Israel Archives - Smashing the Glass

A Mia Pava Bride for a Joyous Jewish Wedding at Olmaya, Jerusalem, Israel

07/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Jerusalem is such a special place to get married – Tamar and Noam’s big day at Olmaya, featuring a stunning outdoor chuppah with majestic views of the Old City, is really something else.

This was such an iconically only-in-Israel wedding, and we are all about it. Tamar and Noam chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they couldn’t have been any more thrilled with the results – take a scroll through his incredible, heartfelt images and you’ll see why. Plus, the couple can’t stop raving about how much they loved working with him, and how comfortable and fun he made their wedding day photos!

Tamar chose the most gorgeous gown by Israeli designer Mia Pava, and we can’t get enough of her beautiful, whimsical bridal style.

Read on for all the details in the bride’s own words…

How We Met

Tamar, the bride: We met in eighth grade when Noam moved to Philadelphia!Continue Reading

A Magical Forest Pacific Northwest-Meets-Israel Jewish Wedding at HaGiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

27/03/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Get ready for a truly magical wedding! Pacific Northwest couple Shachaf, who works in ticketing, development, and behind the scenes at the historic Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, WA, and Josh, who works as an educational content editor for a Jewish non-profit, had the most incredible magical forest-inspired Jewish wedding at HaGiva in Israel.

Shachaf was a member of our Brides Club, and we’re so thrilled to hear her kind words about the group:

I don’t think I have ever felt more supported and heard than meeting with Karen during 1-on-1’s and I loved getting to know and learning from other brides who were going through the same process as me. Seeing them go through the process ahead of me gave me so much encouragement! I cannot thank Karen enough for all of her support and inspiration!

Karen also referred Shachaf and Josh to their wedding planner, Yana, owner of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Craspedia Events. In Shacahf’s words,

Yana is one of the kindest, most hard working, intelligent, and determined people I have ever met. She works around the clock, always makes you feel as though you are the only bride on her plate. I’m very lucky to have been recommended not just a perfect wedding planner, but now a life long friend.

Yana helped Shachaf and Josh plan the PNW wedding in Israel of their dreams, with tons of whimsy and character – don’t miss all the fun details like the moss-and-mushroom centerpieces!

The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they couldn’t be more thrilled with their choice. In Shachaf’s words,

It was clear that Tzahi was going to bring an amazing energy to the wedding, and he did exactly that! He brought a contagious smile and endless energy that lasted until our goodbyes at the end of the night!

Read on for all the fabulous details of this magical day in the bride’s own words…

How We Met

Shachaf, the bride: We met at the end of 2020 when we were both in transition periods in our life. We both found ourselves temporarily under the roof of our Chabad on Campus rabbi, and we quickly became close. The rest is history!Continue Reading

A Julie Vino Bride for an Elegantly Ethereal Jewish Wedding Featuring a Sunset Chuppah at The Trask, Tel Aviv, Israel

10/03/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

There’s nothing like a Jewish wedding on the water, and Adina and Maurice’s is truly something special. Adina, who made aliyah from Canada, and Maurice, who hails from England, found their dream venue in Tel Aviv’s The Trask, which they loved for its urban chic vibe with breathtaking views and a beachy twist – not to mention the opportunity to have an outdoor chuppah on the rooftop!

Drawing from their different backgrounds, Adina and Maurice’s wedding was a reflection of their shared values, traditions, and love for the fun, vibrant lifestyle they’ve adopted since coming to Israel. Featuring a sunset chuppah and fun personal touches like a custom Mad Libs game telling the couple’s story, this was a truly special day.

The couple’s photographer, the incredibly talented Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jossef Si, captured all the love and emotion of the day exquisitely. In Adina’s words,

Jossef has a unique gift for not only taking photos but truly capturing emotions. Every image felt alive, reflecting the joy, love, and magic of the day. His meticulous attention to detail, creative vision, and ability to catch candid, heartfelt moments left us deeply impressed and grateful for his work.

Now over to the bride, who looked radiant in her gown by Julie Vino…

How We Met

Adina, the bride: We met during Starguest’s luxury Passover program in Engelberg, Switzerland. My family joined their ski program in the Alps for the holiday, and needless to say, we became “that program couple.” Although we brushed past each other at first, by the second night seder, sparks flew.

Our first interaction happened when I asked Maurice for a caffeinated tea to get me through the evening. He flustered to present the full selection. Despite his busy schedule, Maurice always carved out time for me. Our first dates included snowy walks through the village, mountain hikes, and cozy after-hours dinner dates in the ballroom. Those magical moments set the foundation for our love story. Continue Reading

An Eisen Stein Bride for a Boho-Chic Jewish Wedding at Kahi Resort, Israel

03/03/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Some weddings just radiate magic, and Shira and Yoav’s stunning bohemian-chic celebration at Israel’s breathtaking Kahi Resort was exactly that! The couple created a deeply personal, unforgettable day, filled with heartfelt touches and dreamy aesthetics that perfectly matched the Maldives-inspired venue.

Shira, who works for baby stroller company Doona, and Yoav, who runs a cyber security company, knew they wanted a wedding that felt meaningful, stylish, and full of love. Enter Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Vanessa Ohayon, their incredible wedding planner, who – in Shira’s words,

was the cherry on the cake, and the entire cake itself! She helped with everything you could think of, she provided emotional support and spiritual guidance, giving the entire planning process and the day itself meaning.

And let’s talk about the photography! The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh, whose warm and natural approach made them feel at ease right away. From their first meeting, they knew he was the perfect person to capture their love story.

This wedding is a true boho-chic dream, filled with meaningful moments, stunning design, and a whole lot of love. Keep reading to see every breathtaking detail!

How We Met

Shira, the bride: Shira’s boss, Tal, is best friends with Yoav. One day, Tal asked Shira how she’d feel about being set up with his best friend. Believing in always giving things a chance, she said yes. She sent Tal pictures of herself, and her Facebook. Within two hours, Yoav Facebook messaged her, and the rest as they say… is history.Continue Reading

A Romantic Garden Jewish Wedding at Maarava, Kibbutz Ga’ash, Israel

28/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

We’re positively in love with the romantic rose-themed wedding of Israeli couple Shana, a lawyer, and Gil, an operations manager at a sourcing company!

The theme for their indoor/outdoor celebration at Maarava was inspired by the fact that the groom’s last name, Rosenkrantz, means “bouquet of roses,” and Shoshana (Shana) means “rose” in Hebrew – how adorable is that? Don’t miss Ran Bergman’s gorgeous photos of all the wonderful details!

Shana and Gil worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Yael Kfir Frumkis to make their wedding dreams a reality. In Shana’s words,

Yael was an absolute joy to work with. She truly understood us, always exhibited incredible patience, and gave us a sense of complete trust, which was well-placed. We didn’t feel the need to micromanage every decision or be control freaks. She perfectly captured our vibe and taste, ultimately choosing the theme of our wedding, which we adored. Her attention to detail and creativity were unparalleled. She thought of everything, down to the tiniest details.

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