Manolo Blahnik wedding shoes Archives - Smashing the Glass

A Patricia Avendano Bride for a Modern Country Interfaith Jewish Wedding in Criadero del Leon, El Valle de Anton, Cocle, Panama

16/08/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

We’re pretty sure this is a first for STG: an interfaith Jewish wedding that took place in the crater of an extinct volcano! Yes, really.

Though you’d never know it from the photos of Panama’s lush paradise of El Valle de Anton, where lucky bride Ida, a college counselor at a Jewish high school in Panama, has a country home in her family. She and Joey, a photographer and videographer, couldn’t have found a better spot for their dreamy modern country wedding. We’re positively drooling over the gorgeous photos by Mauricio Arias from Chrisman Studios and Alvaro Chingand the wonderful trailer by Visu Films.

Despite having 600 (!) guests at their wedding, they managed to keep the feel intimate by keeping things personal with touches like personalized vows the bride and groom read to each other (both of which happened to begin by talking about food – our kind of couple!) and having their miniature dachshund walk down the aisle.

We’ll let the bride, who looked lovely in Patricia Avendano, fill you in on the rest.

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How we met

Ida, the bride: We met in a geology class at Florida State University (they have a branch here in Panama). And our love story began like any other… with chocolate chip cookies! As usual, like with any other man (including the skinny ones like him) the way to his heart was through his belly. I brought cookies to class one day and offered them to everyone in the class and the rest is history!

Before we started dating we became friends, good friends, at least that’s what I thought. But friendship quickly turned into something more and in February 2011 we started dating, even though we knew I was leaving for college in the USA in August of that same year. We did long distance for 3 years, have been dating for 7, and now we’ll be together forever because we are getting married!

An Eliza Jane Howell Bride for an Ecofriendly Orthodox Feminist Jewish Wedding at The Brewery, London, UK

26/04/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

We love it when a couple gives their values a starring role in their Jewish wedding. And Miriam, an environmental consultant in the water sector, and Lazarus, an intellectual property manager for a green hydrogen start up, did exactly that for their beautiful big day at beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Brewery.

Unsurprisingly, sustainability is a big deal to these two – and they followed through on that value by using e-vites instead of paper, a mix of fake flowers along with fresh to reduce waste, and gave out wildflower seed favours for guests to plant to help save the bees.

We also love how Miriam and Lazarus worked with their rabbi to incorporate some feminist touches into their Orthodox ceremony – like having Miriam say a line back to Lazarus after he gave her the ring, and having female guests reading the Sheva Brachot in English as well as the men saying them in Hebrew.

Even cooler is the way they went about making sure all of their guests, Jewish and non-Jewish, felt involved in the wedding: Miriam and Lazarus went a step further than an explanatory order of service on the day, instead opting to send theirs out to guests in advance – along with FAQs about Jewish weddings and videos and music clips to prepare everyone for the dancing!

We love how Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Michael Lee’s photography captured all the fun, energy, and bold colours of the day – and he came up with some awesome ideas for creative shots.

Now over to the bride, who looked simply stunning in her vintage-inspired Eliza Jane Howell dress (not to mention that epic flower crown!)…

How we met

Miriam, the bride: We met on JSwipe – a truly 21st century couple!

A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Flower-Forward Jewish Wedding with the Ultimate Floral Chuppah at The Grove, Chandlers Cross, UK

25/06/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Um, wow. Just when we think we’ve seen it all when it comes to floral chuppah design, we’re proven wrong. Just look at this floral chuppah of dreams. Jaw-on-the-floor WOW!

Flowers were top priority for bride Natasha, who works in the diamond industry, and her groom, Charles, a solicitor. And it shows. The couple turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Mary Jane Vaughan to realize their vision of an indoor spring garden, and did she ever!

She’s the visionary behind that chuppah — which is truly a floral fantasy, between the blossoms wrapped around the columns and the wisteria hanging from the canopy.

Their chuppah is pretty unbeatable, and the flowers they had for the reception hit the spot too. And all of it was captured so beautifully by yet another Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, the AMAZING Imaginarium Cinematography on film (below), with Chiko Photography on stills.

If flowers were priority #1, then food came in as a close second. Another incredible STG Recommended Vendor, Food Story created a menu including the likes of beef carpaccio with yuzu and pistachio (!) a totally different class to your standard kosher wedding fare. And don’t even get us started on the donut wall (we LOVE a donut wall!).

One last thing we loved about this fab day is the way Natasha got two totally different looks out of her classic strapless Suzanne Neville gown by pairing it with a demurely elegant Sassi Holford jacket for the chuppah (also handily keeping her shoulders covered).

