unforgettable Jewish wedding’ with our founder and editor, Karen, is happening next Monday November 12 and spots are filling up FAST! Grab your place now to ensure that your Jewish or Jew-ish wedding is as unforgettable as Orly and Zak’s…

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An Iconic Venue

Orly, the bride: We got married at the New West End Synagogue in Bayswater and had our reception in Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. The synagogue is really one of the most beautiful in London with such magnificent architecture and such a warm, welcoming community.

The Natural History Museum has always been a really special place for us as a couple — on our very first date I told Zak about a little mistake I had noticed on a poster in the dinosaur exhibition. A few weeks later, unbeknownst to me, Zak had already decided we were going to get engaged and started trying to convince them to give him the poster for when he proposed.

It took him a few years, but eventually the NHM gave him the poster and he surprised me with it during his speech on our wedding day! Now it’s up in our hallway! Hintze Hall is such a stunning space and it was such a privilege to party under Hope the whale in such an iconic London venue!

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