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Going Pear-Shaped: Why Pear Is THE Diamond Shape of 2023 for Engagement Rings {with Keyzar Jewelry}

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Alright, hands up – how many of you out there are sneaking peeks at STG while waiting to get engaged? No worries, we’ve all been there – and we’ve got you covered when it comes to picking 2023’s hottest diamond shape. 

Move over, round cuts and emeralds – pear-shaped engagement rings are having a serious moment, and we are here for it! This elegant and unexpected shape has so much going for it – and we were so thrilled to be able to chat all about pears with the experts at Keyzar Jewelry. 

Keyzar is a fabulous jewelry company on a mission to revolutionize online jewelry shopping. Their goal is to make you a co-designer of your own heirloom jewelry, using their website to create exactly the piece you want. 

We love Keyzar’s commitment to using state-of-the-art technology to make each and every piece to order as much as we love their seriously gorgeous selection of engagement rings. Plus, did we mention that Keyzar is Israel-founded and Jewish-owned? Doesn’t get much better than that!

But back to those pears – pear-shaped engagement rings are sparkly, stunning, and so in this year. If that’s not enough, these brilliant stones look larger carat for carat than round diamonds, making them the perfect pick for anyone who wants to size up their sparkle – and pears are generally more affordable, too. Plus, the versatility of the shape means pear cuts look great in vintage or modern settings. 

Read on for some of our very favorite pear-shaped engagement ring options from Keyzar Jewelry – whether you want something simple or ornate, classic or contemporary, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something to love.

The Naomi

We love the juxtaposition between Naomi’s simple band and elegantly decorated shoulders, beautifully paired with round and pear-cut side stones connecting to an opulent hidden halo.

The Lindsey

Lindsey is another gorgeous hidden halo-style engagement ring, and what a stunner it is! Half of the band features marquise and round cut diamonds packed in shared prongs, and this heirloom-quality piece epitomizes modern timelessness. 

The Crown Kamellie

There’s something about a solitaire engagement ring. The impact of that one central stone is modest and exuberant all at once. The Crown Kamellie is an especially great choice to match with eternity rings and wedding bands. 

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Meet Calleo, a New Kind of Guest Book for Your Jewish Wedding

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Ah, the wedding guest book… one of those classic wedding traditions that sounds beautiful in theory – keeping a memento of all the loved ones who joined you to celebrate your big day! – but in reality all too often feels a little tired.

Happily, these days there’s a great new alternative to the old-school guest book, one that lets you capture those precious well-wishes and words of wisdom in a fun, contemporary way that isn’t the least bit stodgy: a Calleo Audio Guest Book.

Vintage Voice Notes

A Calleo Audio Guest Book phone is a vintage-style telephone where your guests can record voicemails – think voice notes for your wedding.

Jewish weddings are ALL about the emotion, and there’s something about hearing a loved one’s voice that conveys all their love, hopes, and dreams for you on your wedding day in a way the written word might not. 

Plus, while old-fashioned guest books tend to bring out standard wedding greetings, a Calleo Audio Guest Book is the perfect thing to set your guests at ease to let loose – so you may end up with anything from an embarrassing story to a song from your oldest school pals!

After the wedding, every voicemail left is compiled into your very own Audio Guest Book, which can be presented in various ways, from an engraved USB to a vinyl record!

Being able to not only read the words but hear the emotion your guests felt on your special day makes the most wonderful memento to cherish in the years to come.

Choose Your Color

And while obviously we’re all about substance over style, it doesn’t hurt that Calleo does, in fact, let you capture those precious memories in an aesthetically pleasing way that won’t clash with your wedding décor.

Your guests will record their messages on picturesque vintage-style telephones available in a range of shades to match any color scheme, from Lily (cream) to Fern (green) to Poppy (bright red).

Treasured Memories

At Jewish weddings, it’s always such a privilege when grandparents are able to attend – and a Calleo Audio Guest Book is an especially poignant way to capture the voices and happiness of beloved elderly relatives.

