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The Top 5 Ways to Cover Your Shoulders Under the Chuppah in 2026

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Tonic bolero by Galia Lahav

From pearl-dusted couture boleros to barely-there detachable details, shoulder coverage for the chuppah has officially entered its fashion-forward era. Today’s Jewish brides are embracing clever, removable layers that honor tradition and personal style – without compromising on the dress of their dreams.

Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

Lauren‘s shrug | Photo by Natalie J Weddings

Whether you’re drawn to timeless elegance, modern minimalism, or a touch of drama, there are more beautiful options than ever before for ceremony-ready coverage that feels intentional, elevated, and unmistakably bridal. Here are our top five chic, modern ways to cover your shoulders under the chuppah in 2026 – and look effortlessly stylish while doing it.

Sydney-and-Chaim-The-Estate-at-Florentine-Gardens-River-Vale-New-Jersey-USA
Sydney‘s bolero | Photo by Alex Knight Studio 

1. Brilliant Boleros 

A timeless and elegant choice for brides who want to keep their shoulders covered under the chuppah, boleros add structure and sophistication without overwhelming your gown – and there are so many options, whether you’re going for a classic princess look or something sleek and modern. 

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Real Jewish Brides: Samantha on Feeling Optimistic

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Samantha will be marrying Brian on 9th October 2021 in Nags Head, NC. Click here to read all Samantha’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Brian proposed to Samantha on July 3rd on the beach (2) Samantha + Brian met on JSwipe (3) Michelle Obama was part of the proposal!


I think it was in early May that, for the first time since starting to plan our wedding, I felt optimistic that it would actually happen on the date we selected, the way we want it to happen, with all the people we want to be there!

Getting engaged in July 2020, during the height of the pandemic, it was hard to find that optimism sometimes.  My dad, who works in health policy, told me he felt confident that things would be ok by Fall 2021, but there were so many setbacks and the area we live (Washington DC) was so slow to reopen that I had a lot of doubt, for a long time.

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Real Jewish Bride: Sarah on the Last Two Years of Wedding Planning

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Sarah will be marrying Rich on 19th June 2022 at Tikitano Beach, Marbella, Spain. Click here to read all Sarah’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Sarah knew Rich was the one when he brought a gift of dog treats for her toy poodle Nuala along to their fourth date! (2) They are crafting an amazing destination wedding weekend in Marbella with beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended vendor optimum weddings as their planner. (3) Sarah is a member of  Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

As I sat down to write this, my last blog as a blogging bride for Smashing the Glass (I will still be a member of Brides Club), I took a quick minute to reflect on the past two years. I say two years because that was when I first became a blogging bride and signed up to Brides Club. I was full of excitement talking about all things wedding related, learning about dress fabrics, booking dress shopping appointments, booking flights to Spain to find our wedding planner and venue and creating multiple spreadsheets to keep track of the infamous wedding budget. It was summer 2019 and it is safe to say that I had no idea what 2020 would bring!

So, on that note let’s take a little trip down memory lane and reminisce on the good, the bad and the lessons I have learned over the past two years!

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Real Jewish Brides: Charlotte on Her Almost Wedding Day

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Charlotte will be marrying Adam in September 2021 at Swynford Manor in Newmarket, UK. Click here to read all Charlotte’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Adam proposed to Charlotte on holiday in Cyprus (2) Charlotte and Adam met at work in London (3) Charlotte is a member of STG Brides Club!


25th April 2021 was meant to be the day that Adam and I said ‘I Do’ and become husband and wife. Sadly, this day was not meant to be and instead as our almost day came around there was still 140 days to go.

25th April 2021 was not the day either of us expected it to be but, it was a day that we will remember and for all the right reasons. During the build-up to our almost wedding day I had thought about what I want the day to be like. I didn’t want to spend the day having a normal Sunday, doing our normal Sunday routine. I wanted it to be special to us and a day we would remember for something wonderful.

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Real Jewish Brides: Maggie on Her Wedding Next Month!

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Maggie will be marrying Danny on 6th June 2021 at Stone House of St. Charles in St. Charles, Missouri. Click here to read all Maggie’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Danny proposed to Maggie on his birthday! (2) Maggie is in the process of converting to Judaism (3) Maggie is a member of STG Brides Club!


Well this may be my last blog post as a single woman, our wedding is just a month away! As the wedding gets closer, the more excited I have become. Now is this a common problem when looking at your upcoming wedding; deciding if you are more excited to marry the love of your life or to see all your friends and family in one place. I think especially after the pandemic this last year we are more excited than ever to see some of our vaccinated friends and family that we were not able to see for the last year.

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