Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > Online dating success story > Page 39

Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Leah + Zak… How They Met to the Present Day

by

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 6th amazing bride from our crop of 2017 and 2018 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Leah who will be marrying Zak on 1st June 2018 at Masia Notari in Spain.

THREE FACTS: (1) Leah knew she wanted to convert to Judaism long before she met Zak. She feels that having a Jewish wedding is another milestone in her Jewish identity and is an opportunity for some of her family to experience new traditions. (2) Leah & Zak met on JDate (3) Leah and Zak are planning a beautiful black tie destination wedding in Barcelona, Spain

REAL-JEWISH-BRIDES_Leah
How We Met

Now that we’ve been together over 4 years (and are engaged!), we are so much more open to admit that we met on JDate. In the early days of our relationship, whenever anyone would ask how Zak and I met, we’d often look at each other, shrug, and mumble quickly “online… JDate…” and hope to move on to a different line of questioning. This was pre JSwipe, Tinder, Bumble, etc so admitting that we met online wasn’t as normal as it is now.

I had just moved to North Texas for work and after moving four times in less than three years (all for the same company) I told myself I was going to try to settle in and make somewhere feel more like home. I found a shul where I felt comfortable and finally committed to something I always knew I wanted to do: converting to Judaism.

Around this time, a friend of mine was telling me about all of her awful JDate experiences. I figured I’d give JDate a try and worst case scenario if the dates were bad, we could laugh about them! Believe it or not, Zak was the second date I ever went on! I had seen his profile come up a few times and was intrigued when he messaged me. We messaged back and forth on JDate and finally when I was certain I wanted to talk to him, we exchanged numbers. 

Our First Date

I still remember the day he called me and asked me out to dinner later that week. A proper date?! Yes, please! I knew it was a good sign when we didn’t want the conversation to end at dinner and kept talking for hours after.

The very next day, Zak called me and asked me out again! We went to a movie and out for coffee after and talked for so long, they shut the restaurant down around us!

At the time, we lived 25 miles away from each other and we both left on trips soon after our second date which forced us to spend more time talking on the phone. I was so childishly excited to see him when we got back! There was never a day after that I wanted to be with anyone else!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Romantic Jewish Wedding Bringing the Outside Inside, at The Grove, Hertfordshire, UK

by

jewish-wedding-the-grove-hotel-Hertfordshire UK-036

Every marriage faces its tests, but for Jenna and Nick, their dedication to one another was tested very early on in the relationship, when Jenna faced medical and family hardships – and Nick proved to be her rock, and a total keeper.

One conversion later, and Nick, now a fully fledged member of the tribe, and Jenna, said “I do” in front of their nearest and dearest. His moving wedding speech can be heard in the special stills video below by much-loved Recommended Vendor, Adams Photography, who also shot the wedding in full. Tissues at the ready, guys….

We love the romantic story about how these two chose their dream venue – going on atmosphere and instinct, which proved to be a magical moment in itself. 

To mirror the venue’s ethos of ‘bringing the outside inside’, Nick and Jenna did exactly that, creating a bloom-filled dà©cor scheme, with an abundance of delicate gypsophila, soft pink roses and a stunning tree-inspired table plan.

We’ll leave you in Jenna’s capable hands for the full recap, including a fortuitous find at David’s Bridal – clearly this big day was totally meant to be!

jewish-wedding-the-grove-hotel-Hertfordshire UK-009jewish-wedding-the-grove-hotel-Hertfordshire UK-008jewish-wedding-the-grove-hotel-Hertfordshire UK-023
How we met

Jenna, the bride: Long-ish story! We met on Plenty of Fish! I basically was unsure, at first, about dating a non-Jewish guy, so I kept Nick a secret until I was sure it was something serious.

A week after Nick and I started talking, I was working on a film in Newcastle, and I slipped on some ice and really hurt my back. I flew back to London (barely able to walk) and went to see a specialist, who told me if I didn’t have surgery the next day, I could be paralysed. The following day I had surgery, and four days later my grandmother passed away.

I was left alone in my hospital bed in London, and Nick was a rock to me during that time. He was so supportive (be it over the phone) and we really got to know each other inside out. I understand it was not the most conventional way of dating, but once I was back on my feet, we met up and it felt like we had known each other for years. It just felt so right.

Six months later, I introduced him to the family. A few months after that, Nick came to me and asked me how I would feel if he was to convert to Judaism. I was really surprised by his question, but also felt a lot of admiration towards him. It was very important to Nick that when we were to have children that we are all on the same page and part of a family unit. Nick spent 18 months converting to Judaism, he learnt Hebrew, he had a circumcision (now that is commitment!) and after all of that lengthy process, Nick is now a proud Jew and I am, of course, very proud of him!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Clare + Chris… How They Met to the Present Day

by

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 5th gorgeous bride from our crop of 2017 and 2018 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Clare who will be marrying Chris on 5th May 2018 at Laura Ashley The Manor in Elstree, UK.

THREE FACTS: (1) Clare is not Jewish but discovered Smashing The Glass via her Jewish sister-in-law and during her wedding planning journey it has became her favorite and most useful wedding blog (2) She finds STG refreshing in a sea of wedding blogs as she loves reading stories of couples for whom the ceremony itself is as pivotal as all the other details. (3) Due to falling in love with so many amazing Jewish weddings through the blog, and then booking a wedding consultancy session with STG founder, Karen, it confirmed to her that there were a number of Jewish elements she was going to bring into her wedding that symbolise a lot of things that are very important to her and her fiancà© in their future marriage – she will be having a ‘Jewish-inspired’ wedding!

