Our Jewish Wedding
Cocktail Hour: Shmorg, Tisch, Ketubah, Bedeken
We will begin with the cocktail hour (the Shmorg). Guests nibble on a spread of food and mingle. At the same time, "Kabbalat Panim" or "greeting of the guests" occurs, as well as several other customs. 1 - Ketubah and Tisch: The Ketubah is a marriage contract. A smaller group will gather at the Tisch (Table) for a joyous Ketubah signing ceremony while most guests mingle and snack. 2 - Bedeken (Veiling): Following the Ketubah signing, the groom is escorted by a lively group of participants to the bride and drapes her veil in front of her face in preparation for the Chuppah.
The Ceremony / Chuppah
There are numerous rituals that occur once the guests are seated for the ceremony and the couple is under the chuppah, a canopy that symbolizes the home they will build together. These rituals include: The groom dons a white robe called a “kittel,” symbolizing a new beginning. The bride circles the groom seven times, creating a wall of protection for their new family. The groom places the ring on the bride’s right index finger, which was historically considered the most direct link to the heart and the most visible location for witnesses. Family members read seven blessings. Seven is a significant and sacred number in Judaism, occuring multiple times throughout the wedding. The ketubah is read in its original Aramaic, a 2,000 year old document. It ends with the bride and groom breaking a glass, a historical tradition that commemorates the hardships of the Jewish people even during the happiest of times. After this happens, the guests cheer "Mazal Tov!" and break into dance!
Meal and Circle Dancing
After the chuppah, the bride and groom are led to the Yichud Room (private suite) where they will spend their first moments alone as a married couple. At the same time, guests sit down to begin the meal. After the first course, the bride and groom return for dancing! The first round of dancing will consist of traditional, lively, separate gender circle dancing, including the hora. Guests will dance together in circles, lift the bride and groom into the air in chairs, and participate in general merriment. There will also be a few minutes for "Shtick,” a tradition in which guests can choose to entertain the bride and groom with silly dancing or props while lively music plays to make them laugh and provide lighthearted entertainment. The main course will follow.
Dessert and More Dancing
Dessert is served and a smaller group of guests will gather to say the traditional Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) to conclude the meal. Afterwards, the dancing will transition to modern dancing with contemporary English music until the end of the night.
Fun Facts!
The bride and groom are traditionally regarded as a king and queen for the day. Friends and family take on special roles throughout the celebration, accompanying them with songs and clapping, standing guard outside the room where they have their moment alone, and entertaining them with playful shtick during the dancing - acting akin to courtiers, attendants, guards, and court jesters! Throughout the wedding, you might hear the terms “Chosson / Chatan” (pronounced khoo-sen / khah-tahn) and “Kallah” (pronounced kah-lah), which means groom and bride in Hebrew and Yiddish.