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A Gucci Bride for an Intimate and Elegant Destination Jewish Wedding at the Great Synagogue and the Four Seasons, Florence, Italy

29/04/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

We love it when a couple does their Jewish wedding their way (it’s our mantra after all), and that’s just one of the many reasons we’re so smitten with family nurse practitioner Lauren and director of sales Abraham’s gorgeous destination wedding in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

First off, we love that Lauren stayed true to herself ad opted to marry in a totally chic – and not traditionally bridal – Gucci dress she bought off the rack from Neiman Marcus! It just goes to show, you absolutely don’t have to do the big white gown thing for your big day if it doesn’t speak to you.

We also think it’s fantastic that Lauren and Abe opted to keep their wedding super intimate – they had just 24 guests! There’s something to be said for surrounding yourself with your nearest and dearest – and only your nearest and dearest – on such a special day.

It doesn’t get much better than the majestic Great Synagogue of Florence, where the chuppah took place, and the reception venue – the Four Seasons of Florence – was pretty epic in its own right. It was all captured wonderfully by award-winning photographers D2, Donatella and Damiano, whose natural, atmospheric photos captured all the love and emotion of the day so perfectly.

Also, these two have an unusual – and beautiful – how-we-met story. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this one!

Now over to the bride…

How we met

Lauren, the bride: Our story is quite special. Abe’s ex-wife, named Lauren, and her now husband Ron made the introduction.

I was a close friend of Ron’s for many years, who then started dating Lauren. Ron had met Abe on numerous occasions, as Abe and Lauren have two sons together, Leon, 10 and Felix, 8. Abe and Lauren have a great/friendly/healthy relationship and still admire one another.

Upon meeting Abe, Ron had said to Lauren, I think I have the perfect girl for Abe. I was having dinner with Ron and Lauren and actually met Leon and Felix that evening, when they made a text introduction with Abe and I – an hour later I met Abe and never laughed so hard in my life, and from then on we have been together.

A Maggie Sottero Bride for a Taco-Fueled Destination Jewish Wedding at Ex-Convento San Hipolito, Mexico City, Mexico

27/03/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Luz Weddings does it again. We’re totally obsessed with their fab captures of this epic destination Jewish wedding, from the artsy minimalist couples’ shoot to the fantastic emotion of Lian and Amir’s big day.

The LA-based couple wanted something different, and did they ever find it in Mexico City! Their venue, former 17^th-century convent called Ex-Convento San Hipolito, is not only totally breathtaking, it also has a secret, ultra-meaningful Jewish history that the couple’s rabbi revealed to them on the day.

We’re experiencing some serious FOMO drooling over Lian and Amir’s incredible kosher Mexican catering menu – we’re talking ribeye tacos, quesadillas, churros, and even an LA-style fruit cart! (Fittingly enough, the groom wore taco socks.)

Oh, and did we mention there’s an exquisite papercut ketubah by Israeli artist Enya Keshet, purchased from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com?

Now over to Lian, who looked so elegant in both of her gorgeous Maggie Sottero gowns…

How we met

Lian, the bride: Amir and I went to the same high school and had seen each other here and there, but never really spoke or hung out. Fast forward 15 years, my mom’s cousin was having a big party at his house, which I wasn’t planning on going to since my birthday was the day before and I wanted to go out with friends.

The moment I walked in the party and saw Amir, something inside me screamed ‘Yes’! When we said ‘hi’ to one other, it was more of like, ‘oh hey long time no see what was your name again?’ We hit it off right away and spoke all night, with both our families’ eyes watching us – which was so funny. It was great and he turned out to be the best birthday present ever.

A Made With Love Bride for a Destination Jewish Wedding in Tropical Paradise with an Orchid Chuppah at the Conrad Hotel Koh Samui, Thailand

22/03/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

We’ve got just the thing to get you in the mood for Spring… a stunner of a Jewish wedding right on the beach in gorgeous Koh Samui, Thailand!

Kamina, a marketing specialist and yoga teacher, and Warren, a management consultant, planned the perfect laid-back boho day, and they went all out on the tropical paradise vibes — we’re talking an orchid chuppah, bright tropical flowers everywhere (even in the bride’s hair, natch!), and an all-day outdoor celebration right on the beach. Transport yourself via Julian Abram Wainwright’s exquisitely styled photography and Shoot Me Now Films’ wonderful video.

These two also had some of the coolest wedding desserts we’ve seen, ever. For starters, they rented out a traditional Thai banana pancake cart — um, yes please! And Kamina’s 9-year-old cousin, who happens to be a little baking prodigy, made the couple a gorgeous coconut wedding cake (with just a bit of help from the grown-ups) — wow!

Now over to Kamina, who looked so cool (in all senses of the word!) even in the Thai heat in her Made With Love dress…

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A Meaningful Venue

Kamina, the bride: We decided to get married in Koh Samui, Thailand at the Conrad Hotel. Samui is a special island for us – it was my late father’s favourite place. My parents own a villa resort on the island, which is where they renewed their vows on their 25th wedding anniversary, and also where we held an intimate funeral ceremony for him. The Conrad Hotel is part of the Hilton group, which is where my father worked most of his life, so that was really special as well to keep the venue in the Hilton family – that would have meant a lot to him.

A Jane Hill Bride for a Jewish Wedding at Mount Duneed Estate Winery in Geelong, Australia

04/02/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

A laid-back outdoor winery wedding with gorgeous scenery, epic party vibes, and some of the coolest wedding lawn games we’ve ever seen? Yes please!

Lauren and Marc, a doctor and a speech therapist, opted for giant chess, connect four, AND human snakes and ladders during their canapes — how fun is that?! And what a great way to keep kids (and, let’s be honest, adults too) entertained.

We’re also obsessed with the couple’s beautiful, colorful ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor BRITcolors. We are huge fans of Britt’s work, and we’re totally not surprised that Lauren reports she was lovely to work with.

Oh, and did we mention that the couple’s parents — who just happen to be friends with each other — built their chuppah for them? So sweet.

Photographer Chris Kapa and videographer Anthony Spiteri of Videoboutique did an amazing job capturing all the fun and emotion of this fab day — don’t miss the wedding trailer!

We’ll let Lauren, who hit the perfect balance between laid-back and glam in her dress from Jane Hill Bridal, take it from here.

How we met

Lauren, the bride: We were introduced by mutual friends.

A Watters Bride for an Egalitarian Jewish Wedding with Fairy Lights and Sunflowers at The Oakley Court, Windsor, UK

21/01/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

Is this the perfect English country Jewish wedding, or what? We are totally obsessed with Miri and Jon’s sweet sunflower chuppah — not to mention the bride’s epic flower crown (which she opted for instead of a bouquet) and the charming table centers in repurposed whiskey bottles strewn with fairy lights. It was all the work of florist Gabriella Shem-Tov, who crafted the perfect colorful arrangements to complement the festival vibes and idyllic outdoor setting.

We also love that Miri, a project manager at the British Library, and Jon, community development director for Masorti Judaism in the UK, crafted an ultra-personal egalitarian ceremony totally in step with their values, where they circled each other, exchanged rings, and both smashed a glass.

Don’t miss Miri’s beautiful writeup, or Marianne Chua’s luminous documentary-style photography… and whilst you’re at it, you won’t want to miss our amazing FREE online event for Jewish and Jew-ish Brides happening later today called, ‘The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding”. Sign up here if you haven’t already – I can’t wait to see you there!