Planning a Jewish Wedding

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There are many traditions to uphold, but they are also lots of fun! So don’t worry. From the kidushin to the chuppah, we’ve got you covered. In short, a Jewish wedding is all about love, family, and commitment. They’re a beautiful blend of tradition and romance, and end with a huge party.

The ceremony for a traditional Jewish wedding generally takes place after sundown on Saturdays, or any time on Sundays. The bride and groom are not allowed to eat until after the ceremony is over.

Before the wedding takes place, the ketubah is signed by the groom, in the company of two witnesses. This is a legally binding Jewish contract, and outlines what the groom is expected to give the bride in the marriage. This includes food, clothes, marital relations, friendship, love, and communication, and outlines that all of these things are necessary to a happy union. Many ketubahs are beautiful pieces of art and are framed and hung in the home.

Next, in a tradition known as badeken, the bride’s face is veiled (usually by the groom) and a prayer is said for her. The couple hasn’t seen each other in at least 24 hours (sometimes up to 7 days) at this point, so it’s usually an emotional moment for both the bride and groom.

The ceremony takes place under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, and is officiated by a rabbi. The chuppah symbolizes the new home that the bride and groom will build together. When the ceremony is starting, the groom is led into the chuppah by the two fathers, while the bride is led by the two mothers, in a tradition called unterfirers. Finally, the bride circles the groom seven times when she arrives at the chuppah. This may come from Jeremiah 31:22 which says “A woman shall surround a man.” The number seven is said to mean perfection or completeness in the Bible.

A traditional chuppah where the Jewish bride and groom will take their vows.

A traditional Jewish wedding has two distinct parts, with the first known as the erusin (betrothal) or kiddushin (holiness). First, two blessings are given before the betrothal. The first is over a cup of wine, which the couple then tastes. The second is the betrothal blessing. Next, the groom is required to give something of value to the bride (usually a ring). The ring should be a plain gold band, to symbolize the simplicity and purity of their love. Lastly, they both exchange rings and vows.

Finally comes the part that almost everyone is familiar with…the breaking of the glass. After the rings and blessings, the groom crushes the glass (usually wrapped in cloth) with his right foot and guests shout “Mazel tov!” which means “congratulations.” In some contemporary weddings, a light bulb is used instead since it’s easier to break. This signifies that the ceremony is over and is greeted with loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

In order to complete the ceremony, seclusion is necessary, so yichud is practiced. This means leaving the bride and groom alone for 10-20 minutes in a room. It can take place in any room, from the rabbi’s study to a synagogue classroom. Husband and wife take some time away from family and friends to reflect on their new vows and the ceremony.

 

Mad Hatter Weddings

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Do you love that things are not conventional, do you love to have fun, or you just don’t want to grow up yet? Well, we have an idea just for you that is just Mad, and just like the Mad Hatter himself we’ve come up with some wacky idea for a Wedding Breakfast..

Tea

Earl Grey is the only tea to be served. It needn’t be high quality and can be of any origin, just make sure it’s Early Grey.

Sandwiches

There are three sandwiches which are appropriate for a Mad Hatters Tea Party; minted cucumber, egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, and smoked salmon and cream cheese. Cutting your sandwiches into heart shapes is cute, but would Alice approve of your allegiance to the Queen of Hearts?

The Chelsea Bun

The Chelsea bun is known predominantly for throwing, so get involved, it’s what Tea Parties are made for.

Shortbread

Height should not be discriminated against; therefore, shortbread is totally acceptable at the tea table.

Floristry

Wedding flowers perfection should be avoided at all costs. If you have a budget for plants, stick to twigs, decaying leaves and fungi.

Invitations

The maddest guests needn’t be invited, they will simply fall through the rabbit hole and stumble across your party by chance.

Dress code

Colourful, bold and avant-garde.

Hair code

No one is allowed to have similarities in wedding hair colour or style, other than that, anything goes.

Wedding Décor

Matching furniture is forbidden; the more quintessentially Wonderland, the better.

Guests

Be specific when choosing your guests based on personality, if they aren’t at least slightly crazy, they won’t fit in.

Hospitality

Being hospitable is essential. This can be achieved through planning a range of unrecognisable party games.