If you love the idea of separate dresses for the ceremony and reception but don’t necessary have the budget for it, this is such a smart way to mix up your style throughout the day. Okay, now over to the bride, gorgeous Natasha…

How we met

Natasha, the bride: We met through Jcrush! We had never met before but have many weird connections! One of Charles’s best friends happened to be my cousin! We both attended my cousin’s bar mitzvah at 13 years old, and my sister and Charles’s brother were friends, having met on Israel tour together when they were younger!

A Carolina Herrera Bride for a Super Elegant Jewish Wedding at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire, UK

12/03/2018 by Karen

Oh my goodness, this is one elegant Jewish wedding. Lauren who works in public relations, and Ross, a chartered surveyor, wanted the day to reflect all the best elements of a classic English wedding with a contemporary twist.

The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Jenna Keller as their wedding planner (who is offering an exclusive 10% discount to all our VIB Club members!) and she helped them bring their super glam vision to life at Capesthorne Hall, a beautiful stately home in Cheshire.

We just love a floral chuppah, and Jenna came up with just the chicest variation! Lauren wanted something unique but not over-the-top, and the refined white floral canopy atop translucent poles set against the all-white marquee fits the bill exactly. It’s contemporary while embracing tradition, sophisticated and refined, just like the rest of this wedding.

To make their ceremony even more special, Lauren and Ross booked much-loved STG Recommended Vendor Boutique Chupah Music, adding to the emotional and intimate atmosphere.

Planner Jenna pointed the pair toward their wonderful photographer, Robert Shack. He did an amazing job of capturing their glamorous day, and videographer Rebecca Reville caught the festivities in live action.

Speaking of things that are glamorous, isn’t Lauren’s lace gown exquisite? It fits her like a glove, and that train! She found her Carolina Herrera stunner at yet another fabulous STG Recommended Vendor The Wedding Club in London–but she almost missed out on the dress of her dreams. At the end of a long day of shopping, Lauren was ready to call it quits after having found solid gown options at the first three of four appointments she had scheduled.

Her mum encouraged her not to cancel that final appointment, though, and luckily Lauren listened, because the very first dress her Wedding Club stylist brought out for her turned out to be the one. This goes to show that it’s always worth taking the time to check out that one last shop (or venue, or any vendor really), because you just never know where you’ll find the one! Now over to the bride herself . . .

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How we met

Lauren, the bride: We first met at Habonim Dror Winter Camp in 2007 when we were both camp leaders. I remember getting on so well; however nothing romantic happened at the time!

We met again in 2011 at Birmingham City University. We were both in the same halls and decided to join forces for drinks one night during freshers’ week. We have been together ever since!Continue Reading

A Vera Wang Bride for a Super Luxe Fashion-Forward Jewish Wedding at Mandarin Oriental New York, New York

08/12/2017 by Karen

Start spreading the news – because today’s NYC Jewish wedding is the dictionary definition of city chic!

A wedding set against the stunning New York skyline deserves nothing less than the very best vendors – and that’s exactly what happy couple, Marianna and Peter opted for. The celebration was held at the iconic Mandarin Oriental hotel, with floristry by the fabulous Bride & Blossom, who submitted today’s fashion-forward wedding to STG.

We’re totally enamored with the origami crane chuppah – what a great way to fuse wedding traditions from different cultures! We’re also all hearts for eyes over the unique all-red dà©cor scheme, and bold bridesmaids in black dresses. Absolutely sublime! Also take a look at that absolute centerpiece of a cake – we’re both in love with the visuals and very, very hungry!

Gorgeous bride, Marianna, opted for a classic fashionista outfit – a timeless Vera Wang gown with something-blue Manolo Blahnik. So luxe Carrie Bradshaw herself would weep with envy!

Of course, it’s an STG wedding, which means it’s more than likely one of our own was involved! Our brilliant Recommended Vendor, Bella Figura, provided the rose-gold, classic letterpress invitation design.

Photography was provided by none other than absolute wedding photography royalty, the Fred Marcus Studio. We’re massive fans here at STG, and it will soon become clear why as you look at the phenomenal spread of pictures.

We’ll leave you with Marianna for the rest of the details of her and Peter’s stunning big day. Take it away, Marianna!

The perfect NYC venue

Marianna, the bride: I knew I wanted to get married in our favorite city, New York. NYC is also home, having been born and raised here. I wanted a venue to showcase the skyline and central park. We also had our second date at Columbus Circle. Mandarin Oriental was the perfect venue.
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