Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > sponsored post > Page 19

From the sublime to the ridiculously beautiful – My Top 12 Honeymoon picks

by

Mr-Mrs-Smith-Honeymoons
Close your eyes, let your mind wander and imagine your perfect, have-it-all honeymoon.  If you’re picturing the most spectacular, breathtaking hotel in an intensely beautiful destination – complete with flawless service and a staggering attention to detail, then chances are, you’ve already visited Mr & Mrs Smith.

Mr & Mrs Smith is a brand I’m totally unabashed to say that I’m obsessed with. It never fails to disappoint. There’s nothing better than when a person, place or service exceeds expectations, not just meets them. And that’s what Mr & Mrs Smith do for me. I have been using their slick website for the last 6 years or so to find and book weekend breaks – and eventually our honeymoon – from their incredible collection of world-wide, soulful, boutique and luxury hotels, that range from the sublime to the ridiculously beautiful.

Mr STG and I have weekended at several of their recommended gems. From the love letter in art and architecture that is Villa Cora in Florence, to the insanely grand french Château de Bagnols, complete with fairy tale moat, drawbridge and honey- coloured stone towers, then back to the relaxed city-to-country retreat, The Pig in Hampshire. Each place was as spectacular as the one before and all shared the same impeccable service standards.

And no surprise really given that Mr & Mrs Smith was the brainchild of an inspired husband and wife team (James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy) who started the brand after enduring too many frustratingly mediocre breaks in hotels that didn’t quite live up to their brochure description or represent the stars they were brandishing. The chic duo upped the ante and created a real hotel guide for a style and service savvy market.

Chateau-de-Bagnols
Our bedroom at Château de Bagnols (I kid you not!)
Bellevue-Syrene
Our bedroom at the Bellevue Syrene

Booking my honeymoon with Mr & Mrs Smith

Mr STG and I didn’t think twice before booking our honeymoon with Mr & Mrs Smith. We had utter faith that they would deliver perfection when we most needed it. After organising my dream wedding and finding out the wonderful news that we were expecting our first bundle of STG joy, I was exhausted. I wanted some expert guidance on our honeymoon choices and needed the assurance that it would be just right. We wanted to relax, be totally pampered and go somewhere that Mr STG and I hadn’t been before. First destination Mr & Mrs Smith.

And lets just say that since our honeymoon at the Bellevue Syrene in the Amalfi Coast (yes, that’s what we chose!) our love affair with Mr & Mrs Smith has continued….

Amalfi Coast-honeymoon
Me & Mr STG on our Mr & Mrs Smith honeymoon

My top 12 Honeymoon picks

Considering I’m only allowed one honeymoon, I thought I’d live vicariously through you lovely lot and share my top Mr & Mrs Smith honeymoon picks (one of them even has its own kosher restaurant!).

Their honeymoons are literally out of this world — you really can expect celestial massages, starlight dining and earth-shattering services. Whether you want a few weeks of long haul lounging or a mini-moon in a romantic city, their around the clock travel specialists Smith 24 can tailor a trip to your tastes and budget.

And if, like me, you’re the kind of person who relishes and savours impeccable service and style at every turn, join me in the love affair with Mr & Mrs Smith.

Top 3 for Adventurers

TreeHotel-Sweden
If it’s adventure you’re after, TreeHotel, in Norbetten Country, Sweden, is a fabulous choice… This has to be one of the only honeymoon destinations in the world that offers husky drawn sledge rides, ice fishing trips, and a possible peek of the Northern Lights from your treetop den.

AWASI-Patagonia,-Chile
If you’re looking for large doses of peace and quiet, AWASI in Patagonia, Chile is simply perfect. Set in acres of stunning South American countryside, complete with forests, mountains and lakes, you can spy on the dramatic peaks of the Torres del Paine from your bed and enjoy private trips around the national park.

Tsala-Treetop-Lodge
Tsala Treetop Lodge in South Africa is a unique boutique resort giving you a mind-blowing, bird’s eye view of South Africa’s indigenous forest canopy from your luxurious stilted hut. Better still, it’s just 10km from the beaches, bars and boutiques of Plettenberg Bay.

