How to Plan a Traditional Jewish Wedding Meal

The traditional Jewish wedding meal is the culmination of a ceremony that is thousands of years old. The wedding meal includes some foods that are found at all Jewish weddings, but the rest of a traditional menu can depend on the backgrounds of the bride and groom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Challah bread
• Kosher menu

1. Discuss the blessings that occur during the Jewish wedding meal with your rabbi. He can direct you on the blessing over the challah bread, the Blessing After Meals and the Seven Blessings.
2. Plan for the challah. Cover and bless the bread before the meal begins. At a traditional Jewish wedding meal, the bride and groom distribute pieces of challah to the guests.
3. Choose a dairy or meat meal. A traditional Jewish wedding meal is kosher, so you don't want to mix the two. Don't serve pork or shellfish either.
4. Examine the traditions from your background. Ashkenazi Jews traditionally serve a wedding meal of roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables. Sephardic Jews often have lamb and rice. The bride and groom may come from different backgrounds and want traditional dishes from each.
5. Select the dessert. A Jewish caterer or your favorite Jewish bakery has many cakes to choose from that keep with tradition. Have fruit on hand as well.
6. Write a sequence of events. The traditional Jewish wedding meal involves several prayers at specific times and dancing after the meal. Your rabbi or a good Jewish caterer can assist with this sequence.

Tips & Warnings

• A caterer is not necessary for a traditional Jewish wedding meal. The preparation of the food by the family—specifically, the women in the family—makes for an even more special event.
• Whether the bride and groom are kosher or not, it's a good idea to offer a kosher meal. While many Jews don't keep kosher or only keep kosher at home, you don't want a guest unable to eat because you didn't adequately plan the meal.
• Choose a caterer with experience, and ask for references. Check the references out.
• Incorporate traditional dishes from your family with the basic menu. For instance, sweet noodle pudding with the roast chicken or eggplant spread with the appetizers makes everyone happy.
• A traditional Jewish wedding meal means that no one goes hungry. Plan for lots of food. Leftovers can go home with guests or to a home for the elderly after the wedding.