Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > sponsored post > Page 7

Why a Wedding Podcast Is the New Must-Have Jewish Wedding Keepsake

by

    

If you’re engaged, you’re almost certainly planning to book a professional photographer. You may well be looking for a videographer to capture your day in live action, too. But have you considered a wedding podcast?

Even if you’re an avid podcast listener, chances are you haven’t considered recording your own. But wedding podcasts are a new way to capture those precious wedding memories, from the beginning of your love story all the way through to the big day. 

And we love that Story Locker, a one-of-a-kind UK podcast recording service, has made it so easy and accessible for couples to craft a personal one-off podcast celebrating their love. It’s the perfect souvenir to cherish for years to come – and to share with family and friends so they can take part in all the love and joy of this exciting moment in your lives together – and they’ve got a special 15% discount for members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!

Why Record a Wedding Podcast?

A wedding podcast is a fabulous new tool to capture the excitement and warm memories of your engagement and wedding. It’s a perfect complement to your wedding photography and videography, as unlike those more traditional means of capturing your special day, a wedding podcast allows you to capture more than just your wedding day itself. 

On your wedding podcast, you’ll have the chance to tell the whole story of your relationship from the very beginning. It’s a new and unique way to create a digital legacy in your own voice, one you’ll cherish for years to come. 

How It Works

With Story Locker, you can record a studio-quality personal podcast, recorded with a professional interviewer – no experience or access to cutting-edge recording equipment required! 

First off, you can choose whether you want to record your podcast before the big day, with a focus on your story as a couple from first date to engagement and wedding planning, or after, which means you’ll be able to include memories of your wedding day itself, too. 

You’ll also have a chance to decide whether you’d like to record a 45-, 60-, or 90-minute podcast. 

Then, you’ll get to choose one of Story Locker’s top-tier professional interviewers – who’ve worked at the BBC, Radio One, The Guardian, ITV, Channel, 4, Heart FM, Sky, Netflix, Capital FM and more – to record with you. You’ll have a chance to schedule a 30-minute video call with your chosen interviewer so you can get to know each other prior to recording. 

You’ll record your wedding podcast from the comfort of your own home (you’ll need a laptop or a desktop PC with either a Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser), and Story Locker will send you a studio microphone and headsets (which are yours to keep). A tech producer will ensure quality and attention to detail. 

Then, the best part: you’ll receive your very own professionally edited wedding podcast, complete with a curated music overlay, plus two soundbites from your podcast to share on your socials! Your podcast will be stored safely in your own Story Locker, along with show notes and photos illustrating your love story. 

You’ll have the opportunity to make changes to the recording if you wish – and once it’s all finalized, you’ll be able to share your podcast with friends and family, via a dedicated QR code Story Locker will supply. 

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Giveaway: Win a Yamakopter, the Original Novelty Kippah with a Spinning Propeller!

by

We love a fun spin (pun totally intended) on Jewish tradition… and no one does it better than the team behind Yamakopter, the original novelty kippah with a spinning propeller!

The creativity and whimsy Yamakopter brings to the traditional Jewish head covering is so special, and we’re thrilled to be teaming up over on our Your Jewish Life Instagram to give away one Yamakopter each to FIVE lucky winners!

Perfect as a fun Hanukkah gift or an easy Purim costume – or a great way to get kids (or adults!) excited about this aspect of Jewish tradition – every Yamakopter is handmade with love and includes a free sticker and hair clip.


⠀

Yamakopters are handmade in the US from high-quality suede material and a drone-quality propeller. They come in Rainbow, Blue, Red, or Black – and each of our lucky winners will be able to pick the color combo of their choice! Please note that due to small parts, Yamakopters are not suitable for young children.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Jewish Joy + Positivity ✡︎ | Karen Cinnamon (@yourjewishlife)

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Your Name, Your Way: Everything You Need to Know about Changing Your Name in the UK 

by

Lyubov and Juan‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Fergie Medar Photography 

If you’re a bride-to-be, chances are people have started asking you whether you’re planning to change your name once you’re married. Even today in 2023, when changing your name is very much a choice, this can be a fraught topic. 

But the good news is, it is a choice. And you’ve got lots of options, far beyond just keeping your original name or changing over to your spouse’s. Personally, I opted to stick with “Cinnamon” professionally, but double barrel with my new surname legally and in my personal life. 

Ella-Joel-Offley-Place-UK

Ella and Joel‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Matt Parry 

I sat down with NameSwitch, who I wish was around back when I got married, to go over the most popular choices and some of the things you might want to consider as you make your decision. NameSwitch are the only UK based company to offer such a unique name-changing service that makes it so much easier.

No one knows more about the ins and outs of changing your name in the UK than NameSwitch – and if you do decide to make a change, their streamlining service can save you hours of research and admin. NameSwitch’s extensive knowledge and liaison with government bodies ensures you get it right the first time, and their UK-based customer service team is always on hand to help. And as a Smashing The Glass reader, you’ve got access to a £5 discount off any NameSwitch  package – just enter the code “SMASHING-FIVE” at checkout. 

Funfetti-Jewish-wedding-The-Rattlesnake-Club-Detroit-Michigan-USA

Amy and Andrew‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Mike Staff Productions 

9 of the Most Popular UK Name Change Options

These days, we’re lucky to have such a range of choices when it comes to changing your name (or not). I’ve put together a list of nine of the most popular choices, from double-barrelling to picking a totally new surname for the both of you. 

