Multicoloured Archives - Smashing the Glass

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 Festival-Themed Jewish Wedding with a Ball Pit and Mini Golf at Brook Farm Cuffley, Hertfordshire, UK

17/10/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

You know we’re all about “Your Jewish wedding, your way” here at Smashing The Glass. It’s really our mission, and while all the weddings we blog are chosen for their authenticity and individuality, sometimes one really blows us away with its inventiveness.

That’s definitely the case today. Rachel and Josh packed their festival-themed Jewish wedding so full of unexpected fun, from the ball pit (!!!) to the BBQ-style mezze menu to the mini golf course!

Since a festival is nothing without fantastic music (and plenty of it), the pair booked multiple musical acts, including Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor, the incredible Totem.

Our hats are totally off to Rachel (who owns the photo booth company Megabooth!) and Josh for crafting such an utterly unique day, and one that is so obviously, unabashedly them. You won’t want to miss Tom Webb and Dan McCourt’s glorious photos of this one-of-a-kind wedding… or Rachel’s writeup of the “mad party,” as she says!

How we met

Rachel, the bride: My husband and I were set up by mutual friends. However, the proposal was an interesting one! We got engaged in the desert on a stargazing tour, went for a walk, saw a shooting star, and then he got down on one knee!

A Calla Blanche Bride for a Colorful Outdoor Destination Jewish Wedding at Casa Felix in Barcelona, Spain

10/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Shana Tova lovely readers! Can you believe it’s Rosh Hashanah already? Where did summer go?! What are you all doing to celebrate? Are you getting away to somewhere gorgeous?

Today’s fantastic couple did for their stunning destination Jewish wedding…in Spain! Julia, a cake decorator (though sadly, she couldn’t make her own wedding cake, given the distance!), and Brian, a restaurant manager, are obsessed with Spanish culture and cuisine, and knew they wanted an intimate destination day, so it was really a no-brainer for them to choose to wed at historic, picturesque Casa Felix.

Full of rich colors, Spanish vibes (including a traditional flamenco show.. I mean WOW!), and gorgeous views, we love how Julia and Brian let their stunning venue set the tone for their wedding aesthetic. Everything just fits together so exquisitely, from the unusual color combo on their fabulous floral chuppah (yes, purple and orange CAN go together!) to photographer Andrea Ferrara’s elegant style.

The pair credit their amazing planner, Smashing The Glass recommended vendor Reviva Weddings’ Laura, with making it all happen. They knew that between the distance and the language barrier, they’d have a tough time pulling the day together on their own. But they wanted to make sure they found someone experienced in Jewish weddings, which isn’t a given in Spain. So where did they look? Right here on Smashing The Glass! Day. Made. We ADORE hearing from couples who we’ve helped connect with awesome vendors.

Julia, who looked radiant in her gown by Spanish (so on point!) designer Calla Blanche, will fill you in on the rest…

How We Met

Julia, the bride: We met in Israel on a Birthright trip from our local Jewish organization, Ezra. We were supposed to go with two different groups on different dates. I ended up changing my date and group, and so did Brian – to the same date. It’s very hard not to believe in fate after this.

Brian is five years younger than me and I was not really ecstatic to begin a relationship with such a young guy (19). But, he was very mature for his age and I was open to give it a try. Six years later we are married. 🙂

Liberty Print and Lavender for an Outdoor Destination Jewish Wedding at Bregancon Castle in Bormes les Mimosas, Provence, France

22/08/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Today’s wedding is just so utterly chic. Having lived in France, I can confirm that most people there are this stylish and this good looking. (I know – it’s ridiculous). And then there’s the Provence sunlight. Seriously, THAT SUNLIGHT! I dare you not to start drooling over Ivan Franchet’s swoonworthy photos of the day.

Anne and Anthony, a Parisian couple who both work in finance in London, wisely decided to adopt an effortlessly chic, laid-back Provencal vibe for their wedding style. Between the local flowers (why yes, that DOES include plenty of lavender), lovely vintage furniture, and, our favorite, Liberty print galore.

Oh, and that wood chuppah with the sweetest florals? Anne built the structure the morning of the wedding, along with her father and brother. GAH!

And of course we can’t leave out that timeless French style — we’re sure you won’t be shocked to learn that Anne’s effortlessly elegant, summery dress was custom designed by the very Parisian Celestina Agostino. Now over to the beautiful bride…

How We Met

Anne, the bride: I met Anthony through one of my colleagues, who was his flatmate at the time.

A No Holds Barred DIY Carnival Backyard Jewish Wedding in Los Angeles, California, USA

08/08/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

Jewish wedding Carnival Wedding at parents’ backyard California USA_0020
We have NEVER seen a wedding like today’s one before. Fact.

Plenty of couples choose themes, and pull them off beautifully, but the level of dedication this couple put into their carnival Jewish wedding is just off the charts. We’re not just talking about a wedding that hints at a fair aesthetic; Talia and Danny actually set up a full-on carnival in the bride’s parents’ backyard. We’re talking a Ferris wheel, games (complete with life-sized stuffed animal prizes!), photo booths, claw machines, a balloon artist and a stilt walker… and that’s just the beginning!

Even more impressive is how much of the work the couple — along with Talia’s family — put in themselves, from artistic details to heavy-duty stuff like wiring. With the help of their multitalented florist, Dawn of Tularosa Flowers — who did so much more than just florals — the pair made their dream into a reality, with everything from the big stuff (that Ferris wheel!) to the smallest details (the floral centerpieces were inside popcorn containers — genius).

It doesn’t hurt that Talia has got to be one of craftiest brides we’ve encountered — so much so that this fall she’s opening an arts and crafts business where people can come and make projects of their own. After seeing the ah-mazing photo props she crafted from cardboard boxes — Zoltar’s head, a popcorn machine, and more — plus her spiffy ticket booths (also crafted from cardboard) we think you’ll agree she’s found her calling.

Photographer Shimmy Lautman and videographer Michael Newman did SUCH a fantastic job capturing all the glorious details (a drone was involved!).

We haven’t even gotten to the carnival cart food, or the Kinder Surprise Egg invitations (yes!) — but we’ll leave it to Talia to tell you the rest.

A Backyard Wedding

Talia, the bride: We got married in my parents’ backyard. It’s the house I grew up in since I was born, and my father also grew up in the house. It meant a lot to me to get married there because it’s where all the milestones of my life happened. From taking my first step, to losing my first tooth, to graduating high school, all of my memories took place there, so it made it extra special to also have my wedding there.