"Receiving of the Faces -- Pre-Chuppah Receptions"
Before the chuppah reception, the bride (“kallah”) sits on a distinctive, ornate throne-like chair while her friends and family wish her mazel tov. The groom has a separate reception (“chatan’s tisch”) where songs are sung and words of Torah are delivered. The “tena'im”, conditions, are written, signed and someone is honored with reading them. At the conclusion of this reading, the mothers of the bride and groom break a glass plate, just as the broken plate is irreversible, so too is the marriage. the ketubah (marriage contract) is also completed, witnessed, and signed by honored guests at this reception.
"Covering"
A custom with roots in the ancient Biblical love story of Rebecca and Isaac. The groom ("chatan"), Moshe will be led by his father and father-in-law to greet the bride ("kallah"), Sara. Moshe will lower the veil over Sara's face which will remain covered throughout the wedding ceremony. The Badeken indicates that above all else the groom is interested in the bride's inner beauty.
"Canopy--Ceremony"
The “chuppah” ceremony takes place beneath an unenclosed canopy, open on all sides. This is a demonstration of the couple's commitment to establish a home which will always be open to guests, as was the tent of Abraham and Sarah. The “chuppah” is held under open skies (weather permitting!) to symbolize the couple's resolve to establish a household which will be dominated by "heavenly" and spiritual ideals, rather than the pursuit of corporeal accomplishments and physical wealth. Upon arriving to the the “chuppah,” the bride circles the groom seven times. This recalls the seven times Joshua circled the walls of Jericho to bring them down. Similarly, the bride circles her groom seven times to break down any remaining walls or barriers between them.
"Seven Blessings”
Seven blessings are recited for the newlywed couple under the chuppah by the couple's loved ones. The first blessing is the blessing on wine, and the remaining six are marriage-themed blessings, which include special blessings for the bride and groom.