Jewish Wedding Customs
Attending a Jewish wedding is different in some ways than other ceremonies. There are many time honoured traditions that Jewish brides (kallah) and grooms (chatan) include in their special day.
Here are some of the most common Jewish wedding customs. This will help non-Jewish wedding guests get some ideas about and understand the meanings behind some of these customs.
Separation of Bride and Groom
Jewish custom calls for the bride and groom to not see each other for one week prior to the wedding. Prior to the ceremony, the bride and groom remain separate and each greet guests in a different location.
The Veil
While veils are obviously not only a Jewish wedding custom, the veil does have special meaning to Jewish brides and grooms. It is a symbol of modesty that is meant to show that the couple understands that physical beauty is not the most important feature of a person.
This tradition also has biblical roots as Rebecca wore a veil over her face when she married Isaac.
Jewish wedding customs call for the groom to be the one to place the veil, called a badeken, over the brides face.
The Chuppah
The Chuppah, which is like a canopy, is an important Jewish wedding custom. This tradition began back when most Jewish weddings took place outdoors in order to invoke the blessing given to Abraham in which he was told that he would have as many children “as the stars of heaven”.
Today, the Chuppah is used even for indoor weddings. Some couples have a beautiful custom made Chuppah built, which they then use in their yards as a way to memorialize their special day.
The Seven Blessings
As the bride and groom drink from a cup of wine, the seven blessings are read by the rabbi. In some cases, honoured guests, such as grandparents, are asked to read the blessings instead of the rabbi.
Ketubah
The Ketubah is a marriage contract. Jewish wedding customs dictate that this document be read during the ceremony in Aramaic. The Ketubah discusses the various responsibilities of the groom to protect and provide for his wife.
Breaking the Glass
This is probably the most well-known of all Jewish wedding customs. At the end of the ceremony, a glass is placed in the floor and the groom breaks it by stomping on it.
This is done because Jews wish to symbolize the fact that they remember the destruction of their holy Jerusalem Temple, even during times of joy such as a wedding.
The above is just a sample of the many Jewish wedding customs you may witness if you attend a Jewish wedding. Of course, not every Jewish bride or groom will incorporate every Jewish wedding custom into their special day. Many, however, do strictly hold to these traditions.
Taking the time to understand the meaning behind these customs not only shows a measure of respect for the bride and groom, but it will make the ceremony more meaningful for you as a non-Jewish wedding guest.