Weather

If you’re worried about being outside and it raining, it doesn’t matter too much as the best Mad Hatters Tea Parties are set in very little sunlight. For big budget tea parties, rain and mist machines are encouraged.

Seating

If you can’t get bums on seats, bums on anything is fine. Stools, shelves, giant mushrooms; anything goes.

Cheshire cat

One ginger cat is required as ‘purr’ its Cheshire heritage.

Timekeeping

This is banned as there is no time in wonderland. However, we would only suggest this tip as optional as if adhered to it can cause havoc, after all, you don’t want your guests to be late for this very important date.

 

Shedding some extra pounds

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Unsurprisingly, brides hope to shed extra pounds before getting married. However, perhaps more shockingly, as many as one in three will resort to crash dieting in an extreme bid to get their ideal bridal body.

The sooner you start the better. Don’t wait until the last minute to try and lose weight and then expect miracles.

You should be thinking about your diet and exercise plan as soon as you start planning a wedding, so that you don’t end up resorting to a crash diet in a bid to lose pounds at the last minute. Ideally you should aim to reach your weight loss goal within 4 weeks of your wedding, in time for the final dress fittings. That way you’ll be able to focus more on the finishing touches of the wedding planning rather than worrying about fitting into your dream dress.

Make sure you take regular exercise over the first four to six weeks for general fitness, then start to target specific areas such as your stomach, thighs and bottom. Keeping a fitness diary will also monitor your progress and help you to feel good about your achievements.

Finding the right kind of exercise regime to suit your needs and schedule can vary from a brisk walk to a full workout in the gym or an exercise video that you found online.

If you have a demanding work and life schedule that rarely allows you to fit exercise in, then try to make lifestyle swaps wherever you can. For example, ditch the car and walk to work or the shops and try to take the stairs instead of the lift – even just taking up small exercises like this will help you keep trim.

High intensity interval training (known as HIIT for short) is great for a busy bride. This consists of short bursts of intense exercise mixed in with small rests, which could benefit you more than a long session in the gym.

You need to start sweating and exercising alongside a healthy diet to make great changes to your body but this doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on a treadmill.

Above all, have fun and don’t beat yourself up if it takes a while to get the results you want. Getting fit and losing weight healthily takes time, but stick with it and you’ll feel fabulous inside and out when you finally get into that dream wedding dress.

 

The Groom should feel fabulous too

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When planning a wedding so much of the build up to the wedding is about the bride and her beauty regime, whether she decides to do her own wedding makeup or opt for amazing nail art, but what about the groom?

The groom will appear in plenty of pictures on his wedding day, so it’s important to be looking your absolute best.

Consider Your Scent

You’re pretty much guaranteed at least one kiss on your wedding day, but to guarantee you get a few more make sure you smell incredible. Look for an aftershave that comes with a matching moisturiser and shower gel – by using products that all have the same scent, the smell will be stronger. It’s also worth investing in a decent deodorant – test run it ahead of the big day!

Facial Hair

Moustache: To make sure your moustache is in perfect condition, start growing it ahead of the big day. Avoid trimming it above the lip until you’re pleased with the length, and comb through it regularly, brushing the hairs outwards.

Stubble: Designer stubble is big trend  – it’s great news if you struggle to grow a full beard, or can’t be bothered to shave regularly! To make the most of your stubble, allow the hairs to grow until it starts to feel itchy and follow the natural lines on your face to create the shape. Wet shave any of the areas that don’t fit the template. If your face is quite chiselled, fade or taper the stubble so there’s not such a defined outline.

Tight Beard: If want to be on trendy with a beardy look but can’t deal with feeling unkempt, the tight beard is for you. Keep your facial hair trimmed short for this look, as it gives a well-groomed feel. Set your trimmer to 2-3 millimetres and trim evenly all over, before wet shaving the surrounding areas for a well-defined, sharp look.

Short Long Beard: A long beard isn’t for everyone – that trend may be best left to the hipsters. A long beard can appear quite straggly so for a tidy take on the look go for the short long beard. Follow the shape of your face to style this beard and use sharp, groomed lines. Don’t let the beard go past a couple of inches below the chin and leave the hair under the chin and on the neck to grow for a fuller look.

