Israeli Weddings Archives - Page 13 of 23 - Smashing the Glass

A Superhero-Themed Jewish Wedding during Hanukkah, Grace, Rishon LeZion, Israel

23/03/2018 by Karen

Today’s Jewish wedding has got to be one of the most purely fun we’ve blogged. Rita (@ritalove14), a physiology student who works with high school students with special needs, and Tal, who works in media marketing, adore the Marvel Universe. How much, exactly? So much that they chose to theme their wedding around their love of superheroes!

And they really went all out! Their invitations featured a custom drawing of the pair as superheroes, the rest of their stationery cleverly carried on the theme, and at their reception they had all kinds of superhero props, from masks to balloons to Captain America armor!

As if that weren’t fun enough, Rita and Tal also had a balloon artist making glow-in-the-dark balloon sculptures and hats for their guests on the dancefloor! Plus, they made their two dogs (decked out in little bride and groom costumes!) part of the action. Photographer Yarin Taranos and videographers Aviv & Tali really captured the spirit of the day.

The pair chose to get married on the first night of Hanukkah, considered an auspicious time to wed in Jewish tradition. This gave Rita and Tal an opportunity to work the holiday into their wedding in some memorable ways: during the ceremony, Rita’s grandfather lit the menorah, and then their rabbi led the whole crowd in songs! And as favors, they gave out glittery boxes shaped like candles that were stuffed with chocolate gelt–as well as a tiny superhero figure, naturally!

Rita was the absolute MOST laidback bride: her primary objective in choosing a dress was to find something comfortable she could dance in, her shoes–glittery VANS–were chosen for the same reason, and she wasn’t even planning to hold a bouquet, until at the very last minute, on the day, she asked her driver to pick one up! She’ll fill you in on the details of her totally super day.

A Brand New Venue

Rita, the bride: We got married at Grace. It’s a new, urban venue, and we were one of the first couples who to book our wedding there! The newness was a bit scary, but we were so impressed with the staff and the appearance that we decided to book.
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A Berta Bride for a Hi-Tech Forest-Themed Jewish Wedding at Lago, Tel Aviv, Israel

16/03/2018 by Karen

Nature meets up-to-the-minute technology in today’s breathtaking Israeli Jewish wedding. Shirin, a teacher, and Shai, an engineer, joined their passions for the outdoors and for the latest in multimedia design. The Tel Aviv-based couple chose to wed at Lago, a gorgeous contemporary venue (named for the beautiful lake on the property) that pairs spectacular outdoor scenery with an indoor space equipped with 3-D video mapping technology.

Designer Hilit Gordon loaded the space with oodles of verdant greens and white florals–we’re talking about some truly massive arrangements here–for a forest chic vibe, with stunning boughs of greenery hanging from the ceiling in a super sophisticated touch.

As if all that weren’t dramatic enough, the venue’s tech capabilities meant that the couple were able to have a fab VJ, Gil Valdman, project a custom-designed image of a forest on the walls with the 360 ° video mapping. What a cool surprise for the guests as they walked into the hall after the ceremony!

This couple’s story really highlights the difference a great planner can make in crafting an amazing day (without making yourself crazy in the process!). Shirin and Shai quickly decided to turn to a wedding planner to help them realize their vision, and they found the perfect match in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Naama Raicher.

Along with her colleague Yael Kfir Frumkes, Naama helped the couple work out all the details to make their hi-tech forest fantasy come true. According to Shirin, Naama and Yael made the process relaxing and stress-free–how often do you hear a bride use those words to describe wedding planning?!

In addition to their primary photographer, Nitzan Gur of Love Marriage, the couple’s planners encouraged them to bring in a second photographer, Liat Federman, who specializes in shooting interiors to make the most of their breathtaking dà©cor. Yet another point for Naama and Yael–Shirin and Shai are so glad to have Liat’s stunning photos of the venue in all its glory. Rounding things out was videographer Roma Nerom of Nerom, who captured the day in live action.

Beautiful bride Shirin wanted a dress that made her feel like a princess yet was still comfortable to dance all night in, and she found her perfect match in a sparkling rose-gold Berta. And now it’s over to her to fill you in on the details of her exquisite day…

How we met

Shirin, the bride: We met during our military service through a mutual friend. We were together for 6 years prior to the wedding.Continue Reading

A Bride in a Green Reformation Dress for a Laid-Back Jewish Wedding on the Beach with a Modern Egalitarian Ceremony in Caesarea, Israel

09/03/2018 by Karen

Cool Wedding Alert! Hannah, an urban planner who hails from Melbourne, Australia, and Eitan, a contractor and Tel Aviv native, told their wedding planner and designer, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Bebke, that they wanted their Jewish wedding to feel like the best day at the beach you’ve ever had.