One Calleo client couple, Corrine and Greg, lost their grandfather just a few days after their wedding. And while of course nothing can take away from the sadness of their lost, they’ve found a lot of comfort in listening to the message he’d left on their Calleo phone, hearing his voice and the great joy he clearly felt celebrating their marriage.  

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Why We Love Kimpton Clocktower Hotel for Manchester Jewish Weddings

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If you’re planning a Jewish wedding in Manchester, UK, there’s no better place to do it than the fabulous Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, an extraordinary luxury hotel where Victorian grandeur meets contemporary elegance. 

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is such a breath of fresh air to have a venue option combining the chicest of surroundings with rich Jewish wedding expertise. Grounded in history matched with peerless contemporary style, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s events team has the knowledge and experience to ensure every aspect of your day runs flawlessly.

A JEWISH WEDDING AT KIMPTON CLOCKTOWER HOTEL

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is truly the perfect venue for an urban glam Jewish wedding right in the heart of Manchester. Every inch of the property is steeped in 19th century history: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is housed in a magnificent terracotta Grade ll-listed building, complete with oak panelling, dramatic chandeliers, and high ceilings.

I’m obsessed with Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s array of swoonworthy spaces filled with character, with plenty of options for building your perfect day whatever the size and style of your big day. For a big bash (we’re talking up to 700 guests!), there’s no place better than the majestic ballroom, perfect for entertaining and dancing the night away.

Or for something a bit more intimate,  natural light pours through the stunning double-height windows of The Whitworth Rooms, creating magical moments for your wedding ceremony.

The intimate oak panelled Directors’ Suites offer a luxurious space for smaller celebration meals or your badeken, while the Post Room is the perfect location for a tisch.

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How to Craft Your Perfect Interfaith or Jew-ish Wedding Ceremony {with 18Doors}

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Photo by @paramountsight

If you’re planning an interfaith ceremony – or a not-so-traditional Jewish one – it can be hard to know where to start. The fact that there’s no set template to follow can be freeing, but it can also be overwhelming. 

That’s why I’m so excited to share a wonderful wedding ceremony planning tool designed specifically for couples planning interfaith and/or unconventional Jewish weddings. 18Doors, a wonderful nonprofit organization that supports interfaith Jewish couples and families, has launched a DIY Wedding Ceremony Script Builder that makes it easy to explore the key traditions of a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. With the tool, you can figure out which Jewish traditions speak to you – and which might not – to craft a ceremony that feels true to who you are as a couple, and as a new Jew-ish family. 

If you’ve opted to have a friend or relative officiate your wedding instead of a rabbi or cantor with experience in advising ceremony structure, the wedding ceremony script builder is an invaluable tool.  And did I mention that it’s 100% free to use?!

Photo by Charlotte Watts Photography 

How It Works

To get started, you’ll have access to short videos explaining different components of the Jewish wedding ceremony featuring real footage submitted by interfaith couples from their own Jew-ish weddings. You’ll not only get a brief overview of what the tradition is and what it symbolizes, but you’ll also be able to see modern spins couples have chosen to put on them. 

Once you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the traditions and think what might be good to include in your own wedding, you’ll fill out a short form before being directed to the custom script builder. This tool was created by 18Doors with generous funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. 

Photo by @1028photo

The custom script builder tool will allow you to choose traditions you wish to include to your script, and offer multiple text options for your officiant for each tradition. With a few simple clicks, you can build your ceremony from start to finish and hand it off to your officiant. Whether you’re looking to go modern or traditional, to speak to classical Jewish symbolism or more universal motifs, you’ll be able to choose language that reflects your relationship and the marriage you’re creating. 

Photo by Lacey Gabrielle

For example, as an introductory remark under the chuppah, the script builder presents three different text options:

Option A

________ and ________ stand underneath this chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, today as a symbol of the home they have built and will continue to build together. The chuppah reminds us of the Jewish patriarch Abraham and matriarch Sarah who opened their tent to welcome in anyone who passed by. Today, this couple invites you to witness one of the most transitional moments in their lives as they combine their families into one. May they be blessed in doing so under this holy structure.

