Welcoming Receptions
When you arrive at the venue, there will be a cocktail hour (the "shmorg") with food stations and passed hors d'oeuvres. Sarah and Elliot will be holding their own "tischn," or welcoming receptions. At each tisch, people will sing, share words of Torah, and schmooze. Feel free to grab some food and join — you don't need to stay the whole time, and you can hop from one tisch to another. You're also welcome to stay at the shmorg and simply enjoy the food. The ketubah will be signed about halfway through Elliot's tisch, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Greeting Guests
About halfway through the cocktail hour, Sarah will then move to the shmorg area and receive guests with her family. This is called the "kabbalat panim," which means receiving of faces. Feel free to come up and say hello, mazal tov, and even get a photo. Some people will also ask the bride for a blessing since she is especially close to G-d on this day.
The Veiling Ceremony
At the end of the cocktail hour is the bedeken, which means "covering" in Yiddish. The men will sing and dance Elliot from his tisch over to Sarah, where she is waiting with her family. Everyone surrounds them, dancing and singing along. Elliot will then place Sarah's veil over her face. The source for this tradition is in the Torah, when Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah by his father-in-law. Here, the groom checks that it is his intended bride before veiling her. There are also explanations that this tradition is rooted in modesty — the groom is marrying his bride for her inner beauty, not just physical beauty. Then, the men will dance the groom back out to get ready for the chuppah.
The Wedding Ceremony
Next is the chuppah ("canopy") ceremony, where Sarah and Elliot will officially be wed. They will stand under a chuppah, which represents the home they’re building. Sarah will circle the groom seven times — just like the world was created in seven days, their new home is established with seven circles. Next, the rabbi will make a blessing over a cup of wine, symbolizing the joy of the occasion. Elliot will then give Sarah a wedding ring. The ketubah will then be read aloud, followed by some words of Torah and the recitation of the sheva brachot ("seven blessings"), which praise G-d and wish a happy future for the couple. To close the ceremony, Elliot will crush a glass under his foot to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Even in our joy, it is never forgotten.
Seclusion
After the glass is broken, everyone will dance Sarah and Elliot back up the aisle to the "yichud room." This is where they spend their first few minutes alone as a married couple and also eat some food. Feel free to grab a drink and enjoy the appetizer course while you wait for the Sarah and Elliot to enter dancing.
The Reception Begins
Lively circle dancing — popularly known as the hora — will start immediately when Sarah and Elliot enter the reception. The first round of dancing will all Jewish music and separate for men and women. Friends and family will create separate circles around Sarah and Elliot and dance with them in the middle, then they will be lifted in chairs. Dancing may continue for a bit longer until the main course is served.
Celebration
After that, the wedding will continue like most you’ve been to: dancing will no longer be separate and modern music will be played. Desserts will also be available! If you stay until the very end, you’ll see everyone gather around Sarah and Elliot to say the blessings after a wedding meal ("Birkat Hamazon"). There will be books ("benchers") on the table containing these blessings for you to grab. Then, feel free to say again mazal tov to the bride and groom before departing! We are so grateful you are joining us.