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Find Your Perfect Jewish Wedding Stationery {with Paperlust}

07/03/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

As a creative myself (yes, I ran a digital and branding consultancy before starting STG!), I’m passionate about design – and specifically about helping couples incorporate beautiful graphic design into their Jewish weddings.

Stationery of all stripes has a special place in my heart, and I’m always excited to find innovative new suppliers. And that’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Paperlust today.

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2014 with the goal of bringing custom stationery to design lovers worldwide while supporting local Australian artists, Paperlust offers custom designs for every occasion – especially weddings and engagements – and handles all the logistics (printing, packaging, shipping, delivery, customer support and more) so that their creative talent is freed up to do what they do best.

They offer a huge range of exclusive designs to suit all styles, with easy customization and printing options including letterpress, foil stamping, and digital – and the collection is constantly expanding, with new designs being listed every single day. Paperlust loves Jewish and Jew-ish weddings, they are truly a one-stop shop for all your wedding stationery needs, from engagement party invites to save the dates to wedding invitations and RSVP cards, menus to place cards and table numbers to orders of service, and beyond.

Though based in Australia, Paperlust works with clients all over the world, and they offer free worldwide express shipping for orders over $300 USD.

Read on for a few of my favourite looks…

Win a romantic night for two at the breathtaking Kimpton Fitzroy London, London’s hottest new luxury hotel

05/03/2019 by Karen Cinnamon 2 Comments

I’m so delighted to offer you the chance to win an overnight stay in London’s hottest new luxury hotel: the fabulous Kimpton Fitzroy London.

I’ve attended some fab events at the Kimpton Fitzroy London since they opened, like the BertaF/W 2019 Press Launch last month, and opening of David Michael Bradford’s (who also happens to have photographed the wonderful wedding images in this post) Scribbled Art exhibition featuring a portrait of me!

Both these events were truly spectacular occasions that EVERYONE was talking about after (and rightly so!).

Located oh-so-centrally in Bloomsbury’s Russell Square, the Kimpton Fitzroy London combines historic charm with modern luxury. Originally built in 1898 (on the site of Emmaline Pankhurst’s onetime home – how’s that for a bit of feminist history to add to your wedding?!), Kimpton Fitzroy London undertook a two-year, £85 million refurbishment of the hotel before opening it in April 2018 as their first London property.

And the outcome is truly exquisite, as you’ll see for yourself if you have a scroll through these photos. Every inch is full of the chicest of contemporary details.

It’s truly the most wonderfully special space, and I’m so excited that we’ve teamed up with the Kimpton Fitzroy London to offer one lucky couple (and you can be single with a plus one, engaged or married to enter) an unbelievable prize to experience the luxuries of the hotel to include:

An overnight stay in a luxury corner suite
Champagne and sweet treats on arrival
Pre-dinner cocktails in Fitz’s Bar
3-course dinner with a bottle of wine in the stunning onsite restaurant Neptune
Breakfast the following morning,
Champagne afternoon tea in Palm Court
A 300tc bedlinen set by Tielle Love Luxury (you guessed it, the same luxurious linen used by Kimpton Fitzroy London)
The total prize value is £1300 !

A Jewish Wedding at the Kimpton Fitzroy

It practically goes without saying that the Kimpton Fitzroy London is an incredible venue for an urban glam Jewish wedding right in the heart of London.

With a capacity of up to 180 for a seated dinner and dancefloor, or 450 standing, it can accommodate a big bash, and the wonderful weddings team at the Kimpton Fitzroy London couldn’t be more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Jewish weddings, with an experienced team with the highest five-star hotel pedigree from The Dorchester, The Savoy, and The Rosewood (to name but a few).

And guess what? The Kimpton Fitzroy London’s marketing manager, Ruthie Berkley, is an STG Bride herself! Her real Jewish wedding is coming to Smashing The Glass later this month and it’s a GOODIE! Watch out for it on Wednesday 20th March…

But back to the glorious Kimpton Fitzroy London: The centre of the property – at least when it comes to weddings – is the ballroom, a grand event space perfect for a standout Jewish ceremony followed by a beautiful reception, boasting a private entrance on Bernard Street, original 19^th-century architectural details, a full wall of windows, and a mezzanine gallery.

And the adjoining Palm Court is the most magical backdrop for reception drinks, with a soaring glass ceiling that floods the room with light, comfortable clusters of seating, and lots of gorgeous greenery – the vibe is conservatory meets lounge meets members club, and it is exactly as fabulous as it sounds. Intimate yet fun, hip yet classic.

I’m seriously in love with this space and it has got to be the best reception space to go with a ballroom wedding that I’ve seen in London. Oh, and did I mention that Kimpton Fitzroy London is offering Smashing The Glass readers 20% off ballroom hire for weddings booked before 31 August 2020 (blackout dates apply)?!