REAL-JEWISH-BRIDES_Clare
How We Met

Chris and I met in the summer of 2014 through that wonderful medium that I never wanted to admit… Tinder! Needless to say I was certainly not looking for a partner at the time and having both downloaded the app without much thought on the weekend (and most definitely with a bit of alcoholic influence!) we had begun chatting by the Monday. After what seemed like endless hours of funny messages where I genuinely laughed out loud he took me for a drink which turned into a dinner and a walk along the river by night. Following that I’m pretty sure we never went a day without talking and with a few ups and downs along the way, the rest is history….

A lucky auction

Our engagement in June 2016 wasn’t a complete surprise in that we had spoken very openly about marriage for some time and had begun looking for a house to buy together and generally planning a future. Chris had asked my views on rings and there had been plenty of screenshots sent over a good six months or so of the dream rock!

Several months before he popped the question, his parents had come across a beautiful vintage ring at an auction house where they were looking for furniture. I had been away for the weekend and Chris had received a phone call from his step mother and a multitude of texts with pictures. After she sweet talked the auction rooms staying open long enough for Chris to make the last minute dash down there to see the ring he decided it was the one!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Mel + Mitch… how they met to the present day

by

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 3rd gorgeous bride from our crop of 2017 and 2018 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Mel who will be marrying Mitch on 18th March 2018 at Warren Weir at Luton Hoo, UK.

THREE FACTS: (1) Mel and Mitch met online on JDate (2) Their Jewish wedding will be classy and traditional with plenty of modern touches  (3) Mel is a member of Smashing The Glass’s private Jewish & Jew-ish Brides Facebook Group. Not yet a member? Come join us here!

REAL-JEWISH-BRIDES_Mel
How We Met

Mitch and I met on JDate (yes, we are one of those couples!) in 2013. I had not long come out of a long-term relationship so I joined with the main intention of just knowing that there were people out there and that I wouldn’t be single forever! I didn’t for one minute think that I would end meeting the man I was going to marry — funny how things come along when you least expect it. After a month or so I was actually going to delete my account — until I received what can only be described as an essay from ‘mitch2302’. I thought, if this person has taken the time to look through my profile and made the effort to write a long message, the least I could do is respond.

Going on a first date — particularly never having met the person before — is quite unnerving. I suggested a nice gastro pub for a drink near where I lived. I always think that a drink on a first date is the best option as you’re less committed to spending long there if you weren’t feeling it, compared to if you go for dinner (call me crazy!).

Three hours later, we were still talking but it was time to go, with so much still to say. Our second date was four days later. This time we went for lunch. Eight hours later we were still in the same spot, chatting away like we had known each other for years. I left still wanting to know more about him #GoodSign.

People in common…

Being Jewish, it doesn’t take long to come across mutual friends. We did the usual “do you know such-and-such?” Little did we know just how ‘close’ we were — it turned out his parents are best friends with my aunt and uncle and have known each other since they were 16! *Cue MIL-to-be insane excitement*

We chose to keep my last name a secret at first (that would have given the game away) so that Mitch’s mum didn’t get too ahead of herself and call my aunt and cry with excitement that she will be related to her best friend of 40 years — bearing in mind I met his parents after the fourth date so marriage was definitely not on the cards yet. Sadly, my identity was revealed – I was practically quizzed when I first met Mitch’s parents. His mum then decided to have a Facebook stalk (as you do when you meet someone for the first time) and found me. Luckily, she honoured our wishes not to tell my entire family we were dating until we were ready.

After a few more dates, we became ‘official’. And then gave Mitch’s mum ‘permission’ to call my aunt — she was probably more excited about this than knowing Mitch had a girlfriend.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A cactus-themed Jewish wedding at Tubac Golf Resort, Arizona, USA

by

Jewish-wedding-Tubac-Arizona
Chag sameach! Tonight is the first night of Passover. I’m doing Seder night tonight at my in-laws. What are you guys up to? I’d love to hear all about your plans.

Today’s real wedding is our very own utterly fabulous STG blogging bride, Dara, the first of our wonderful USA crop to get married! The couple tied the knot at Tubac Golf Resort, giving their wedding a fun-filled ‘back to summer camp’ atmosphere. 

Despite being in a desert environment in Arizona, Dara and Alex’s wedding still evoked a romantic, wintry vibe, thanks to chic Dara’s clever choice of colour scheme. 

We have all the love for gorgeous Dara’s stunning dress (and we adore her story – it’s a fantastic lesson in how you should always try something you wouldn’t have though to try). We’re also major fans of the cactus stationery and succulent favours! 

All of the magical moments and delightful details were captured by photographer Lori O’Toole, including the particularly mouth-watering naked cake. Save us a slice?

Over to Dara for the rest of her big-day tale. If you like what you see here, check out her Instagram at @daraboxer and leave her some love in the comments box!

Jewish Wedding Tubac Golf Resort Arizona USA78Jewish Wedding Tubac Golf Resort Arizona USA72Jewish Wedding Tubac Golf Resort Arizona USA30Jewish Wedding Tubac Golf Resort Arizona USA26Jewish Wedding Tubac Golf Resort Arizona USA35
How we met

Dara, the bride: Alex and I are a match.com success story! After a few emails back and forth, we met up for a first date, which was nothing short of fun, hilarious and wonderful. I knew very early on that I had found my husband.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading