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A DIY Jewish Garden Micro Wedding in London, UK

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We are absolutely in love with the quintessentially English garden micro wedding of Rebecca, a teacher, and Joel, an engineer. These two needed a convenient all-outdoor venue where they could throw a COVID-safe celebration – and fortunately, the school where Rebecca teaches happens not only to have a gorgeous garden but is also located just around the corner from the pair’s home.

With some help from their friends, Rebecca and Joel put together a beautiful day starting with a tisch and badeken in the couple’s own garden, followed by a procession down the street to their venue. Then there was the ceremony – which came together with lots of participation from not only those guests who were able to attend in person, but also some VIPs who joined in via the couple’s livestream. These included the bride’s parents, who were able to give the couple a blessing, and her brother, who sang to them as they stood under the chuppah.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow captured the day so perfectly in her emotion-filled photos – and Rebecca and Joel can’t stop raving about how much they loved working with a photographer who not only put them at ease on the day with her warm, easygoing nature but also just “gets Jewish weddings”!

Now over to Rebecca…

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Garden Venue

Rebecca, the bride: We got married in the garden of the school where I work which is around the corner from our home. We picked this venue because it was beautiful, surrounded by an orchard, a vegetable patch, with easy parking and close by. It had a big green space where we had small marquees with tables that we used for lunch.

The chuppah was made out of bamboo and designed and constructed by my husband and his friends, and they built it onsite. The location was intimate and green and perfect.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Eliza Jane Howell Bride for a Sustainable Jewish Wedding at One Marylebone, London

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We love it when a couple crafts a Jewish wedding that stays true to their values – so naturally we’re crazy about the fab celebration of Natasha, who runs Urban Cordial, an all-natural, low-sugar cordial brand made using British surplus fruit, and Jacob, a theatre producer who grew up in Australia!

Given Natasha’s business, it’s no surprise that sustainability is important to these two – and they incorporated it into their day through touches like sourcing seasonal vegetarian British food, reusing the chuppah canopy of their friends Ashley and Adam, and donating their flowers to a hospice and a women’s shelter at the end of the night.

Possibly the coolest sustainable touch, though, is the way Natasha and Jacob created their wedding jewelry: the two worked with goldsmith Rachel Jones to create their rings from heirloom pieces. Natasha’s engagement ring was made using gold from Jacob’s grandmother’s bracelet, a diamond from his grandmother’s engagement ring, and a sapphire gifted to the couple from Jacob’s mum. Then, the couple did a workshop with Rachel where they handcrafted each other’s wedding bands – how special is that?! Photographers Lina and Tom captured everything so perfectly, as did videographers  Moon and Back.

Natasha and Jacob are lucky enough to be friends with the incredible Dan of beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Function Band, so they were a natural pick when it came to entertainment for the reception – and true to form, the band went all out learning new songs, keeping guests on the dance floor all night, and even throwing in an impromptu song and dance bracket featuring some Aussie classics in honor of the groom! The Function Band also provided the epic lighting for the party – something Jacob was especially attuned to given his theater background.

Oh, and did we mention that this duo smashed not one but TWO glasses (one each)? We could go on and on, but we’ll let Natasha – who looked radiant in Eliza Jane Howell – take it from here…

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How we Met

Natasha, the bride and Jacob, the groom : We met at a mutual friend’s house and Jacob helped Natasha take some photos of drinks using her cordials for social media. He still helps her with this kind of stuff.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Reem Acra Bride for an Ultra-Personal Jewish Wedding at St John’s Wood Synagogue and the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, UK

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There’s something about seeing a couple’s faces as they stand under the chuppah – and when they walk up the aisle after smashing that glass! No matter how many Jewish weddings we see, it never, ever gets old.

And today’s couple, Sophie, a solicitor, and Andrew, a company director, are no exception: the love exuding from each and every single shot by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor MIKI Studios – not to mention their ultra-moving trailer – makes us feel like our hearts are positively glowing (and we’re totally not surprised to hear the bride’s report that Mick and Ash of MIKI Studios were a dream to work with!).

Indeed, creating a celebration all about love and emotion was at the heart of Sophie and Andrew’s plans for the big day. The emphasis the pair put on their chuppah – from prioritizing fabulous music by a mega-talented Hebrew singer to the beautiful off-white floral and green foliage embellishment they chose for their exquisitely elegant chuppah structure itself – is truly beautiful, and we also love that they opted to hold their ceremony at St John’s Wood Synagogue, where Andrew has attended his whole life – such a wonderful personal touch!

And HOW stunning is Sophie’s Reem Acra gown? Truly the stuff wedding dress dreams are made of.

Now over to you, Sophie!

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A Synagogue Wedding

Sophie, the bride: We had our ceremony at St John’s Wood Synagogue followed by dinner and dancing at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.  Andrew has always been a member of St John’s Wood Synagogue and it meant a lot to him to get married there.

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