Option B

In all Jewish weddings, the chuppah acts as a temporary structure that reminds us of how far the Jewish people have come from nomadic times in search of permanence. Today the chuppah shows the community’s supportive role in celebrating this marriage, as this couple creates a permanence in their relationship today. May _____ and ______ build their home in a way that mirrors this chuppah, and allows them to continue to be open to the community that surrounds them.

Option C

Surrounded by those you love, and who love and support you both, you stand underneath this chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, the symbol of the home. This home, a unique blend of each of your backgrounds and cultures, is open on all sides, welcoming others to enter into our lives and reminding us that we are part of a larger community. May your home be a shelter against the storm, a haven of peace, a stronghold of faith and love.

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How to Choose Your Ketubah {with Danny Azoulay}

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The absolutely enormous variety of ketubahs out there can overwhelm even the most know-what they-want, self-assured kind of couple—let alone the rest of us. But choosing your ketubah doesn’t have to stressful – and with a few helpful tips, it can be one of the most meaningful and enjoyable parts of your planning process.

We asked internationally acclaimed Israel-based ketubah artist Danny Azoulay, who has been designing ketubahs for years, for some guidance on how to choose the right ketubah, one that reflects your shared vision and aesthetics as a couple and speaks to all the hopes and dreams you bring to your married life. Danny shared some truly great advice, so if you’ve yet to select your ketubah, do read on!

Get Started

As a first step, Danny suggests narrowing the field. Limiting your search from the beginning by asking yourself these basic questions can help you avoid getting overwhelmed. You’ll probably find you have a good idea what you like and what you don’t care for as much, so a try to not get waylaid with choices that will utterly throw you off course.

First off, think about the style you prefer. Are you looking for:

  1. Something classic
  2. A traditional design
  3. Contemporary
  4. Eclectic

Then, figure out your color scheme:

  1. Soft palette: pastels
  2. Whites and off-whites
  3. Bold colors
  4. Metallic embellishments; gold or silver

Stay on Budget

First, the good news: there are beautiful ketubahs available to suit all budgets, so no matter how much or little you have to spend, you can find something beautiful and meaningful.

But, if ketubahs are your thing and you have a little wiggle room in your budget, Danny suggests that this might be an area where you’ll want to splurge a little. After all, your ketubah is one of the few things from your wedding that you’ll get to take home with you after the celebrations are over—and so many STG couples proudly display their ketubah as a piece of art in a prominent place in their home.

Narrow It Down

Another suggestion of Danny’s is, after you have narrowed your search, to place your 3-4 semi-finalists side by side—either as printouts or on the screen. Seeing one next to the other really can prove helpful in being able to reach a decision, or at least at narrowing it down to the finalists.

Now, you need to ask yourself, which one do you want to live with and look at for the rest of your life (Sounds familiar, right?).  After a day or two, return to that question with fresh eyes one more time to be sure of your decision.

Work Together

When you make your choice, it’s not just the final result that matters; you’ll also want to think about what the process of creating your dream ketubah will be like. Remember to pick a company or artist that is professional; one you’ll be able to work with easily and who has good lines of communication. Danny Azoulay says this is a major consideration:  “The process of text and personalization requires that your ketubah maker be aware of all the possible pitfalls involved with different text requirements, and especially about timeline.” He also encourages couples to contact the artist they’re considering and feel them out before committing.

Choose Your Text

Now to the most important part: the text. When figuring out your ketubah text, the first thing you’ll need to do is check with your rabbi or officiant. They may have a set text they require to use.

If that’s not the case for you, you’ll have some choices to make. You can search for a text that is representative of their beliefs, values and view of the life you will create together as a couple. You could also consider writing your own text.

Regardless, if you’ve found an artist you like, be sure to check out the texts that artist can provide, and how flexible they are when it comes to using custom text. No matter how gorgeous their art, if they can’t work with the text you need it’s not a fit.

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