The Ceremony
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We are really looking forward to celebrating our wedding day with you.
Our wedding ceremony is steeped in Jewish tradition and we would love for you to understand the meanings behind the ceremony. Adam will see Emily for the first time in a week at the Bedeken ceremony in The Granary. He will lower her veil and then proceed into the Great Barn to the Chuppah. Adam will walk down the aisle to the Chuppah accompanied by both his parents. Emily follows escorted to the Chuppah by both of hers. It is a sign of respect to stand for the Bride and Groom as they enter. Emily will then circle Adam seven times upon reaching the Chuppah. The number seven has a spiritual power of significance in the Jewish religion and these circles enhance the intertwining of the Emily's and Adam's souls. |
The Chuppah
The ceremony takes place under a Chuppah, or a wedding canopy. It symbolises the home that Emily and Adam will build together and an expression of the hope that their home will be filled with G-d's presence. The Chuppah is open on all four sides, recalling the tent of Abraham and Sarah. Their tent was open on all four sides so that visitors would always know that they were welcome. The Ketubah The Ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract. It is a legal agreement between the bride and groom which specifies their obligations to each other as husband and wife. The text of the Ketubah will be read during the wedding ceremony. Adam will be signing the contract prior to the ceremony, at the Tisch, and it will be given to Emily under the Chuppah. Betrothal (Kiddushin) The first ritual of the wedding ceremony is Kiddushin. The word derives from the Hebrew word for 'holy'. This part of the ceremony begins with words of welcome and the blessing of the first cup of wine, a symbol of joy that is part of every Jewish celebration. Ring Exchange Adam will be giving Emily a ring under the Chuppah. The ring is made of a solid piece of metal, unadorned with stones or engravings. It symbolises the wholeness of the couple in marriage.. Nuptials (Nissuin) The second ritual of the wedding ceremony consists of the Sheva Brachot. These are seven wedding blessings that place the bride and groom within the context of Jewish time. The blessings contain a reference to the first human encounter in The Garden of Eden, when life was complete and perfect. Since Eden, the world has been separated from an existence of wholeness and completeness. On a wedding day, the community is offered a glimpse of the perfect reality that was, and will be, as the bridge and groom re-enact the first encounter in sacred time. Breaking the glass This is probably the most well known of Jewish wedding customs. It marks the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and the beginning of a joyous celebration. The custom also recalls the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and that, even at joyful times, we still live in a world that needs repair and requires our care and attention. |