What To Know

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

At an Orthodox Jewish wedding, most men wear a suit and tie, and most women wear a modest dress, with sleeves, that reaches or covers the knee.

Question

Jewish Wedding 101

Answer

A traditional Jewish wedding is full of meaningful rituals, symbolizing the beauty of the relationship between husband and wife, as well as their obligations to each other and to the Jewish people. The following sections will help explain the Jewish wedding traditions.

Question

Kabblas Panim, Tisch, and Bedeken: Pre-Ceremony Reception

Answer

It is customary for the bride and groom not to see each other for one week preceding the wedding. This increases the anticipation and excitement of the day and enables time for introspection and reflection. Therefore, prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom greet their guests separately. This is called “kabbalas panim" and is the opening ceremony of the wedding, a warm-up to the main event. Leah will be seated while greeting and celebrating with her guests. In an adjacent room, Yoni will be surrounded by guests who sing and celebrate at the "chosson's tisch,” which directly translates to “groom’s table”. Light food and beverage are served and the official marriage documents are prepared and signed at the tisch. After the tisch and kabbalas panim comes the “badeken”, when the groom, accompanied by a procession of family and friends, proceeds to where the bride is seated and places the veil over her face.

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Chuppah

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Guests are now invited to the “chuppah,” or wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah (marriage canopy), a symbol of the home to be built and shared by the couple. The marriage becomes official when Yoni gives Leah a ring. After Leah receives the ring, the kesubah (marriage contract) is read aloud and given to Leah. The document has been signed by two witnesses and has the standing of a legally binding agreement. Following the kesubah, seven blessings are recited. The blessings offer gratitude to God and well-wishes for the bride and groom. The final moment of the ceremony then takes place when Yoni breaks a glass. Mazel Tov!

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Dinner and Dancing

Answer

The reception, referred to as the “simchas chosson v'kallah” (“celebration of the groom and bride”), there is eating, drinking, singing, dancing, and general merriment. The meal will be broken up by periods of dancing! As Yoni and Leah enter the room, they will be greeted by lively singing and dancing. Leah will be surrounded by the women and Yoni will be surrounded by the men. Whenever there is dancing, the men will dance together in one area and the women will dance together in another area. Throughout the dancing, the bride and groom will take periodic breaks from dancing themselves and sit on chairs on the dance floor for the guests to entertain them. This is the time to show off your break-dancing, juggling, or fire-eating talents that you have been saving up for a perfect opportunity. Be creative! After the meal is finished, “Birkas Hamazon” (Grace After Meals) is recited, including the same seven blessings that were recited under the chuppah.

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Farewell

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It's no one's favorite, but eventually the party does have to come to an end. After Birkas Hamazon and hearing your final mazal tovs, Yoni and Leah depart the wedding to begin their lives together. The week following the wedding will be filled with settling into their new home, as well as special meals known as "Sheva Brachos" at which Yoni and Leah will have a chance to celebrate with friends and community members who were not able to attend the wedding.