Style Your Hair

Don’t get so caught up in your facial hair that you forget about the hair on your head. See a barber in the run up to your wedding – around two weeks before – to make sure your hair is tidy and in top condition. You may need to trim your neck and hairline just before the big day. Now is not the time to change your trusty hair products in case they don’t result in the desired effect. Stick to your usual style and products.

Get a Manicure

Consider getting a masculine manicure to make sure your nails are looking their very best for the big day. It’s quite likely that your hands will feature in a lot of photos – as you place the wedding ring on your partner’s finger, and as the two of you show off your shiny new rings after the ceremony. By getting a manicure you can make sure your nails look neat, tidy and buffed ready to be captured on camera.

 

Staying healthy for your big day

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If you are looking to prevent a cold or just want to kick-start a new healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the ways you can avoid getting sick in the run up to your wedding:

Include Probiotics in Your Diet

Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for your health and can be great for keeping a healthy lifestyle. If you are looking for a natural source of probiotics, then include yogurt into your diet – try and opt for more natural low sugar options rather than the highly sweetened variety.

Have Breakfast

Not only will having a healthy breakfast get you energised for the day, it will also stop any reckless snacking mid-morning. As your sugar levels crash you risk reaching for the sweet stuff, keep those hunger pangs at bay my making sure you have a good breakfast.

Get into a Good Hand Washing Routine

Regular hand washing can help keep germs at bay – particularly if you have friends or colleagues around you who are sick! When washing your hands. Handwashing with soap works by removing bacteria and viruses from hands before they get a chance to cause infections or spread to other people. When you wash your hands make sure you use soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Up Your Fruit and Veg Intake

Planning a wedding an sometimes feel like a full time job! So keep your body happy and healthy by giving it the right fuel – not only will you feel like you have more energy but you will also be more prepared to fight off infection. Some simple ways to up your fruit and veg intake is to add a small glass of fruit juice to your day, sprinkle some berries on your morning cereal and keep things like carrot sticks, cucumber and celery to snack on at your desk.

Drink More Water

We all know this but making sure you drink enough water is important for pretty much every aspect of your body. If you struggle to drink enough water, then consider filling up a jug and keeping it on your desk – with the aim to finish it before you leave work. If you are always on the move, then keep a bottle of water handy so you can stay hydrated throughout the day.

 

Beach wedding hair

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Are you planning a dreamy beach wedding? Once you’ve found the perfect beach wedding dress and booked an amazing seaside wedding venue, you need to start thinking about your hair.

What constitutes beachy wedding hair for you? Braids, texture with waves. A fresh unstructured playful look.

The best thing to do would be to have braids or twists in the hair, or have the hair pulled back fairly tightly. Always embrace the texture and using salt spray to add to it, perhaps have some braids around your face for some pretty detail and then it doesn’t matter so much if the rest of the hair gets a little frizzy as it adds to the look. You can also use a strong hairspray to seal the hair but it can look quite fixed so although it seals away moisture it may not fit for a relaxed look as much.

A loose chignon of some sort to keep the hair away from the face. A look with loose tendrils and texture would be ideal, nothing too fixed and neat. Then if it isn’t too structured the odd hair being blown about will add to the look and it will not look as though anything is out of place.

Hair accessories for a beach wedding would be a flower head crown– Or a few faux flowers dotted through the hair.

Beach weddings can be more relaxed than traditional ones, if its windy then embrace your long hair and let it blow over your face for a romantic look. A good wedding photographer should capture these moments to make you look like a beach gorgeous bride!!

 

Wedding Planning

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We know how important it is to make sure that your special day is also your perfect day. That being said, we’re also aware of how stressful planning a wedding in one of the U.K.’s most incredible cities is! We’ve narrowed down the lists to find you the top 5 wedding planners in London.

The Bijou Bride

– Even the ethos of this company is exactly what you’re looking for. The Bijou Bride runs off the motto “Your wedding, your rules”.

– The weddings that they produce are those of fairy tales. They have been featured in numerous magazines for their stunning creations, and the head designer was even a commentator for the Royal Wedding. They also have vendor associations for days.

– They only offer minimal packages and these guys are busy, a testament to their incredible prowess and producing some of the most glamorous weddings.