  1. Keep your given name.
  2. Take your spouse’s name.
  3. Have your spouse take your name.
  4. Take your spouse’s name legally, but keep your given name professionally.
  5. Make your given surname your middle name and take your spouse’s last name.
  6. Take each other’s surname as your middle name.
  7. Double-barrelling your names.
  8. Blend your last names into a new hybrid name.
  9. Create a totally new last name.

Obviously, some of these options are more common, while others – like creating a totally new last name for the two of you – may raise a few eyebrows. But the most important thing is to make the choice that feels right to you and your partner – after all, this is the name you’ll proudly carry for the rest of your life!

Darah-Yoni-La-Quinta-Country-Club-California-USA

Darah and Yoni‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Michael Segal

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

How to Plan a Stress-Free Jewish Wedding Your Way {with Events by Natasha}

by

Photo by Rafe Abrook

Wedding planning is such an exciting time in your life – but there’s no denying that it can be stressful, too. Between decision overload, family drama, budget challenges, and more, it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the details and lose focus on the big picture: you’re marrying the love of your life!

It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s not always easy, but with some smart decisions you can keep wedding planning joyful and, yes, low-stress – and I sat down with Natasha Levine of Events by Natasha, one of London’s top Jewish wedding planners, to chat through some top strategies for keeping wedding planning fun and drama-free.

In her years in the wedding industry, Natasha’s seen it all – and I’m so happy she’s sharing her hard-earned wisdom with us. 

Photo by David Pullum Photography

Top Tips for Low-Stress Wedding Planning    

When I asked Natasha for her very biggest tips to keep wedding planning stress-free, she shared four bits of wisdom – all of which speak to some of the most common struggles I hear from Jewish brides and grooms. 

First off, when it comes to selecting suppliers and planning various elements of the day, break it down and isolate each element. If you look at the big picture, it can be very overwhelming, but focusing on one individual component at a time feels much more manageable.

Second, try to not take on board too many opinions from friends and family members. It’s natural that your loved ones will want to help and guide you as best they can, but everyone has different experiences, tastes, and expectations. What might be a wonderful band for one couple might not be the best for another. Too many opinions can lead to confusion, overwhelm, and stress.  

I wasn’t at all surprised when Natasha reported that the most common wedding planning stressor among her couples is family. So many of us have a natural desire to keep the peace and try to please all the major players in the big day – but sometimes that’s just not possible, and letting go of that need to satisfy everyone is one of the hardest yet most essential steps toward a joyful wedding planning experience. 

Photo by David Pullum Photography

Third, delegate where possible. Don’t take on too much of the planning yourselves if you don’t have to. Ask a trusted family member to help source some suppliers or assist in gathering names and addresses for sending out invitations. Alternatively, you could hire a professional like Natasha to assist you with the entire planning production – a great planner will always be on hand at the other end of the phone, and they’ve got years of experience and contacts that can smooth the process (and save you money, too).

Finally, take breaks. Even with the best of intentions wedding planning can be overwhelming at times, and it’s important to remember to take breaks and engage in activities that help you relax and rejuvenate. It could be spending time with your partner, going for a spa day with your girlfriends, a weekend away, or any fun days out in your nearest city.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

My Weekend in Kosher Paradise at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas

by

I couldn’t have imagined back in 2019, as a member of Brides Club planning my own Jewish wedding, that one day I would be a part of the incredible team here at Smashing the Glass. As luck would have it, I joined the team back in 2020, and these last three years as a Features Writer have been such a blast. This July, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to take part in the Kosher Fam weekend, sponsored by the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas with other amazing Jewish influencers and to see what it was like to spend a proper Shabbat in the Caribbean. 

The First Kosher Restaurant in the Caribbean 

What makes a stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar so unique is that it boasts the first 100% certified kosher restaurant in all of the Caribbean as well as a fully kosher food truck and other kosher options throughout the resort. Cinko, their Asian Latino fusion inspired restaurant, is not only kosher, but each dish is so unique and delicious that you could have a new item on the menu for every meal in a week and still not run out of tasty options to try. One evening for dinner, I ordered the Korean beef kimchi tacos, the salmon ceviche, and for my main course a stunning red snapper in an aji amarillo and coconut Thai sauce with succulent bites of yuca.

Shabbat Accommodations at a 5 Star Hotel

Whenever I’ve traveled and need to account for Shabbat or kosher meals, it’s usually whatever pre-packaged options I have on hand. I’ve never seen the luxury of a 5-star hotel take into consideration its kosher guests with such preparation and care. Cinko closes its doors to general hotel guests every Friday night through Saturday unless you make special reservations for Shabbat dinner and takeaway lunch, securing your kosher meals ahead of time. 

From Cinko’s candle lighting setup and hand washing station, to the beautiful Shabbat table with challah and wine the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar thinks of everything in making sure all you need is accounted for and you can just enjoy the beautiful Shabbat feast that’s been pre-prepared. Shabbat lunch is just as thoughtful with takeaway boxes filled with scrumptious food, and your own personal challah roll and grape juice for kiddush. The local Chabad Rabbi also has wonderful resources online and does his best to gather a minyan for Shabbat every week. 

Continue ReadingContinue Reading