How to Create a Chuppah
A Chuppah has a deeply traditional religious meaning for the people of the Jewish faith. A Chuppah is a marriage canopy, and it symbolizes the home that the newlywed couple will build together. Even though Chuppahs have significant religious connotation, no one can deny that they are a beautiful addition to a marriage ceremony. Whether your Chuppah is traditional with four poles and fabric draped between them, or modern and elaborate with lights and flowers, designing and building your Chuppah gives the bride and groom a chance to bring their families and friends together to help create a memory that will last a lifetime.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 4 poles, 7 to 8 feet tall
- 4 large flower pots
- 4 PVC pipes, 2 to 3 feet long
- Duct tape
- Mixed cement
- Dirt or fabric
- Material or flowers and plants
- Fabric markers or fabric paints
- Material cut into squares
- Ribbon
- 4 screws
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide if your chuppah is going to be stationary, carried up the aisle and placed into containers, or held by members of your wedding party. If the chuppah is not going to be held by the wedding party, you will need containers such as deep flower pots to hold the four 7 to 8 foot poles. Cover the bottom holes of the pots with duct tape, and tape to the center bottom of each pot a 2 to 3 foot long PVC pipe that fits snugly around the chuppah poles. Pour mixed cement into each pot about 1/3 of the way up and let it harden.
-
2
Decide next on the canopy. The material must be large enough to fit the bride, groom, and Rabbi underneath. You could also increase the canopy size to encompass the entire wedding party. The canopy can be made of flowers, lights, branches, or many other materials. One interesting idea is, cut the material into equal squares and give the squares to family and friends. They can put something inspirational or something significant about the bride and groom on the squares using fabric markers or fabric paints. When you get all the squares back, sew them together with a cloth backing, and you will have an heirloom canopy.
-
-
3
Secure your canopy to the poles by putting a screw in the top of each pole and sewing a loop of ribbon to each corner of the canopy. Drape the loop of ribbon over each screw.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Painting your chuppah poles or decorating them with ribbons or vines will add another dimension to you chuppah.
Decorate your flower pots with fabric or add soil and plant some ivy or flowers for added visual elegance.
Be sure to secure the canopy to each pole, especially if you will be outside. Adding a finial to the top the pole and screwing in the ribbon between the finial and the pole will help add security.
