Newlywed Debriefs
Newlywed Debriefs are where our just-married members go live inside the Brides Club Facebook group and share all their newfound wisdom about what worked, what didn't, and their top advice to brides-to-be, so that we can all learn from not only their best tips, but possibly their regrets (if any).
Newlywed members cover topics from wedding dress shopping to choosing vendors, putting the chuppah ceremony together, number of guests, timing, scheduling, the role of family and in-laws, budget and spending, any regrets, and what (if anything) DIDN’T go to plan and how did the bride overcame the problem(s)
AMY BECKER - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
You may know Amy from her incredible food blog and Instagram account What Jew Wanna Eat. Well she’s a much-loved Brides Club (and now Smashing Life) member too, and here’s her Newlywed Debrief!
In her own words, “We had a Rainbow Gold Glitter Day! A four month engagement for a Jewish wedding in Detroit (destination for us) wedding in September 2019. Plus, flower and hair drama!”
DAVINA Z - DESTINATION WEDDING IN ISRAEL
Davina planned a destination Wedding in Israel from London (with her planner in Israel). She is Swiss and her now husband is Australian and got married in September 2019. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club and has now graduated into Smashing Life.
ALIZA MUCHA - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Aliza is from South Florida and got married in Boca Raton, Florida in January 2020. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
JAIME MOROCCO - INTERFAITH JEWISH-HINDU WEDDING, USA
Jaime is from Boston and got married at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in October 2019 in a multi-faith HinJew wedding, planned by STG Recommended Planner Best Bride. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
JULIE SAMUELS - Zoom JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Julie is a much-loved member of Brides Club and had a 250-person Jewish wedding planned for April 18. But when it became clear that couldn’t happen due to the pandemic, she pivoted to a Zoom wedding (planned in just three days!) in her parents’ home in Westport, Connecticut. Her parents attended physically, her rabbi officiated via Zoom, and the rest of the couple’s close family and friends tuning in virtually and it was magical! You can see her real wedding on Smashing The Glass here.
JULIETTE BRANDMAN - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Juliette is from New York City and got married at The Ashford Estate in New Jersey in November 2019. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
KARISA WENDT - JEW-ISH WEDDING (heavy on the -ish!), USA
Karisa got married on her Family Farm in Wisconsin in September 2019. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
MEL ISLIN - JEWISH WEDDING, UK
Mel is from London and got married at Warren Weir at Luton Hoo in March 2018. You can see her real wedding on Smashing The Glass here! She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
MELISSA STOCK - JEWISH WEDDING, UK
Melissa is from London (and has become life-long friends with Mel Islin [above] a a result of joining Brides Club!) Melissa got married in June 2019 at the New West End Synagogue & Jumeirah Carlton Towers She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life!
SAM LEVITZ - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Sam is from NYC and got married at El Caribe in Brooklyn NYC in November 2019 . She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life.
TARYN ALPER - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Taryn is from NYC and got married in Westchester County in October 2019. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life.
WENDY COHEN - INTERFAITH JEWISH-HINDU WEDDING, USA
Taryn is from Los Angeles and got married at the Bel Air Club in November 2019. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life.
JESSICA ZALKIN GOLDBERG - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Jessica is from NYC (where she lived until 2015) and now lives in Houston, Texas, where she had her wedding. She is a much-loved member of Brides Club, and has now graduated into Smashing Life.
LACEY KOVACIC - INTERFAITH JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Lacey lives in California, and got married at the La Canada Flintridge Country Club Park, in May 2018. She is a member of Brides Club, and now Smashing Life, and you can see her interfaith Jewish wedding on STG here.
CATHERINE rICHMAN - JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Catherine lives in Miami, and got married at the Gramercy Park Hotel, NYC, in November 2018. She is a member of Brides Club, and you can see her ‘Judaism Lite’ wedding (as she coined it!) on Smashing The Glass here.
Karen’s biggest takeaways from CATHERINE’S interview were:
Schedule enough time for your formal photos
Send timelines of the day to your VIP guests / bridal party in advance
Have a day-of co-ordinator
If you’re hiring a videographer (highly recommend you do!) be sure to negotiate all the raw footage into your contract
Do not go dress shopping with a large group
Purchase your dress undergarments before the final fitting, and take them with you to the last few appointments
Breathe! Don’t get caught up in the small stuff!
Jeanette GROSMAN PACANOWSKI - INTERFAITH JEWISH WEDDING, USA
Jeanette lives in Chicago and is a member of Brides Club. She got married at Le Meridien, Chicago, Illinois in May 2018 and you can see her wedding on Smashing The Glass here.
Karen’s biggest takeaways from JEANETTE’S interview were:
Personalize your ceremony and make it as inclusive as possible (Listen at 11 mins 10 secs)
Jeanette + Chris had the brilliant idea to “table hop” during dinner: instead of staying in one place for the whole meal (or, alternately, running around frantically with no time to eat), they chose four tables to sit at, one for each course. That way, they were able to spend time with more of their guests, in a relaxed way.(Listen at 14 mins 7 secs)
Hire a videographer! (Listen at 25 mins 20 secs)
Let it go! Something BIG went wrong… listen to Jeanette’s attitude to a huge mistake by her DJ (Listen at 29 mins 11 secs)
Caroline KELLAR - JEWISH WEDDING, UK
Caroline lives in London and is a member of Brides Club. She got married in Cheshire, North of England in October 2018 and you can see pictures of her wedding here
Karen’s biggest takeaways from caroline’s interview were:
It’s the symbolic moments that make the day, not the aesthetics or the vendors or the things that cost money. (23:38)
RE: Guest list dilemmas, as long as you’re not compromising on who you want at your wedding, don’t worry too much about your parents invitees (as long as you’re ok for capacity!) (30:20)
Caroline wishes she would have paid a visit to The Wedding Gallery. (32:00)
Make sure that key members of your wedding party will 100% be there on time. (34:00)
Email the people you know you want to be in your group portraits a week before to let them know in advance (34:52)
Walk slowly down the aisle, and tell your bridal party to walk slowly down the aisle too. (35:35)
Hire a videographer - it’s a must. (39:16)
SARAH SALANIC - DESTINATION JEWISH WEDDING IN ISRAEL
Sarah lives in New York City and is a member of Brides Club. She had a destination wedding in Israel in June 2018 and you can see it on Smashing The Glass here.
Karen’s biggest takeaways from Sarah’s interview were:
Don’t just take photos of your wedding dress when you’re dress shopping, take videos of you in the dress and walk! (Listen at 20 mins 45 secs)
Be confident in your choices. Listen to your own opinions - not just everyone else’s ! (Listen at 33 mins 23 secs)
Disclaimer
These interviews are confidential, privileged, and only for the intended recipients (paid members of Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club). The information may not be used, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of Karen Cinnamon.
It’s important to note that publishing or redistributing these videos is a violation of the Terms and Conditions of membership in Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club which can result in immediate termination of your membership with no refunds given.