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A Lee Petra Grebenau Bride for an Elegant Jewish Wedding at Holkam Hall, Norfolk, UK

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Zac-Lucy-Holkham-Hall-Norfolk-UK

How gorgeous is Lucinda and Zac’s fabulous Norfolk Jewish wedding?! The setting, the chuppah, Lucinda’s fabulous gown by Israeli designer Lee Petra Grebenau… It’s all just perfection, as you’ll see if you scroll through Andy Davison Photography’s wonderful images.

Lucinda, an optometrist, and Zac, who works in finance, pulled off a wedding that was not only beyond-words beautiful, but also an awesome party! That was in large part thanks to the couple’s band, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jam Hot, who started with an awesome Israeli dancing set and went on to keep the dance floor packed all night.

In Lucinda’s words, “I think I can say on behalf of every guest at our wedding that Jam Hot Showband really were the highlight of the event. We keep on trying to think of another excuse to have the band again for another party, they created memories that we are forever grateful for and will never forget.” Doesn’t get much better than that!

We were also pleased to hear that Lucinda and Zac also bought their ketubah from much-loved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com –they wanted something they could hang in their home as a work of art, and needless to say they found just the thing.

Now we’ll hand you over to Lucinda…

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How we Met

Lucinda, the bride: Zac and I met when we were about 15 years old on holiday, Zac being from London and myself from Nottinghamshire, we were just friends until around the age of 17. Around this age, Zac took me on our first date in London, we started out as a long distance relationship through university. Once I graduated, I moved to London and we have since bought a house and moved in together, and then got married 2 years later, despite all the odds with covid. We had been together for over 8 years before we got married.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Caroline Castigliano Bride for a Jewish Wedding in Pink and Gold at Alpine Country Club, Demarest, New Jersey, USA

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Nicki & Ricky, Alpine Country Club, New Jersey, USA

We’re so delighted to be sharing the Jewish wedding of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Nicki, a life sciences consultant, and Ricky, an options trader! Last year we featured the couple’s fabulous micro wedding – planned in just two weeks! – and it’s such a treat to share their bigger celebration with you now.

By the time the big day rolled around, Nicki and Ricky had already been married for ten months. So they decided to change things up, making this wedding more a celebration of their love than a traditional wedding. Rather than repeating the Jewish ceremony, this time around they had prayers celebrating their love.

Nicki is lucky enough to be the daughter of mega-talented wedding planner and Smashing The Glass Recommended VendorSusie of Pink House Productions, and naturally her mom took charge bringing the day together. Among other things, we’re in love with what Susie did with the table designs, all in the couple’s wedding colors of pink and gold – don’t miss them in the gorgeous photos by Mark S. Kornbluth!

In Nicki’s words, “We were so beyond happy to finally be able to celebrate with our friends and family even if it was a little smaller, ten months later, and in a different place than originally intended.”

Now over to the bride, who looked ever so elegant in Caroline Castigliano…

Nicki & Ricky, Alpine Country Club, New Jersey, USANicki & Ricky, Alpine Country Club, New Jersey, USANicki & Ricky, Alpine Country Club, New Jersey, USANicki & Ricky, Alpine Country Club, New Jersey, USA
How we Met

Nicki, the bride and Ricky, the groom: We were set up by mutual friends in July 2016. Ricky was living in Philly and Nicki was living in NYC and our first date happened when we were both out in the Hamptons for a weekend.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Jewish Micro Wedding with the Most Breathtaking Floral Chuppah at Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, Massachusetts, USA

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Gaby and Michael, Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, Massachusetts, USA

We see a lot of cool chuppahs around here, but the one Gaby, a life and career coach, and Michael, an investment advisor, dreamed up for their big day at Jacob’s Pillow in the picturesque Berkshires really takes the (wedding) cake. Filled with gorgeous flowers, centered on an otherwise empty stage overlooking the mountains surrounding the venue, it’s really, truly, 100% #chuppahgoals. We’re absolutely obsessed with the dreamy photos by Lauren Foley of 309 Productions, and we’re guessing you will be too.

Gaby and Michael had initially planned a 200-person wedding, but when the pandemic hit they had to scale their day down to just 20 guests. Luckily, the couple had incredible wedding planner Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tara Consolati on their team to redesign the day to perfectly fit their new, smaller event. Together, they came up with a unique “interactive” ceremony that included participation by 32 guests (including some of the 300 who attended virtually via Zoom)! Friends and family gave musical performances, mini speeches, and blessings, and lit memorial candles. What an incredibly special way to make guests really feel a part of things – especially those who are physically far away!

Another wonderful touch is that Gaby’s step-sister Rachel painted the most gorgeous border on the ketubah they purchased from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor ketubah.com, incorporating lots of personal touches with special meaning to the couple.

