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A Needle and Thread Bride for a Backyard Jewish Wedding in Kfar Chabad, Israel

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How gorgeous is the intimate backyard Jewish wedding of Israeli couple Libby, who  has recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics, and Yanki, a product designer for a start-up?!

By the time these two got engaged, COVID had already hit – so they knew from the start that they’d need to keep their affair on the smaller side. This was just fine with the bride, who’d always dreamed of a cozy, intimate wedding – and if we had a backyard like her parents’, we’re sure we’d feel the same! The whole space was transformed into an absolute floral fantasia, and we just can’t get enough of it.

Libby and Yanki wanted to make sure they found photographers who’d really get the vibe they were going for on the day, and sure enough their choice to work with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz Weddings did not disappoint. We’re in love with their stylish images capturing everything from the gorgeous design details to the couple’s happiness.

Being a designer, Yanki took charge of the couple’s invitations, creating a logo using the pair’s initials that ended up featuring on all of the wedding stationery. Yanki even designed the ketubah, which came out so beautifully! Another thing that came out beautifully? Libby’s stunning gown, which she ordered online from Needle and Thread – obsessed with the delicate embroidery and sweet pink flowers!

Now over to the bride…

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How we met

Libby, the bride: I spotted Yanki at my cousin’s son’s bris, about a year ago. We met there and the rest is history 🙂Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Irena Burshtein Bride for a Surprise Jewish Wedding at Olmaya, Jerusalem, Israel

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So we’ve seen surprise Jewish weddings where the bride and groom spring their plans on unsuspecting guests day of. But we’re pretty sure this is the first ever wedding we’ve seen planned entirely by the groom, as a surprise for the bride!

When South African couple Gemma, a PhD student in virology, and David, who has his own business developing properties, set off on their trip to Israel, the bride had no idea what her soon-to-be groom had in store for her. Gemma thought she was just off on holiday, but turns out David had actually spent the past 11 months secretly planning a whirlwind engagement (at the Kotel!) and wedding!

Unbeknownst to Gemma, David even coordinated with the couple’s friends and family from around the world, who all flew in for their surprise bash. We’re obsessed with David’s venue pick of Olmaya, with its jawdroppingly epic views of Jerusalem’s Old City, and Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz Weddings Photography captured it all so exquisitely – we’re in love with their gorgeous shots of the breathtaking outdoor chuppah!

Gemma looked so ravishing in her Irena Burshtein gown, you’d never guess she had only one day to choose it – between her whirlwind engagement and wedding! The amazing team even managed to turn around her alterations in three days.

This is one unique wedding, and we’re so excited to let Gemma fill you in on all the details…

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HOW WE MET

Gemma, the bride: We met in 2013 after being set up on a blind date by our mothers. Not the most romantic story, but quite a funny one. Moms do know best!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Willowby by Watters Bride for a Double Feature Interfaith Jewish Wedding Anassa Hotel in Latchi, Cyprus and Westlake Village Inn Los Angeles, CA, USA

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Some couples get to have one wedding in a totally, jawdroppingly breathtaking setting. Stephanie and Raphael got to have TWO! Combining an intimate ceremony in Cyprus (at the same hotel where the pair’s love story began to unfold) with a bigger party for family and friends near their home in LA, they these two maintained continuity between the two events by putting Mediterranean style at the center of both events – and by booking beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor LUZ Photography for both the Cyprus and LA festivities, who not only provided totally stunning pics from each event but also brought photographic continuity between the ceremony and reception.

We also love how this interfaith couple worked to craft a personal ceremony that was meaningful to both of them. This meant a contemporary take on mikveh with a dip in the Mediterranean Sea the evening before the ceremony, a ketubah, circling (each circled the other three times, and then the two did one last circle together in unison), exchanging personal vows, choosing a close friend to officiate, and, of course, smashing the glass!

There’s so much more we could say, but we’ll hand you over to Stephanie – who looked gorgeous in Willowby by Watters – for the rest…

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Two Weddings

Stephanie, the bride: On July 3rd, 2019 we were married in a small, intimate ceremony with only a few friends at the Anassa Hotel in Latchi, Cyprus. The location plays a significant role in our love story. The two of us were friends for many years until we travelled together in Tel Aviv and then Cyprus. It was there, at the Anassa hotel, that we realized we both had strong feelings for one another, beyond just friends.

On September 1, 2019, we celebrated our marriage with our family and friends at the Westlake Village Inn near Los Angeles, CA. Both of us have roots in Los Angeles, and the Westlake Village Inn provide us with a convenient, beautiful reception location that captured the Mediterranean vibes of our wedding.

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An Essense of Australia Bride for a Romantic Country House Jewish Wedding at De Vere Latimer Estate, Buckinghamshire, UK

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There’s nothing like a beautiful Jewish wedding in the English countryside. And Samantha, who works as a voiceover agent, and Adam, the CFO of a gaming company, could not have picked a more perfect spot for theirs than De Vere Latimer Estate. Nestled in the rolling green hills of the Buckinghamshire countryside, it ticks all the boxes – historic manor house, breathtaking grounds, and that quintessential English countryside feel without requiring London-based guests to travel too far.

And of course the couple’s photographers, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor LUZ, recorded the day perfectly, in their trademark artistic, architectural style. We’re obsessed with the way the team captured the blend of traditional and modern that made this day so uniquely wonderful.

 There’s so much more we could say, but we’ll let the bride – who looked absolutely stunning in her Essense of Australia gown – fill you in on the rest.  

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How We Met

Samantha, the bride: We met through mutual friends on a night out in London.

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A David’s Bridal Bride for a Jewish Wedding Steeped in History at The Old Palace, Hatfield House, Hatfield, UK

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What better spot for a history-loving couple to wed than at Henry VIII’s summer palace?! That’s exactly what Natalie, a project manager, and Samson, who works in architecture, did when they opted for Hatfield House as their venue, and we are LOVING IT! Between the stunning 15th-century building and the manicured knot gardens, this venue’s got serious wow factor.

And so does the couple’s chuppah, a wooden structure covered in soft white blossoms (also, how romantic is it that the chuppah aisle was lined with flowers and lanterns?!). And we love that the chuppah canopy was made by a friend, who quilted a design that will be turned into a family tree – and also a family heirloom for Natalie and Samson’s own future children to marry under one day.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz did the most amazing job capturing the photo and video, as always. The groom, who works in architecture, was especially drawn to the fact that the Luz team bring their own architecture backgrounds to their photography style – and the rest is history!

Natalie and Samson had The Matzoh Boys as their band – whose lead singer is the incredible Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jonny Mosesson – and the band brought their trademark soulful sound to the day.


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A Venue with History 

Natalie, the bride: We got married at The Old Palace, Hatfield House. Samson and I planned everything leading up to the day ourselves, which included the venue search. Hatfield House was the first venue we saw, and we found ourselves comparing every venue thereafter to it. That’s how we knew we had found the right one. The venue itself is steeped in history. It is King Henry the VIII former summer palace, and the location that Queen Elizabeth I found out that she would be queen. We both love history.

The space itself was incredible. The manicured knot gardens together with the 15th century building meant that the beauty was truly something spectacular. Being Australian, my aim was to pick a venue that our foreign guests would be ‘WOW’ed’ by. I think we achieved that aim!

The team at Hatfield House Hospitality were another massive selling point. They were kind, professional and engaged. I would recommend them to anyone.
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