How to Conduct a Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony

Traditional Jewish weddings are both upbeat and serious.

Jewish marriage ceremonies are well-established and complex. A traditional Jewish wedding ceremony is only vaguely similar to its Christian counterpart. Both before and during the wedding, there are many customs and traditions that must be observed. Many aspects of the ceremony are allusions to Biblical stories and symbolism of the Old Testament. If you are planning on attending a Jewish wedding in some capacity, it is important to understand how these complicated ceremonies are carried out.

Things You'll Need

• Plates
• Canopy
• Wine
• 2 wine cups
• Glass

Instructions

Pre-Ceremony

1. Have the bride, or "kallah" and the groom, or "chatan," cease personal contact for one week before the ceremony. On the wedding day, Jewish tradition dictates that the bride and groom are to speak to guests separately without seeing each other.

2. Begin the fasting. On the day of the wedding, it is customary for the bride and groom to abstain from food from dawn until the end of the ceremony. In Jewish custom, this is done to symbolize rebirth and the combination of two individuals into one single soul.

3. Have the mothers of the bride and groom break a plate. This is done to symbolize the importance of a relationship. In the Jewish faith, a broken relationship is like a broken plate, because neither can be repaired.

4. Place a veil on the bride. The veil is used to illustrate the triviality of physical appearance and emphasize personal integrity, character and the soul as the important factors in a marriage.

Ceremony

1. Assemble the bride and groom under the canopy, also known as a "chuppah." The groom arrives first, followed shortly after by the bride. Have each party be escorted by their families.

2. Instruct the bride to stand at the groom's right-hand side.

3. Pour two cups of wine. One will be used immediately and the other is for later.

4. Have the rabbi recite the Blessings of Betrothal, also known as the Kiddushin.

5. Once the blessings are done, ask the bride and groom to drink the wine from the first cup.

6. Give the ring to the bride. As the groom places the ring on the bride's finger, have him announce "Behold, you are betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel." It is not customary for the bride to always provide a ring for the groom. If she wishes to do so, it is done in private, not under the canopy. At this point, the couple is officially married.

7. Read the marriage contract, or "ketubah." This document is written in Aramaic and it outlines the various responsibilities to his wife that a groom must acknowledge and accept. Once the reading is complete, have two witnesses sign the contract.

8. Recite the Seven Blessings. These blessings can be given by a rabbi or different family members. It is essentially a speech of praise and goodwill to the newly-wed couple.

9. After the Seven Blessings, have the bride and groom drink from the second cup of wine.

10. Break the glass. Place a drinking glass on the floor and have the groom stomp on it. At this point, everyone in the audience is to shout "Mazel Tov." The breaking of the glass also marks the end of the ceremony.

References

• Aish.com: Guide to the Jewish Wedding