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Home > Tzahi Shemesh Photography

A BHLDN Bride for a Laid-Back American-Israeli Jewish Wedding with a Touch of Glam at Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, Israel

16/10/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Kelly and Guy, Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, Israel

We love a multicultural Jewish wedding – and American bride Kelly and Israeli groom Guy, who both work in the Tel Aviv tech scene – had one of the best!

The couple wanted to use their big day as a chance to share their love of Israel with loved ones from abroad, and Al HaYam in Sdot Yam was the perfect place to do just that. With some help from their wedding producer Vanessa Events, they crafted a day that perfectly blended the duo’s Israeli and American backgrounds, from the food to the music to the traditions. Don’t miss it all in the wonderful images by Tzahi Shemesh.

One thing we especially love is the unique touches Kelly and Guy’s rabbi helped them add into their ketubah signing: each family member shared one word they wanted to bless the marriage with, then poured their glass of wine into a shared carafe that the pair drank from during our ceremony. How special is that?

This day was filled with so many beautiful details – read on for the full story in Kelly’s own words…

Kelly and Guy, Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, IsraelKelly and Guy, Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, IsraelKelly and Guy, Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, IsraelKelly and Guy, Al HaYam, Sdot Yam, Israel

How We Met

Kelly, the bride: I moved to Tel Aviv from the U.S. almost seven years ago, planning to stay for just three months. But as my dad said in his wedding speech, I ended up falling in love twice — once with Israel, and once with Guy.

About three years after the move, we matched on Bumble. It was still during covid, so for our first date, we took an illegal walk around the block. From the moment we started talking, we never really stopped. We’re both night owls, so we’d walk or sit in the park for hours, talking until nearly sunrise. Three years later, Guy proposed on a trip to Greece.

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A Mia Pava Bride for a Joyous Jewish Wedding at Olmaya, Jerusalem, Israel

07/04/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Jerusalem is such a special place to get married – Tamar and Noam’s big day at Olmaya, featuring a stunning outdoor chuppah with majestic views of the Old City, is really something else.

This was such an iconically only-in-Israel wedding, and we are all about it. Tamar and Noam chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they couldn’t have been any more thrilled with the results – take a scroll through his incredible, heartfelt images and you’ll see why. Plus, the couple can’t stop raving about how much they loved working with him, and how comfortable and fun he made their wedding day photos!

Tamar chose the most gorgeous gown by Israeli designer Mia Pava, and we can’t get enough of her beautiful, whimsical bridal style.

Read on for all the details in the bride’s own words…


How We Met

Tamar, the bride: We met in eighth grade when Noam moved to Philadelphia!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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A Magical Forest Pacific Northwest-Meets-Israel Jewish Wedding at HaGiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

27/03/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Shachaf and Josh, HaGiva in Givat Brenner, Israel

Get ready for a truly magical wedding! Pacific Northwest couple Shachaf, who works in ticketing, development, and behind the scenes at the historic Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, WA, and Josh, who works as an educational content editor for a Jewish non-profit, had the most incredible magical forest-inspired Jewish wedding at HaGiva in Israel.

Shachaf was a member of our Brides Club, and we’re so thrilled to hear her kind words about the group:

I don’t think I have ever felt more supported and heard than meeting with Karen during 1-on-1’s and I loved getting to know and learning from other brides who were going through the same process as me. Seeing them go through the process ahead of me gave me so much encouragement! I cannot thank Karen enough for all of her support and inspiration!

Karen also referred Shachaf and Josh to their wedding planner, Yana, owner of Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Craspedia Events. In Shacahf’s words,

Yana is one of the kindest, most hard working, intelligent, and determined people I have ever met. She works around the clock, always makes you feel as though you are the only bride on her plate. I’m very lucky to have been recommended not just a perfect wedding planner, but now a life long friend.

Yana helped Shachaf and Josh plan the PNW wedding in Israel of their dreams, with tons of whimsy and character – don’t miss all the fun details like the moss-and-mushroom centerpieces!