And if you’re a member of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club (our members club for Jewish and Jew-ish brides) the Kimpton Fitzroy London are generously offering you 25% off ballroom hire for weddings booked before 31 August 2020 (blackout dates apply) and an upgrade to a luxury Corner Suite on your wedding night!

With 334 guest rooms, each featuring 300-thread-count linens, and warm decor that seamlessly blends heritage elements with 21st-century appointments, the Kimpton Fitzroy London is the perfect place for out-of-town guests to enjoy their stay in style too.

Jewish Bridal Style from the Experts at The Wedding Club

28/02/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

Image by Robert Shack from Lauren & Ross’s Jewish wedding

The Wedding Club is one of my very favourite UK bridal retailers – I love their wonderful range of designers and luxurious spaces, I love their ultra-attentive customer service, and I love how much they love Jewish weddings!

One of the world’s leading bridal boutiques, The Wedding Club carries some of the world’s most exclusive British and international designers – including STG favorites like Suzanne Neville, Berta, Savannah Miller, Bliss Monique Lhuillier, and more – plus accessories from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Victoria Percival.

The Wedding Club caters to fashion-conscious brides – many of whom have featured in STG real weddings (we’re constantly getting rave reviews about the level of service!) – but they firmly believe that every bride should follow their heart, not the trends – which is SO in line with our philosophy of “Your wedding your way” here at STG. They want to help each and every bride find a dress that’s truly her, and I couldn’t possibly support that mission more.

Photo by David Pullum from Hannah and Andrew’s Jewish wedding

They’re pros when it comes to working with brides going for modest styling – whether that’s for the whole wedding, or just to cover up a bit under the chuppah. They’ve got plentiful options with sleeves and higher necklines, and truly appreciate the beauty of modest bridal style. Plus they’ve got s serious knack for pairing stylish coverups with gowns is par for the course at The Wedding Club – they’re always on top of the latest trends and innovations.

Photo by David Pullum from Salena and Stefan’s Jewish wedding

With two locations in London – the Knightsbridge showroom is filled with mega-glam gowns from the likes of Zuhair Murad, Caroline Herrera, and Berta Couture, while the South Kensington shop has a slightly more laid-back, boho slant with collections like Savannah Miller and Costarellos – and one in Birmingham, showcasing more classic styles from Suzanne Neville, Jenny Packham, and more, The Wedding Club’s got the full spectrum of bridal styles covered.

Gifts That Won’t Cost Your Guests a Penny: Social Gifting with Prezola

26/02/2019 by Karen Cinnamon Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to share a new wedding list innovation from our friends at Prezola, the UK’s leading wedding registry, and the only gift list service in the UK we hand on heart recommend. I think we’d all agree that the best gifts don’t always cost money, and Prezola’s found a fantastic way to facilitate gifting the precious resource of time.

That’s why I think you’re going to love social gifting, which allows you to register for meaningful experiential gifts that don’t need to cost guests a penny. Now, in addition to traditional gifts from hundreds of retailers, a honeymoon fund, cash contributions, and charity donations, Prezola’s enabling your guests to promise to do something, not just buy something, to commemorate your special day.

WHAT ARE SOCIAL PROMISES?

Prezola’s Social Promises can be anything close to your heart – you can choose from a selection of pre-created promises, or create your own.

Whether it’s volunteering at a charity that’s meaningful to you, helping you move house, or looking after your pet while you’re on honeymoon, you can create and add Social Promises to your gift list just like any other gift, completely free of charge.

Social Promises put the focus of gift-giving squarely on sharing time and experiences with loved ones. It’s also a great way to reduce the pressure for guests to spend a lot on attending your wedding – such a win-win.

From Sketch to Dress: A Q&A with Master Bridal Designer Caroline Castigliano

20/09/2018 by Karen Cinnamon

So you’re a newly engaged bride – yaaaaay! What’s the first thing on your mind (after sharing the big news with your family and friends, of course)?

If you’re like us, it just might be the dress. It may even have been on your mind way before you got engaged – how many of us can truly say we’re not guilty of sneaking the occasional peak at a favorite designer’s website, or in their shop window?

Your dress is such a huge component of your wedding style, and we know finding one that’s the right fit for you is of the utmost importance. So what could be better than having a bespoke gown made? And by master wedding dress designer Caroline Castigliano, no less?

One of our absolute favorite designers here at STG, Caroline Castigliano has been working at the forefront of British bridal design for 27 years. She’s known for her ultra-unique bespoke gowns, featuring all kinds of fantastic details from the finest fabrics to the signature hidden corset (designed to define and balance your figure to perfection).

Every Caroline Castigliano gown is a one-of-a-kind piece, and each is handcrafted in the UK, and the dreamy Knightsbridge store is one of the world’s ultimate bridal destinations.

That’s why we’re so thrilled to bring you a Q&A with the Caroline Castigliano team on what you can expect from Caroline Castigliano’s bespoke design process. Read on for some serious bridal fashion inspo.