Israel Archives - Smashing the Glass

A Limor Rosen Bride for a Playful DIY Jewish Wedding at Ikea and Alma, Even Yehuda, Israel

29/06/2018 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

We’ve got two words for you: Ikea. Wedding.

Okay, maybe we’re exaggerating just a tad. Today’s couple didn’t literally hold their Jewish wedding inside the Swedish furniture giant. They did that at Alma, a beautiful venue set amidst a lush garden (where they held their fab outdoor chuppah, natch).

But bride Carmel, a computer science student, and groom Etai, an education and political science student, did do their photos amidst the Billy bookshelves and Malm beds. They went for Ikea Israel due to its abundant A/C on an unexpectedly hot day, but the photos Flea Studio shot there turned out just wonderfully – such an unexpected and cool (in all senses!) location, and we love that this pair wasn’t afraid to have fun with their wedding pics.

The Ikea photoshoot wasn’t Carmel and Etai’s only cool idea. This wedding is chock full of heartfelt DIY touches, our favorite being their DIY patchwork chuppah canopy, assembled from squares inscribed with messages, quotations, and drawings by their family and friends.

Oh, and did we mention that this duo has a super touching how we met story? We’ll leave it to Carmel, who looked so stunning in her off-shoulder Limor Rosen gown, to fill you in on the rest…

How we met

Carmel, the bride: We first met in the army, and we were good friends but not a couple. We served together on the same base, when we came home only once every two weeks. After a year in the Israeli army I transferred to another base and a month after that Etai discovered that he was sick with leukemia.

Since I was in a closer base I had a chance to visit him a lot, and during this time I saw him every night, took care of him, and tried to make him happy. We fell in love at the hospital, and after a few month Etai got a bone marrow transplant, which luckily was successful. After he beat the cancer it was clear to us that we were in love and we decided to be a couple. 7 years later we got married <3

A Yolan Cris Bride for a Dreamy Outdoor Destination Jewish Wedding at Givat Brenner in Rechovot, Israel

22/06/2018 by Karen Cinnamon 1 Comment

Where to begin with today’s positively divine Jewish wedding? This one is chock full of clever ideas and sweet traditions – and did we mention that the couple are basically models? Oh, and the venue’s not bad looking either! Eye candy all around today!

Robyn, an area manager and one half of @tworealfoodies, and Josh, a property surveyor, live in Manchester but had their hearts set on an Israeli wedding with a fairy tale garden vibe, and that’s exactly what they got at Givat Brenner. Take one look at Ronen Boidek’s breathtaking photos and we think you’ll agree.

Beautiful Robyn, who looked just like a fairy tale princess in her lace gown from Yolan Cris, is lucky enough to have grown up with some of the best Jewish wedding musicians around: Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Portnoy Brothers, who specialize in performing at chuppahs. Naturally, they sang at Robyn and Josh’s – and their father, who happens to be a rabbi, married the couple!

Speaking of keeping it in the family, Robyn’s family has the most beautiful chuppah tradition: when her parents got married, her mum handmade a canopy from her own mother’s wedding dress. Afterward, the couple embroidered their initials on it. From then on, the canopy was passed from relative to relative, with new initials added each time it was used. Robyn’s and Josh’s are the latest additions. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful tradition to start?

We haven’t even gotten to the sweet “message in a bottle” favors/place cards Robyn handwrote (and stuffed!) for every single guest, but we’ll let her tell you more about that – along with all the rest of the details of this dreamy day…

How we met

Robyn, the bride: We met when we were 12 years old at Habonim summer camp. We went to summer camp every year together until we were 16, when we went to Israel on tour for a month. Those were definitely some of the best summers, with friendships and memories that last a lifetime. We stayed close but didn’t become “official” until after we finished University in Nottingham in 2012 and have been together ever since.

A Liz Martinez and Yaniv Persy Bride for an Urban Chic Jewish Wedding at Avigdor 22, Tel Aviv, Israel

08/06/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

We are just blown away by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ran Bergman’s fabulous, artistic photos of Dana and Daniel’s super cool contemporary Israeli Jewish wedding at Avigdor 22 in Tel Aviv. Every shot is framed to perfection – just look at that shot of the two of them standing against the orange wall!