Pocketful of Dreams

– Another incredibly fashionable luxury wedding design company, Pocketful of Dreams’ founder, Michelle Kelly has been given extremely high praise and features in some of the top fashion magazines, including Vogue and Glamour.

– Pocketful of Dreams also offers fewer customizable services for the bride to be and the wedding options. This is easily made up for by the incredible vendors and venues they have at their disposal.

SnapDragon

– SnapDragon knows how to throw an unforgettable event. Many of their parties are over the top in the best way possible. They are the gurus of weddings that aren’t just weddings, but events that will be absolutely unforgettable.

– They offer specialties in Indian, Asian, and Jewish weddings and if that’s what you’re planning, you’ll be more than aware of how many details there are that must be flawlessly executed.

– They also offer destination wedding packages which are utterly fab!

My London Wedding Planner

– Lead designer Ayshea Donaldson has been featured in quite a few wedding magazines and it’s no wonder why. Her aesthetic is absolutely incredible. With bespoke luxury wedding design that speaks to a wide variety of brides, she is an up and coming star, renowned for her innovative creations of your ideal vision.

– Easy to book and excellent value for money. My London Wedding Planner has a keen sense of which vendors and venues will fit your personal style best.

Lindy Dowling

– Lindy Dowling is one of London’s unsung heroes in the wedding planner world. Her weddings are absolutely breathtaking and incredibly affordable.

– Lindy Dowling offers a wide range of packages and options available with up front pricing and a zest for finding exactly what fits you best.

– She has been referred to as “professional and personable”, ready to help at any moment, but also great when it comes to getting you the best deal for your needs.

 

Make your music work for you

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You don’t just want any old band playing any old song. You want a wedding band that feels unique to you. Here’s how you can ensure that you have a special performance on your big day.

Get Them to Change the Lyrics

So simple but oh so effective! Yes, you can simply ask for your wedding band to change the lyrics of your song! And by ‘your song’, we mean the song that is special to yourself and your partner, not Elton John’s classic, because to be honest that does not need changing at all. Okay, fine, I guess you can change it if you like. It is your wedding after all!

Request a Song

With a wedding band, requesting a song is a tad harder than with a wedding DJ. If you’re not the kind of person to plan too far ahead (you are planning a wedding so it seems unlikely), then you could hire a DJ for the evening and request a song with no doubt at all that your DJ will be able to play it, however with a wedding band, it takes a bit more planning. Make sure you get in contact in good time before the wedding itself and most wedding bands are more than happy to accommodate your request.

Dress Up

Although it’s not their favourite thing in the world, depending on the costume of course, wedding bands are occasionally asked to dress up to fit the theme of a wedding. Perhaps you’re a massive Alice in Wonderland fan wanting a trio of Mad Hatters, or maybe you want them all dressed in pink. Whatever it is, it’s always worth asking to ensure that your wedding is exactly how you imagined it all those years ago!

Surprise!

Surprises at weddings always go down brilliantly but pulling this off requires either the bride or groom to contact the band in advance. Of course, that’s not always the case, as Maroon 5 simply turned up to a whole host of weddings without apparently telling anybody involved in any of them. Generally speaking wedding music shouldn’t just do what they want to do. That’s not how it works.

Write a Song

This is probably the most expensive option on the list but also, if you get it right, the one that puts your wedding far and away above everyone else’s in terms of romance. Yes, you could get together with the band in advance and write a song about your soon to be husband or wife. And then you sing it on the big day! The downsides to this plan include the fact that it may be horrendously cheesy and, err, there might be a reason you’re not fronting a band, but if your partner enjoys it then it’s well worth doing!

 

Weddings for everyone

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Wedding ceremonies are all about sharing. While the big day ultimately belongs to you, the couple getting hitched, it’s also a special and significant moment for the people who know and love you best. So, how can you involve your guests to make your wedding day into a truly shared experience for everyone? Here are some great wedding ideas.

Ceremonial rituals

For centuries, people have used rituals to help cement their unions. One relatively new wedding ritual is the lighting of the unity candle, where close family members of the betrothed couple light a separate candle each before the ceremony. The newlyweds then take their respective candles and bring them together to light one single flame.

In a twist to include everyone in your new union, you could hold a version of this ceremony in reverse, letting each guest light a candle of their own from your united flame.