The couple chose Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they couldn’t be more thrilled with their choice. In Shachaf’s words,

It was clear that Tzahi was going to bring an amazing energy to the wedding, and he did exactly that! He brought a contagious smile and endless energy that lasted until our goodbyes at the end of the night!

Read on for all the fabulous details of this magical day in the bride’s own words…

Shachaf and Josh, HaGiva in Givat Brenner, Israel Shachaf and Josh, HaGiva in Givat Brenner, IsraelShachaf and Josh, HaGiva in Givat Brenner, Israel Shachaf and Josh, HaGiva in Givat Brenner, Israel

How We Met

Shachaf, the bride: We met at the end of 2020 when we were both in transition periods in our life. We both found ourselves temporarily under the roof of our Chabad on Campus rabbi, and we quickly became close. The rest is history!Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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A Canada-Meets-Israel Jewish Wedding by the Sea at Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel

10/02/2025 by Karen Cinnamon

Jaymie and Gilad, Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel

Have we got a stunner of a Jewish wedding for you today! Canadian bride Jaymie wed Israeli groom Gilad in the most magnificent seaside wedding bringing together the pair’s different backgrounds.

Jaymie and Gilad picked one of Israel’s most picturesque venues, Bait Al Hayam, which they loved for its epic beach views and Tel Aviv location. Their outdoor chuppah, held against the sparkling backdrop of the Mediterranean – is truly something to behold.

The couple picked Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh to photograph their day, and they could not have made a better choice – Tzahi captured everything from the love between the couple to the majestic setting to the details of the day so perfectly in his luminous, artistic images.

Now over to Jaymie!

Jaymie and Gilad, Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, IsraelJaymie and Gilad, Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel Jaymie and Gilad, Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel Jaymie and Gilad, Bait Al Hayam, Tel Aviv, Israel
How We Met

Jaymie, the bride: I came to Israel to study medicine and we met online.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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A Vera Wang Bride for an Israeli-American Jewish Wedding at Hagiva, Givat Brenner, Israel

27/05/2024 by Karen Cinnamon

Alexa-and-Nitay-Hagiva-Givat-Brenner-Israel

If you can’t get enough of Israeli weddings, we’ve got a treat for you! The fabulous Jewish wedding of Alexa and Nitay, at gorgeous Hagiva, has all the things we love about weddings in Israel: a gorgeous outdoor setting filled with greenery and Jerusalem stone, gorgeous chuppah, Israeli food and music, and, of course, epic party vibes.

Nitay is Israeli, while Alexa is American – and the pair perfectly combined the best of both wedding traditions to make sure everyone felt comfortable and included on the day. They turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Vanessa Ohayon to help bring their vision to life – and did she ever! In Alexa’s words,

Vanessa is a true professional at what she does. When we first met Vanessa, we connected instantly and she understood our vision from the start. Vanessa brings her amazing energy into every detail of any wedding. She had a solution for everything and when there were any hiccups (there are always hiccups), she knew how to bring us down to earth and find the best way to handle them. We couldn’t have done it without her!

We’re also obsessed with the couple’s exquisite photos by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tzahi Shemesh. Have a scroll through and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree with Alexa’s assessment:

He made us laugh, feel comfortable, and most importantly, captured our “in the moment” memories. Him and his team were at every angle and made sure to not miss a thing! He is an artist and makes us relive our special day every time we look back at the photos. They’re magnificent!

There are so many more fabulous details to share about this very special wedding – we’ll turn you over to the bride, who looked timelessly elegant in Vera Wang, to fill you in…

Alexa-and-Nitay-Hagiva-Givat-Brenner-IsraelAlexa-and-Nitay-Hagiva-Givat-Brenner-Israel Alexa-and-Nitay-Hagiva-Givat-Brenner-IsraelAlexa-and-Nitay-Hagiva-Givat-Brenner-Israel
How We Met

Alexa, the bride: Nitay and I both lived in Chicago after college. We had many mutual friends who all met up one night to go out in January 2017. Nitay approached me the second he saw me and made sure he didn’t leave without getting my number! Later that week we went on our first date to a sushi restaurant. The rest is history 🙂Continue ReadingContinue Reading

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