| Marriage is a wonderful ceremony | | | | providing his wife with food, shelter and clothing, |
| commemorating the union of two individuals. | | | | and being attentive to her emotional needs. It is |
| There are many ways you can celebrate, from | | | | signed by two witnesses and is the property of |
| the lavish to the austere, but there are a few | | | | the kallah. Because it is so important, it is usually |
| things no Jewish wedding should be without. | | | | framed in art, and later displayed in the home, |
| 1. Gold wedding rings: Rings have long been a | | | | where she will have access to it throughout the |
| symbol of fidelity and love. There are often | | | | marriage. After the ketubah is read, the marriage |
| Hebrew Scipture inscriptions on the inside of the | | | | moves into the second part, the Nissuin (the |
| rings. Gold represents completeness without any | | | | marriage itself) as distinct and separate from the |
| flaw. The ring does not represent the amount of | | | | Kiddushin, the betrothal. |
| money a couple has, but instead symbolizes their | | | | 5. Kiddush cups: Drinking before and after a |
| devotion for one another. Since gold is rare, but | | | | blessing is an important ritual and the first cup |
| not as rare as a diamond, the gold ring is a sign | | | | accompanies the wedding blessings. Once the |
| of practicality, and demonstrates a Jew's ability to | | | | rabbi finishes reciting, the couple drinks from the |
| provide a nice ring for his wife. | | | | cup. The Kiddushin is associated with the |
| 2. Badeken: Because the couple has not seen | | | | sanctification of Shabbat and festival days, here it |
| each other for a week, there is much excitement | | | | pertains to the sanctification of man and woman. |
| beforehand. The veiling of the kallah by the chatan | | | | 6. Wedding glass: Everyone knows that a wedding |
| symbolizes the chastity and modesty of the | | | | glass needs to be broken at a Jewish wedding. |
| betrothed. Moreover, it demonstrates that, | | | | This is a symbolic reminder of the destruction of |
| although the bride may be beautiful, her spiritual | | | | the temple, and it identifies the couple with the |
| beauty is more important. This custom traces | | | | Jewish people. |
| back to Rebecca covering her face before | | | | Although specific customs such as when the |
| marrying Isaac. | | | | wedding glass is broken and the alone time the |
| 3. Chupah talit: You will need a Jewish wedding | | | | newly married couple has together in the yichud |
| canopy, under which the ceremony will take place. | | | | differ according to Ashkenazi and Sephardic |
| This is symbolic of the new home the couple will | | | | Jewish practices, the marriage ceremony is a time |
| share. Open on all sides in the same way that | | | | to rejoice. There is dancing and feasting and |
| Abraham and Sarah had their home to welcome | | | | people pay homage to the newly married couple. |
| people, the chupah talit's placement indoors or out | | | | The marriage ceremony is a time to appreciate |
| depends on preferred tradition. | | | | the love two people share and to hope that their |
| 4. Ketubah: You need a wedding contract. This will | | | | love lasts as long as they do. |
| be read in Aramaic. The chatan is responsible for | | | | |