Buffet at the reception

Entertainment at the reception, before the wedding ceremony

Weddings can be held outside…

… or inside a wedding hall

Signing of the Ketubah, the marriage contract The Ketubah is signed by two appointed witnesses, who are not blood related family members to the bride and groom. The traditional Ketubah text talks about the groom’s financial responsibilities to the bride, as well as his obligation to respect her and provide for her needs.

The guests are invited to take their seats for the ceremony under the Chuppah wedding canopy.

The bride and groom then take part in two marriage ceremonies under the Chuppah, which symbolizes the home that the bride and groom will make together. The wedding vows and ring ceremony is part of the ceremony called Kiddushin. The wedding blessing ceremony is called Nisuin.

The Chuppah,the wedding canopy, is open on all four sides to show that their home will be a place for guests to visit — like Abraham’s tent in the days of the Bible. The fabric that makes up the Canopy is not supported in the center or the sides; merely connected to the four poles.

The Kiddushin. The bride and groom are welcomed into the Chuppah, with blessings recited by the Rabbi. The bride and groom approach the Chuppah separately, accompanied by their respective parents. The groom is escorted to and stands with them under the Chuppah.

The bride is escorted down the aisle and stops in the middle. The parents or honored relatives walk ahead and take their place under the Chuppah on the right side.

The groom,who is standing under the Chuppah, leaves to greet the bride, lowers the veil on her face and escorts her to the Chuppah.

The veiling of the bride by her bridegroom is connected to the biblical story of Jacob and Rachel when, after their wedding, Jacob found out that he had actually married Leah, Rachel’s older sister. So now, to make sure the groom has the right bride, he lowers the bride’s veil himself.

The Ring Ceremony is part of the Kiddushin.

During the ring ceremony, the groom places a plain gold ring onto the bride’s index finger of her right hand. Judaism states it is the index finger of the bride that is closest to the heart.

Nowadays brides may also put a ring on the groom’s index finger.

The wedding blessing ceremony is called Nisuin. A second cup of wine is poured into the new Kiddush cup the bride and groom share connecting with the seven blessings, Sheva B’rachot, either sung or recited. These blessings praise God for creating human beings, and for making the groom and bride as happy as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. The sound of joy, the sound of celebration, the voice of the groom, the voice of the bride. Kol sason ukol simha,kol hatan ve kol kala. After the blessings, the bride and groom drink the wine.

The position of the bride on the right side of the groom is based on an interpretation of a verse in Psalms (45:10) “The queen stands on your right hand in fine gold of Ophir.” In Jewish tradition the bride is a queen, and the groom a king.

The groom breaks the glass at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony. It reminds us of the destruction of the Holy Temple.

Let’s the party begin !

The first dance as husband and wife.

The Festive Meal (Seudah) It is a mitzvah for guests to bring simchah (joy) to the hatan/groom and the kallah/bride on their wedding day.

June 20, 2013 There are many different kinds of weddings in Israel – from ultra-orthodox till very modern which follow different traditions. In this presentation there are different weddings ( not Orthodox ones), which we attended lately. wedding-ceremony.html/ Music : Mazel tov - Giora Feidman Cake made by my niece Michal, for her sister, Tamar’s wedding.