And it doesn’t hurt that Dana and Daniel are basically supermodels. Dana looked beyond gorgeous in not one but TWO fantastic gowns: for the ceremony, a long-sleeved, high-necked lacey Liz Martinez for a touch of old-fashioned glamour, and then, for the reception, an ultra-contemporary sleeveless, backless number from Yaniv Persy with a striking geometric print. Dana chose it because she knew it would be perfect to dance in, and if you look through the photos of the couple’s fab dancing, you’ll see she was absolutely right!

Oh, and their food? With a spread including everything from za’atar-coated Jerusalem bagels to colorful macarons to fresh mozzarella, this is one wedding that’s got our mouths watering! Now over to Dana…

A Tel Aviv Wedding

Dana, the bride: We got married at Avigdor 22. We chose this venue because we were looking for a place that would be convenient for most of the guests (in Tel Aviv) and especially because we wanted our Friday afternoon wedding to continue into the night, so we looked for a place that was not kosher. Besides, we liked the urban concept.

A Paloma Blanca Bride for a Beachside Destination Jewish-Scottish Wedding at Al Hayam, Caesarea, Israel

25/05/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Today’s destination Jewish wedding is serious #chuppahgoals. UK couple Natasha, who is a head of sales, and Adam, an investment banker, opted for a destination wedding at gorgeous Al Hayam in Caesarea, Israel.

The pair wanted a statement chuppah, but at the same time didn’t want anything to overshadow the jaw-dropping ocean view from their venue – take a look through their photos by STG Fave Ronen Boidek and you’ll see why!

What they ended up with hits just the right balance between luxe and simple: four narrow poles covered in greenery and white and cream flowers, all under a canopy of delicate lace. It’s just so elegant, yet exquisitely delicate at the same time.

Bride Natasha said she wanted flowers on her chuppah (not only because, well, why would you not?) but also because of all the beautiful things they represent: “life, a new start, and all things alive and living” – all the right notes to hit at the start of your marriage.

Though Natasha and Adam went for an elegant classic style, they did bring some quirky touches to their day. Our favorite: a Scottish whisky bar, in honor of the groom’s Scottish origins, with different types of whisky for guests to sample. Oh yeah, and there was also a bagpiper in attendance too!

Speaking of music, these two picked our latest and greatest STG Recommended Vendor, Teta Band to set their wedding atmosphere on fire! Teta played live all night, from jazz to pop to Israeli to even French, Portuguese, and Motown live music all night, and in Natasha’s words, “phenomenal doesn’t even describe it… Teta had the guests all up on their feet all night long!”

Beautiful Natasha, looking absolutely radiant in her ivory lace gown from Paloma Blanca, will fill you in on all the rest of the juicy details… Happy Fri-yay!

A Venue with an Ocean View

Natasha, the bride: We got married at Al Hayam, Caesarea, Israel. We picked this venue due to the open nature of the venue, yet somehow it felt like there was a sense of intimacy. The gorgeous view overlooking the ocean was the winner for us!

An Inbal Raviv Bride for a Magical Forest-Themed Jewish Wedding at Hadera Forest, Baya’ar, Israel

11/05/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Today’s Jewish wedding has a super inspirational love story behind it: Israeli couple Noa and Shaked were in a long-distance relationship for 6 years (!) while Noa was abroad studying medicine. The two of them are just radiating joy in the gorgeous photos of their day at Hadera Forest Hall, at Baya’ar, and knowing that bit of backstory you can understand why!

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ran Bergman’s photos of the day are just so artsy and cool; some of them could easily have come out of a really chic magazine spread (especially given that Noa and Shaked are basically models!).

And he captures the couple’s enchanted forest theme so well – you’ve got to see his shots of the beautiful outdoor ceremony, under a simple white chuppah laden with greenery, amidst the trees of the forest. Pure magic.

Also magical? Noa’s boho-chic Inbal Raviv dress, with lace and tassles galore. Now over to the couple…

A Forest Wedding

We got married at the Hadera Forest Hall, at Baya’ar. The feeling of being in a forest there is just magical; we couldn’t resist the lush greenery. And the location was halfway between the bride’s family home and the groom’s, so it made sense for our guests.