There’s so much more we could say about this fab day (did we mention that Gaby found her dress by chance off the rack at Bloomingdales, for 1/10 of the price of the bridal gowns she’d been looking at?), but we’ll leave it to the bride to fill you in on the rest…

Gaby and Michael, Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, Massachusetts, USA
How we Met

Gaby, the bride and Michael, the groom: Gaby and Michael met on the dating app, Hinge, in the summer of 2018! After only a few messages back and forth they met for drinks at La Pecora Bianca in Midtown Manhattan. The night was perfect and was filled with many laughs, stories and glasses of wine. Even more fitting, Gaby went to her family home in the Berkshires the weekend afterward, a place that proved incredibly important to our relationship given we lived there for nearly 7 months during the pandemic.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Romona Keveza Bride for an Elegant Jewish Pandemic Wedding at the South Congress Hotel, Austin, Texas, USA

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Maiya and Jerry, South Congress Hotel, Texas, USA

We could not be any more delighted to be sharing the gorgeous Jewish wedding of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Maiya, the executive director of Texas Hillel, and Jerry, a physician in the US Army and a fellow in gastroenterology in San Antonio.

These two firmed up their plans for a wedding showcasing Austin at its finest in early 2020, just before the pandemic hit the US. Even as the situation worsened, they were always clear that they wanted to wed on their original December 2020 date, at their original venue, the South Congress Hotel in Austin, TX.

In the end, while Maiya and Jerry did have to drastically scale down their in-person guest list, they were still able to throw a celebration that was nothing less than fabulous. We’re obsessed with their exquisite Ruth Becker ketubah, purchased from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com, and TwoFish Weddings’s luminous photos are positively magical.

Maiya and Jerry also set up a livestream for their family and friends who couldn’t be there in person, and over 150 ended up tuning in. We love that the week prior to the wedding, the couple mailed boxes filled with wedding goodies, including baked goods from the venue, favors, and personal notes, to their long-distance VIPs – what a fun way to make virtual guests feel a part of the action!

Now over to the bride, who looked super chic in Romona New York…

Maiya and Jerry, South Congress Hotel, Texas, USAMaiya and Jerry, South Congress Hotel, Texas, USAMaiya and Jerry, South Congress Hotel, Texas, USAMaiya and Jerry, South Congress Hotel, Texas, USA
How we Met

Maiya, the bride: We met in 2018 in San Antonio at the Historic Pearl. Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Calla Blanche Bride for a Beachy Jewish Micro Wedding at Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA

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Sarah and Josh, Oceanplace Resort, New Jersey

There’s nothing like a beach wedding – and the Jewish wedding of Sarah, who works in advertising sales, and Josh, a VP at an investment bank, at Ocean Place Resort & Spa is pure perfection.

So much so that you’d never guess it was their plan B, after they had to rethink their original plans for a 200+ person wedding when COVID hit – scroll through the incredible images captured by Andrew Graham Todes and we bet you’ll agree. Despite a few challenges – for instance, it was so windy during the ceremony that the bride’s veil blew off! –  Sarah and Josh pulled off the ultimate pandemic-safe minimony, featuring custom welcome bags packed with monogrammed hand sanitizer, masks, and fans with ceremony details and safety tips, as well as plentiful signs instructing people about COVID precautions.

We’re in love with the couple’s ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com, whose trademark exemplary customer service was on display when they provided Sarah and Josh with a free reprint after their initial COVID wedding location fell through at the last minute.

If you’re looking for direction on how you can plan a micro wedding just as beautiful as Sarah and Josh’s, or trying to decide whether to go forward with an intimate affair vs. postponing, or struggling with absolutely any kind of COVID-related planning drama, sign up for our Bye Bye Coronacoaster, Hello Action Plan workshop on February 21 – full details here. 

Sarah and Josh, Oceanplace Resort, New JerseySarah and Josh, Oceanplace Resort, New JerseySarah and Josh, Oceanplace Resort, New JerseySarah and Josh, Oceanplace Resort, New Jersey
How we met

Sarah, the bride and Josh, the groom: On a brisk winter night in early February 2017, Josh was getting ready to start his next chapter in NYC after moving back home from Boston. Josh’s friends invited him to the NJ Devils game and his first night out in Hoboken. After bouncing around, they ended up at 10th & Willow Bar. On the same evening, Sarah was having a girls night which included dancing in a bar when no one else seemed to be. Sarah caught Josh’s eye and after building up some courage, Josh decided to approach her once she finally sat down. Much to his surprise, Sarah immediately rejected him (after all, it was girls night).

Sarah claimed that Josh was too young for her, convinced that he was in college. Feeling confused, Josh went back to the bar to buy some drinks for his group. However, most of his buddies were going separate ways so he was left with 6 Bud Lights to himself. Feeling a second wind of confidence, Josh decided to try and approach Sarah again, hoping to break down her defenses with an offering of Bud Light and an ID inspection. After realizing Josh was actually the same age, Sarah became more interested and even impressed by his persistence.

They talked over the beers until the lights came on. To end the night, Josh ordered 8 (yes, 8) Jimmy John’s sandwiches for the two of them, 6 of which were donated to Sarah’s fridge. Sarah was undoubtedly intrigued by Josh. They exchanged numbers, had their first date 1 week later and the rest is history.

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