Top 3 for Luxury Seekers

Song Saa Private Island
Live out your castaway fantasies at one of the unspoilt tropical islands at Song Saa Private Island Villas in Cambodia. Think intimate, luxurious and seductive — this place is truly special.

Muse-St-Tropez
Muse St Tropez in France is a boutique bolthole in the heart of Ramatelle. A serene yet stylish sanctuary, away from the St Tropez glitz, you wont even have to leave your room for a massage…

Hotel-Le-Toiny
You’ll have little incentive to ever leave your spectacular French-colonial bungalow in Hotel Le Toiny, St Barthelemy, a serene, hillside beach escape. Perfect, unspoiled sea views, private infinity pool and supreme island dining. The stuff of honeymoon dreams.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Save The Day with John Lewis

by

John-Lewis-Wedding
John Lewis  has always been close to my heart, in fact to most Brits  it’s  pretty much an institution upon which we’ve always relied on. From picking up my first pair of knitting needles for a school project, to getting those navy, leather Mary-Jane school shoes we all wore, and in more recent years bulk-buying cotton sleep suits for my own children, John Lewis has always been there for me.

Apart from that familial reliability – and those heart-wrenching Christmas ads – the other major association most people make with John Lewis has to be the infamous you-can’t-go-wrong wedding gift list.  And again, trusty JL was there for me at one of life’s most important milestones.

But what you may not realise is just how much “wedding” they actually have within those beautifully curated floors.

It really is a bridal cornucopia, an Aladdin’s cave. From occasion wear, gifts, stationery, haberdashery, decorations, fizz and make up, there’s no doubt about it — when it comes to weddings – John Lewis is ALL  over it.

And because it’s so trustworthy and established, it manages to keep everybody happy.  There’s something for every kind of couple, whether you’re seeking classical big day perfection or  a quirkier, more offbeat feel.

John Lewis Wedding
Haberdashery / Wedding Craft

For me, where John Lewis really stands out is as THE home of haberdashery.  And for those who think haberdashery is just a few different types of buttons, think again.

John Lewis has an unmatched range of ribbons, silks, embroidery, braids, fabrics, zips and, yes, buttons.  But also an incredible range of wedding craft and accessories  — its the place where you can pick up the floral corsages, buntings and all the add-ons to bring your big day vision to life, no matter how creative.

And  they also have really cool decorative bits and pieces that can totally liven up your home long after your big day is over. How gorgeous is the East of India range? And take a look at these Rico Alphabet Decor letters  — they’d be just as fab on a shelf in your hallway, as they would be placed next to a guest book at the  wedding.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

My dream gift list from Prezola…. What would you choose?

by

Prezola-gift-list
From experience, creating a gift list can often be a  daunting part of wedding planning when really it should be one of the most fun. Wandering the aisle with a scanner gun whilst navigating a department store can cause serious headaches, and quite frankly the technology  is more than a little outdated. Plus, what happens if you’re already living together and don’t need another cutlery set, or you have taste that’s a little cooler than your average department store?

Enter  Prezola, a trailblazer of a service who are taking gift list-ing to a whole new level and are re-inventing the experience for modern couples. Of course they offer all the gift list essentials (and 30,000 of them at that) but they also cater to your personal taste and unique story. Not only will you find items that reflect your interests from tech to travel to wine and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, there’s also gorgeous home decor from over 300 of the best homeware brands, and if it appeals, you can also ask your guests to contribute to your honeymoon fund, favourite charity, or even cash to put towards something special. Added to that, you can add in any product from any retailer if it’s not part of their own curation. As personal as it gets, right?!

And because choice is at the very core of  Prezola’s user experience, Mr STG and I were asked  to to go fantasy gift list shopping for our own apartment, and for anything else that appealed to  our exceedingly good taste! Reason no. 18342 why I love my job…

Prezola-gift-list-Karen-Cinnamon

Choosing items for our apartment

Some of you may have seen pictures of our  apartment already on  Instagram. It’s a former piano factory with urban  views over London and has  a  ‘warehouse’ feel (you can see a glimpse of it up there at the top of the post). Our interiors style is a combination of  minimalism, pop art, a love of design and typography, and an urban yet cosy feel – a real mix I know!

