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Planning A Wedding Without My Dad

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Sarah who will be marrying Rich on 21th June 2020 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!

So this is an emotional post, it’s heartfelt and it’s raw and it hasn’t been easy to write. I suppose that my main aim of writing it is in the hope that other brides to be realise that they are not alone in their feelings if they have lost someone special and that there is nothing wrong with having mixed feelings at such a happy time because it is normal. So here goes…

I lost my dad when I was five years old and I also lost my mums sister last year and my nanny, uncle, grandparents and very close family friends over the past 26 years.

For the most part I have always accepted this and been ok with it, even though I have really missed dad and my other loved ones at landmark events on special occasions like graduation, my first job, when I needed a male perspective on various boyfriend dilemmas, when I watched a father of the bride speech at a wedding or a father daughter dance at a wedding. However, I never expected the wave of emotions which hit me when I got engaged. 

Getting engaged was one of the best days of my life, I knew that it was the start of a wonderful life with my best friend and the man that I love. However, I had this overwhelming sense of emptiness and loss. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me? How could I be feeling down at such an exciting and happy time, maybe I’m just not normal? 

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Real Jewish Brides: Alexandra’s Search for an Unorthodox Rabbi

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Alexandra will be marrying Ian on 10th May 2020 at La Corte Dei Messapi in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Click here to read all Alexandra’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: THREE FACTS: (1) Alexandra and Ian are planning an intimate black-tie destination wedding for 60 of their nearest and dearest in Puglia, Italy. (2) Alexandra is Jewish, and Ian is in the process of converting to Judaism. (3) Alexandra is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

My fiance and I are pretty up on the major Jewish holidays. When we scheduled our wedding on May 10th, 2020 in Ostuni, Italy, we thought it would be the perfect time to find an officiant; we were wrong. Most rabbis in Italy are Orthodox and we are getting married during the counting of the Omer when weddings aren’t conducted.

If you are like me, you may not know what the forty-nine day period that constitutes the counting of the Omer is all about. It begins on Passover and ends on Shavuot and we are getting married in the middle of it. The idea of counting each day between the two holidays represents spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

It is considered a time of semi-mourning. During this period, Orthodox Jews are forbidden from getting haircuts, shaving, listening to instrumental music, or conducting weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing.


Image by Maloman Studios  from Lindsey and Corey’s wedding

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Real Jewish Brides: Naomi’s Wedding Planning Progress, Getting Used to American Wedding Traditions, and Mourning a Tragic Loss

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Naomi will be marrying Daniel on 18th March 2020 at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in Aventura, Florida, USA. Click here to read all Naomi’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) British bride Naomi has just moved to Florida to join her Venezuelan fiance Daniel, who she met at a wedding in Israel – talk about an international couple! (2) Naomi and Daniel were long distance for 3.5 years, until this July. (3) Naomi is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club! 

Wedding Planning Progress

Hello and welcome to bridal blog number 2!

I’m very happy to report that some definite planning progress has been made since I last sat down to write a post. Who would’ve thought, I’m actually enjoying wedding planning!? I can only possibly put that down to the incredibly calming influence of my other half to be, so shout out to Mr Azulay for pulling through there.

Fun news number 1) – we booked our wedding photographer and videographer, Esmeralda Bodas. After seeing some Instagram previews of a recent wedding they photographed of Daniel’s friends, including some spectacular hora shots where the bride and groom are captured mid air being thrown about by their friends (!), we instantly loved their style and the spirit of their pictures, and I’m so excited to work with them.

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Real Jewish Brides: Juliette’s Bachelorette, Bridal Shower and Last Month as Miss

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Juliette will be marrying Matt on 9th November 2019 at Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey, USA. Click here to read all Juliette’s planning posts to date.

THREE FACTS: (1) Juliette and Matt met in Hebrew school when they were 16 – aww! (2) Juliette and Matt are both Jewish, but they are having a Jew-ish wedding – Juliette’s dad’s side of the family is Catholic, and they want to make sure everyone feels included on the day. (3) Juliette is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club – and she calls STG her “secret weapon” in wedding planning!

My last post

I cannot believe this is my last blog post for Smashing the Glass! I feel like I am going to blink, and I’ll be walking down the aisle. I have loved getting to share my planning experiences and emotional ups and downs throughout the process.

With only a month left there have been some amazing highlights and some HUGE #WPWs (wedding planning wins). 

If I haven’t mentioned it before the only real reason, I am able to make this wedding happen is because of my support system. My mom and mother in law are amazing and help with everything from hair extensions to packing invitations.

Also, huge shout out to my bridal party, especially Amanda, my MOH. She hosted and planned the most fabulous glittering unreal Bachelorette Bash. Then as always Matt is there keeping the positivity and reminding me why we are even throwing this shindig in the first place!

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2020 Real Jewish Brides: Introducing Jos + Daniel: How They Met To The Present Day…

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Today on the blog we’re introducing our 5th gorgeous bride from our crop of 2020 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Jos, who will be marrying Daniel on 28th June 2020 at Hackney Town Hall, London, UK.

THREE FACTS: (1) Before meeting Daniel, Jos was known for her torrid dating tales – so much so that her friends used to call her Bridget Jonestein! (2) Daniel proposed to Jos in the Greek island of Naxos! (3) Jos is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!


How you met to the present day

My friends used to call me Bridget Jonestein. I was always the single one at the wedding, the last (wo)man standing in my groups of friends. I would go on date after date with unsuitable men and eventually came to the conclusion that I was happy single.

I decided I was an independent career woman, but would still enjoy regaling my friends with my torrid dating tales. They were so good (or bad), that one of my best friends declared she would pay £9.99 a month just to read them and who was I to disappoint?

So, having decided I was happy being single, but with an expectant audience, I continued to lazily browse the dating apps until one day, I matched with Daniel on Tinder.

I’d love to tell you that it was love at first sight and we had an incredible first date, but neither of us would describe it as that. Our first date was in fact, awkward.

We went to an average pub in Hampstead, both sent our meals back and I spent much of the evening walking around the pub with my phone torch on, looking for an earring that I thought I’d lost (turned out I’d left it on my dressing table).

However, despite the awkwardness, Daniel made me laugh and after a few dates I decided I was really quite fond of him.

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