Confetti throwing

Showering confetti over the happy couple is another time-honoured wedding ritual. Make sure everyone is prepared for the big moment by handing out confetti dispensers like wands or cannons to all your guests. (This is a job that you can delegate to a trustworthy member of the wedding party)! Alternatively, why not set up a ‘confetti bar’ beforehand, so that everyone can mix and match their own unique concoction?

Music mixtape

Once you’re on the dancefloor, you’ll want everyone to come and join the party. Why not make everyone feel included by playing one song for each guest? (You can ask them to nominate their chosen track when they RSVP to your invitation). The DJ can announce any special dedications or significant songs with comments from the nominator. The mixtape approach will make your reception into a truly communal experience that everyone will appreciate.

Photo opportunities

Posing for wedding photos is the perfect opportunity to get everyone involved while creating some stunning shots! You could set up an aerial shot and get everyone to stand in formation to make a heart shape or a word. Or if you have suitable space, why not lead everyone in a procession around the grounds of your wedding venue? It’ll be a special, shared experience to cherish, and you’ll be able to treasure some ‘action shots’ of all your guests together.

Like and share

It’s also good to give your guests somewhere they can all share their respective photos of the day. Wedding apps like WedPics allow your guests to upload all their snaps to one central place, making sure you don’t miss a thing! Alternatively, set up a Facebook event for your wedding day. This will ensure that everyone can communicate and stay in touch after the big day, if they so wish.

 

Asian Weddings

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Around the world, weddings are planned with varying degrees of cultural tradition and innovation, supplying boundless avenues of inspiration. Asian-inspired ceremonies, for example, can add some truly unique and festive beauty. Take a look at these Asian wedding planning ideas for some noteworthy insight.

Haldi Ceremony

Haldi, the Hindi word for turmeric, has a place in many Indian traditions, one of the most sacred being weddings. On the morning of the ceremony, the couple is coated in a vibrant paste made of haldi and other ingredients, such as oil, rosewater, or sandalwood.

The messy yet fun ritual serves many purposes: It wards off evil spirits, provides an all-natural beauty treatment, and serves to avert those pesky wedding-day jitters. While traditionally the bride and groom perform the rituals separately at their respective homes, a modern take on the haldi observance has the couple do it together and incorporate the paste into the entire ceremony.

Mehndi Ceremony

Mehndi has grown in popularity in the Western world over the last several decades. Mehndi is the art of body painting with henna paste, typically in ornate and elaborate designs. Application generally takes place right before the ceremony and is applied to both the bride and groom. Today the designs know no bounds, ranging from depictions of Indian gods, to a couple’s portraits, to cartoon characters.

Applying mehndi is one of the oldest Indian traditions and is considered a good omen for the couple. Friends and family get together and make this ritual a highly celebrated and joyous event. The longer the mehndi retains its colour, the more felicitous it is thought to be for the newlyweds.

Beautiful Wedding Mandap Decors

A mandap is a pillared structure at the front of a wedding venue under which a couple is married, typically seen in Hindu or Jain weddings. The mandap is highly symbolic, with four pillars meant to pay homage to the couple’s four parents. This is also where the couple is officially joined in matrimony and spend their first moments as married partners.

Decorated mandaps add a beautiful focal point to any wedding and are vital in traditional Indian ceremonies. Couples often incorporate fresh wedding flowers, intricate lighting, and vivid colours. While traditional mandaps are constructed of wood, a number of different materials and fabrics are used in modern weddings.

Wedding Entertainment

Asian wedding ceremonies employ different types of entertainment. Some couples opt for a classic sound system and others for live music. The bride’s entry song is of great importance, and today couples elect anything from old school songs like “Karunesh” by Punjab to “Latika’s Theme Song” from Slumdog Millionaire.

Many ceremonies also include traditional singing and dancing. Traditional ceremonies will include a handful of separate occasions where music plays an important role. Choosing the right musicians, bands, or singers should be given attention.

Because Asian weddings are known for their grandiosity and elegance, special dancers for the ceremony are quite common. Partner and folk dances are incorporated at different times of the event to celebrate and kick off the festivities. Professional dancers are an extravagant yet tasteful addition.