Our list is filled  with some interiors  decor that I  frankly have to have  for  our flat, as well as some amazing cookware (for suppers à  deux  and dinner parties), some fun bar accessories (we are partial to an Aperol Spritz or three), our favourite board games, art, books, some sailing action… the list goes on!  Have a look at  my page to see all our choices or have a  quick glimpse of our absolute faves below.

Does your taste match ours? What are your favourite products on Prezola? I hope I’ve inspired you to hop on over to Prezola  to start visualising your future home together. There really is no place like…  Prezola!

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

If organising your big day is turning into a second full time job, worry not – I’ve found the perfect wedding planner…

by

Charlotte-Elise-Wedding-Planner
When your beau pops the question, he not only proposes to spend the rest of his life with you, he also nominates you to organise and conduct the biggest event of your life and then watch it play out in front of an audience of hundreds — made up of your closest friends and entire family. No pressure. Oh, and yes if you can carry on doing your normal day job at the same time Maestro, that would be great.

Sometimes it’s just not realistic to put that much pressure on yourself, your partner and your family. And that’s where a wedding planner comes in brandishing an armoury of event experience, cost spreadsheets and suppliers.

It doesn’t mean any of your creativity need be compromised — you can simply save yourself a lot of time and have someone else take on the lion’s share of the leg work and stress.

And I think that’s where today’s supplier Charlotte Elise really comes into her own. She is not only a meticulous, unflappable organiser, who is deft at dealing with family dynamics and managing different personalities, she is also a brilliant listener. The relationship between wedding planner and bride is paramount. And Charlotte understands that for the day to be successful, she needs to maintain a clear understanding of what the bride envisages and then tailor suppliers and recommendations to that tune. And keeps that level of communication going throughout.

In fact this communication is equally, if not more, important if you’re not actually that  creative at all when it comes to the visual side of things. Charlotte brings her own immaculate sense of style, her intuition and a natural leaning towards the personal touches to help find the look that represents you best as a couple. You can trust her opinions and be confident that the “final product” will be gorgeous, tasteful, and elegant.  

Charlotte Elise Wedding PlannerContinue ReadingContinue Reading

Dreaming of a Jewish wedding in the South of France? It has to be Provence…

by

Jewish-Wedding-Provence
If you’re dreaming of an outdoor wedding there’s probably no setting more stylish and idyllic than Provence. Forget the billionaires and big boats of the French Riviera, Provence is now the place to hold your Jewish wedding in the South of France.

Tuesday’s real Jewish wedding, planned by the flawless Lavender & Rose illustrated the region’s timeless elegance brilliantly, and you simply must take a peek if you haven’t already (might I just add that all the images of Provence weddings in this post are from weddings planned by the fabulous Lavender & Rose).

A lot of people think of the South of France for a destination wedding, and immediately think of the Cà´te d’Azur as the place to hold it, but there are so may reasons why, for me, Provence eclipses its glitzier neighbour.

Aside from the obvious advantage of being better value for money than the Riviera, it’s actually more of an authentically French setting. The sprawling vineyards, lavender fields, exquisite architecture, stunning al fresco venues, and exclusive hotels makes for a dream destination wedding backdrop.

There are so many beautiful Chateaus, vineyards and country houses in the region, and accommodation is far more reasonably priced than the Riviera, so it’s more economical for your guests to stay there too. The gastronomy and wines are exceptional even in the smallest of bistros and more of the venues in Provence work on a dry hire basis with less strict exclusive vendor relationships so you have more freedom in terms of which suppliers you work with.

Jewish Wedding in Provence_0036Jewish-Wedding-in-Provence_0035
Jewish Wedding in Provence
Images from Provence weddings planned by Lavender & Rose. Clockwise from top left:
Alban Pichon / Greg Finck / Alban Pichon / Greg Finck / Greg Finck / M&J Photography / Greg Finck

Continue ReadingContinue Reading