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A Joyous Same-Sex Jewish Wedding at Shenley Cricket Club, Hertfordshire, UK

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Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK

The Jewish wedding of Benji, an agent for photographers and directors, and Chris, a creative director and writer, was  one for the books. Featuring an outdoor chuppah, soulful music by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Shir, an “Outdo the Grooms” dress code, and even a drag queen, this was truly an epic celebration.

The chuppah was incredibly moving, and between hearing the couple’s rabbi speak about the significance of performing his first-ever same sex chuppah to the very special Sheva Brachot, all read in English translation by dear friends of the grooms who are also all gay Jewish men, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.

As a photography agent, Benji knew only the best of the best would do when it came to capturing the big day – and he and Chris ended up choosing Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Liam Smith for his candid shots and unique eye.

Read on for the full story in the grooms’ own words…

Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK   Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK Chris and Benji, Shenley Cricket Club, London, UK
How We Met

Chris and Benji, the grooms: We met on JSwipe! After Chris made the move from Cape Town, South Africa, to London in December 2020, he immediately opened JSwipe once his plane landed at Heathrow. Who was the very first Nice Jewish Boy in his feed that superliked him (You get one superlike free on JSwipe I think a year?)? Benji!

Chris swiped right and they began chatting while Chris waited out his isolation period (Covid romances… *sigh*). Their first date was during lockdown, so they walked around Little Venice in London and (24 000 steps later, according to Chris’ Apple Watch, in the early-January snow) the rest is history.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Louise Selby Bride for a Summer Jewish Wedding at Bevis Marks Synagogue and Middle Temple, London, UK

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Kitty-and-Sam-Middle-Temple-London-UK

There’s not much that’s better than discovering a hidden gem of a Jewish wedding venue right in the center of London – which is exactly what today’s couple, Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Kitty and Sam, found in Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Middle Temple.

As soon as the couple set eyes on Middle Temple – located in the City of London, just a stone’s throw from the couple’s chuppah venue, Bevis Marks Synagogue – they knew it was just the place for their reception. With a striking (and spacious!) hall full of history and the kind of verdant outdoor space you’d hardly expect to find in the heart of the city, Middle Temple is really something special – and Kitty can’t say enough kind words about the experience of working with their events team in the leadup to the big day! Don’t miss it in the wonderful images by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Marta Ilardo Photography.

Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Shir performed at Kitty and Sam’s chuppah and reception, including leading Israeli dancing and teaching some basics so all the guests, Jewish and non-Jewish, could follow along! And the couple’s minimalist ketubah came from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com!

We’ll let the bride, who looked so elegant in her Louise Selby gown, take it from here…

Kitty-and-Sam-Middle-Temple-London-UK Kitty-and-Sam-Middle-Temple-London-UK Kitty-and-Sam-Middle-Temple-London-UK Kitty-and-Sam-Middle-Temple-London-UK
How We Met

Kitty, the bride: Sam and I met at work – we’re both management consultants and were working on the same project for a short amount of time a few years ago. We quickly became friends, but it wasn’t until COVID struck and we were unable to see each other every day that we realised how we felt about each other.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Joyous Jewish Wedding Featuring a Personalized Outdoor Chuppah at Sopwell House, St Albans, UK

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Ines-and-Andy-Sopwell-House-UK

We are so thrilled to be featuring the Jewish wedding of our Bride’s Club member Ines today! Ines, a professional chef, wed Andy, a property investor, at Sopwell House in an outdoor ceremony under the most gorgeous personalized chuppah – just one of the many special touches the pair included in their day – and we are all about it.

So about that chuppah… Ines and Andy worked with Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Happy Chuppah People on the chuppah of their dreams – which they topped with the most exquisite personalized canopy handmade by Israeli artist Bella Alon – and they can’t stop raving about how much they loved working with the incredibly helpful team.

We also love that Ines opted to wear her mother’s wedding dress on the big day – how special is that?! Ines’s father had tragically passed away from Covid, and wearing her mother’s gown was such a meaningful way to honor his memory and make him part of the day. Don’t miss the incredibly special pics by Leivi Saltman.

Ines and Andy worked with a whole bunch of wonderful Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendors, including Noa Attias, who designed their beautiful ketubah; talented wedding filmmaker Robert of CCS Video, who made the couple’s wonderful wedding video; planner Events by Natasha; and Shir, who Ines describes as “the most amazing band ever!” Shir kept the dance floor packed all night long, and they even taught in Israeli dance lesson to get all the non-Jewish guests in the loop!

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How we Met

Ines, the bride: We met years ago at a friend’s house…  It was instant attraction, but took us around 2 years to start dating… But at the end of our 1st date, we were already deciding what to do on our 2nd date! And our 3rd date we had the most magical weekend in Monaco, staying at the Hermitage Hotel….Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Laure de Sagazan Bride for an Interfaith Jewish Wedding at Newburgh Priory, West Yorkshire, UK

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Talia-and-Mike-Newburgh-Priory-North-Yorkshire-UK

We love seeing a couple plan their Jewish wedding, their way – and that’s exactly what today’s lovely couple Talia and Mike did! Combining their religions and backgrounds into one beautiful day was top priority for these two – Talia is Jewish and Mike is Christian – and that’s exactly what they did.

The pair opted to work with a celebrant, rather than have a civil wedding, so that they could mix their cultures and faiths into a one-of-a-kind ceremony that truly reflected their partnership. We’re also obsessed with their gorgeous interfaith ketubah by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor The Delicate Brush – and naturally the couple loved the experience of working with artist Rachelle. Don’t miss it – and all the other gorgeous touches – in the luminous photos from Chris Milner.

For music, Talia and Mike went for Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Shir – who’d played at Talia’s bat mitzvah years earlier! The couple wanted Israeli dancing but were worried that their mostly non-Jewish guests might not be into it. With Shir in charge, those worries were totally unfounded – the band led three amazing dance sets that got everyone dancing, and afterward guests couldn’t stop raving about how much fun it was!

Now over to the bride, who looked effortlessly chic in Laure de Sagazan…

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How we Met

Talia, the bride: We met at the University of Manchester where we both studied medicine. We actually initially met 10 years ago in our first tutorial group in first year but only became a couple at the start of our third year. We now both work as doctors, and have moved to Leeds, and now London since then.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

An Outdoor Pandemic Jewish Wedding at Ham Polo Club, London, UK

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Sarah and Josh, Ham Polo Club, London, UK

We’re in love with the gorgeous Jewish wedding of Sarah and Josh, who show that it’s possible to have a totally fabulous wedding even as we’re still making our way out of the pandemic.

The couple chose their London venue, the beautiful green Ham Polo Club, specifically so they could hold the festivities outdoors, with plenty of room to space everyone out safely. This meant they were able to have the most guests possible – along with the least COVID worries.

Luckily, Sarah and Josh love the outdoors, the setting was right up their alley. We’re obsessed with the gorgeous photos by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Kate Swerdlow Photography – in Sarah’s words, Kate “captured the best moments so subtly, and was so lovely to work with.” We couldn’t agree more!

The couple also give credit to their fabulous band, Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Shir Music, for creating an amazing atmosphere – which positively shines through in the fab pics of the Israeli dancing!

Now over to the bride…

Sarah and Josh, Ham Polo Club, London, UK

Sarah and Josh, Ham Polo Club, London, UK
How we met

Sarah, the bride: We met at summer camp aged 16.Continue ReadingContinue Reading