Orthodox jewish wedding ceremony program

The Chattan will greet his guests, who will sing and toast for him. The Kallah will sit on a throne and greet her guests. Light refreshments are served. There is a Jewish wedding tradition for the mother of the Chattan and the Kallah to break a plate by the Kabbalat Panim.

The reason for this Jewish marriage custom is to show the seriousness of the commitment. Just like a broken plate can't be fully repaired, - a broken relationship can't be fully repaired.

The Jewish wedding tradition is that the wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah. It resembles the home of Abraham and Sarah that was open from four sides to accept guests. Some will traditionally have the chuppah outside, under the stars to remind Gods blessing to Abraham that his children be futile and bright as stars. The wedding customs under the chuppah vary. Whereas in some areas the chatan will wear a Tallit, some will put a bit of ash on the chatans head, to remind the loss of the Jewish temples.

The kallah will wear a modest gown and circle the chatan seven times. This resembles the seven days that the world was build, so will the home the new couple build be blessed by Hashem. Kabbalists explain it that there are seven walls of evil that surround a person before marriage that falls when the kallah circles the chatan. Home Home. Lifestyle Lifestyle. Experiences Experiences. Shop Top Collections.

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Let this information be your guide. Susan Stripling Photography. Elisabeth Davies. In a double-ring ceremony not permitted in some Orthodox weddings the bride also places a ring on the groom's index finger while repeating a feminine form of the Aramaic phrase, or a biblical verse from Hosea or Song of Songs. The ketubah is then read aloud in English and Aramaic. The second part of the Jewish wedding ceremony signifies the nuptials and uniting of the couple.

It begins with Sheva B'rachot, given over a second cup of wine. The cup of wine from the kiddushin and the cup of wine from the nissuin represent the betrothal and the nuptials. The sheva b'rachot , or seven blessings, consist of praise for God, a prayer for peace in Jerusalem, and good wishes for the couple. In Sephardic weddings, before the sheva b'rachot are recited, the parents wrap the couple in a tallis , literally binding them together.

The rabbi doesn't have to say all seven blessings. You can honor special guests by asking them to read -- or even sing -- some of the blessings. Nothing says "Jewish wedding" more than the sound of breaking glass.

But what's the point? Depending on whom you ask, the breaking of the wineglass is, among other things: a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; a representation of the fragility of human relationships; and a reminder that marriage changes the lives of individuals forever. It's also the official signal to shout, "Mazel Tov! There's no law putting the man's foot to the task. If you're game, bride and groom can break the glass together with one swift kick in unison.

Now it's time to shout, "Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov is used like "congratulations," but literally means "good fortune," which is a lovely wish for a new couple at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony. In a day filled with chaos, the yihud — or "seclusion" — is a standout ritual that lets you focus on the days true purpose: your new partnership. Immediately after the ceremony, bride and groom retreat to a private room for 15 minutes of personal time.

No in-laws, no seating arrangement charts, no videographer. Just you and your new spouse staring into each other's eyes. In days of old, bride and groom would retreat to a nearby tent for a little undercover nookie action.

This isn't done much these days, but its customary for newlyweds to seize the yihud moment and feed each other a bite or two of their first meal together.

The wedding meal and reception starts with a blessing, or hamotzi, over a beautiful loaf of challah, the traditional braided Shabbat and holiday bread which symbolizes love.

There's nothing better than the celebratory meal at any wedding. And per Jewish wedding traditions, you'll almost always find chicken and fish, both symbols of fertility, at the s'eudah mitzvah.

You may receive sutlach—a sweet rice pudding with coconut milk, honey and almonds—as your first course to symbolize a sweet and prosperous life ahead. If you're keeping kosher, you'll need to choose between a meal that contains meat or dairy, but not both. Pork and shellfish are typically not served. The traditional hora, or chair dance, is the highlight of a Jewish wedding reception. The wedding couple is lifted above the crowd on chairs, while guests sing "Hava Nagila" and circle the couple in a celebratory dance.

The mitzvah dances are meant to celebrate and entertain the newlyweds. The couple is traditionally seated often on the chairs from the hora! Get ready for some serious photo fodder. In weddings where parents of the couple have "married off" their last child, this dance is one of the concluding Jewish wedding traditions. If so, the wedding program provides a great opportunity to share this with your guests.

Typically, the bride and groom include a personal note at the beginning of their program. Simply write whatever you think you will want to say to them that day. At weddings where many of the guests have travelled it is customary and considerate to thank them for doing so. Many couples choose to thank their families on their wedding day and incorporate this message into their thank you.

This is a particularly nice touch for DIY weddings, where the couple has enlisted the artistic talents of their friends to help craft goods for their ceremony and reception. As you will see in our sample programs, it is typical to outline your wedding party by name and role.

This is helpful to your guests, who are likely eager to understand who exactly is walking down the aisle. If there is somebody important to you as a couple or your family who is unable to be there, whether it is a late grandparent or a friend, recognising them in your wedding program is a nice way to acknowledge their absence. You may consider going a step farther by sharing a special memory you have of them, particularly if it is one that relates to weddings.

This is also a good opportunity to let your guests know if you incorporated them into your ceremony by using their kiddush cup, tallit, wedding band, or other item. Many couples incorporate a quote that is meaningful to them for an additional layer of personalisation. If you are utilizing a specific image, crest or monogram in other parts of your wedding, this is a nice place to include it.

Unless your program is one sheet only, you will likely need something to bind it. For a cocktail or more formal affair, a ribbon, either in the same color as your print or a complimentary one, can be a nice touch. For a rustic event, we love the look of twine on a heavy cardboard-like paper. In the midst of tying up all of your wedding loose ends, do not forget to proof your program!

This is when you want to review what you have written with a fine tooth comb, ensuring that no major misspellings were made. This is a guest post by Julia Rebecca and Jamie Rose, of Rebecca and Rose , a gorgeous blog that celebrates beautiful Jewish living through stylish decor, food, art and more. After commiserating over how difficult it was to incorporate Jewish meaning into their homes that was both personal and stylish, Rebecca and Rose was born.