And Bebke really, really delivered. Their day, in a stunning beach venue just north of Caesaria, is truly the ultimate chilled-out seaside bash.

Ever felt like the standard formal event doesn’t quite mesh with your sensibilities? Hannah and Eitan did, and they opted to skip out on the sit-down meal and instead make their day a constant stream of food, drinks, and dancing. We love how they opted to have all different kinds of food stations, from deli to wood-fired pizza to fish shawarma! Way to keep all your guests happy.

Another thing we adore about this wedding is the ultra-personal alternative Jewish ceremony Hannah and Eitan crafted, combining tradition with their egalitarian values. They wrote their own ketubah, had their siblings read not only the traditional seven blessings but also blessings they wrote themselves for the couple, and exchanged rings with each other.

Hannah looked radiant in her green Reformation dress, proving that you don’t have to wear white to capture that bridal elegance.

Photographer Alexey Kudrik came recommended by planner Bebke, and we’re in love with his elegant documentary style. These photos look like they’ve been snatched from a super cool editorial, but at the same time Alexey could not have captured the emotion of the day more exquisitely–just take a look at the photos of Hannah and Eitan under the chuppah. We’ll leave it to Hannah to fill you in on the rest.

How we met

Hannah, the bride: We met through a mutual friend when I was in Tel Aviv visiting for another friend’s wedding in 2015 – we ended up in the same group of people hanging out on the beach one weekend – and what started as a holiday fling ended in marriage, and now a baby on the way!

A Lee Petra Grebenau Bride for a Super Luxe Jewish Wedding with a Performance by THE Gipsy Kings at David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel

26/02/2018 by Karen

Today’s super luxe Jewish wedding contained plenty of surprises, from the astounding floral arrangements throughout the reception to the insanely gorgeous chuppah, the violinists during cocktail hour to Moshe Peretz and the ACTUAL Gipsy Kings playing the reception!

The couple chose to have a religious ceremony, conducted by none other than the Chief Rabbi of Israel, in Jerusalem, originally home to bride Natalie. Careful nods to their faith were included throughout the celebration, honoring the history and atmosphere of the incredible surroundings.

Beautiful bride Natalie looked a million bucks in her TWO(!) divine, sexy and gorgeous Lee Petra Grebenau gowns, with a see-through leg and gorgeous illusion embellishments. We. Are. In. Love!

Wedding planner and florist, Kby Design, created an incredible aesthetic, as you can see from the beautiful spread of images below from none other than our fabulous Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, the one and only Ran Bergman.

This is the kind of divine big day that can only really be described through the medium of pictures, so we’ll now pass you over to Ran and to Natalie for the full story.

How we met

Natalie, the bride: We met on Rosh Hashana three years ago at a mutual friend’s house.

A Spine-Tingling Old City Destination Jewish Wedding at Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel

12/02/2018 by Karen

We have goosebumps – and after immersing yourself in today’s absolutely beautiful Jewish destination wedding in Israel, we’re pretty sure you all will too. It’s GORGEOUS!

Iliya and Gavin chose to forego a wedding in their native Sydney in favor of a spine-tingling service in Jerusalem. With a chuppah overlooking the Old City, the couple expressed their mutual love of the country and how much it meant to both of them.

We adore the spirit of this wedding as much as the gorgeous Jerusalem-inspired aesthetic – from the Western Wall wish jar (what a moving idea) to the dancing Nachmanim – everything about it felt just perfect.

Iliya and Gavin wholeheartedly agreed that planning the wedding from such a distance would not have been possible without them.

Gorgeous bride, Iliya,

Iliya and Gavin are clearly both stunning souls, inside and out, and their devotion to each other is so clear in the breathtaking spread of photographs by Ronen Boidek and the moving, cinematic video by Nir Tenenbaum. Those speeches! We may be just a little bit second-hand in love.

And now, without further ado, we’ll hand you over to Iliya for the story in her own words – enjoy! (And by the way, didn’t she just rock the boho-chic look in her Rhonda Hemmingway gown? A-list-level stuff! )

How we met

Iliya, the bride: Gav and I attended the same Jewish day school in Sydney – but Gav was five years above me in school and we only met years after graduating. We met through mutual friends in 2013.

A Brand New Venue

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How we met

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