Whether you grew up barely scratching the surface of Jewish religion or were immersed in attending temple several days a week, you still may not be aware of all the wedding traditions involved in planning the big day.
The fact is, Jewish wedding ideas stem from tradition, and today you’ll find they have a modern twist. If you’re about to embark on planning the Jewish wedding of your dreams, it’s time to stop and take a breath.
Learning what to focus on will help take the stress off your shoulders, allowing you to breathe easily and feel comfortable with your choices.
You’ll definitely want to tune into this guide for inspirational Jewish wedding ideas that will take your special day to the next level.
Date Selection Is Key
Date selection is a significant part of planning a Jewish wedding due to traditional Jewish law. The law forbids any weddings taking place during the Sabbath, and most holidays like Yom Kippur, Passover, and Rosh Hashanah are off limits.
To make things easier, it’s best to schedule around the Sabbath, which takes place on the seventh day of the week (Saturday) throughout the year. This is according to the Bible and commemorates a day of rest, symbolizing the original day on which God rested after his creation was complete.
This is why you’ll find many Jewish weddings take place on Sundays. Keep in mind that it’s also best to avoid Friday afternoon weddings since families are typically preparing for the Sabbath.
Check your calendar twice to avoid all major Jewish holidays and the ten days between each of them. Jewish holidays have special meanings and celebrations, and a wedding can be very disruptive to these traditions and your potential guests.
Choose a Ketubah to Personalize Your Ceremony
Once you select the date, it’s time to dive into Jewish culture and consider incorporating traditions like the Ketubah. If you’re not familiar with Jewish wedding traditions, don’t let this intimidate you. You’ll simply need to do a little background research to familiarize yourself more.
The Ketubah is a traditional marriage document with a long history. Traditionally, the Ketubah dates back well before the 16th century and was a legal document introduced during the wedding ceremony.
Its purpose was to legitimize the marriage and spell out the groom’s obligations to the bride. This included conjugal and financial obligations. They were also decorated with lavish designs and colors.
Today, it serves as more of a tradition in ceremonies. Most couples write their own vows to deeply personalize the process. Overall, don’t be afraid to get as creative as you want to when incorporating the Ketubah.
Make Sure to Smash the Glass
Smashing the glass is a meaningful traditional wedding idea you’ll definitely want to consider for your ceremony.
First, it has several symbolic meanings that make it special. Many people see it as symbolizing relationships and how we should treat them with special care. It also symbolizes the couple ending or breaking their life before marriage to start anew together.
Some people look at smashing the glass as a way to scare away evil spirits and bring luck to the rest of their married days. Once you break the glass everyone present will shout “mazel tov”, which translates to good luck in English.
Don’t forget you’ll need to wrap the glass before you smash it, and there is special glass you can buy for Jewish weddings. A personalized name bag for the glass serves as the perfect keepsake for years to come.
Include a Unique Chuppah
Having a chuppah is a top Jewish wedding idea that you absolutely must put on your list. A chuppah is a special symbol of home and goes back to biblical times. Its symbolic nature is strong in the story of Abraham keeping his tents open on all sides to welcome visitors.
From there, the chuppah became the symbol of a home under God’s presence. Chuppas represent a temporary structure constructed by human hands. They consist of a frame that either stands alone or is held by family members.
The top fabric can be wool, silk, cloth, or a homemade family heirloom that contains memories passed down from generations.
Handheld chuppas are great if you want to use them in a wedding processional. Standing chuppas are perfect for the ceremony if you want everything to occur in one place.
You can rent a chuppa or make your own. Don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box to build something truly memorable.
Enhance Ritual Objects
This is your chance to take ritual objects and enhance them to create special meaning for you on your wedding day.
Begin by asking yourself how traditional you want the ceremony to be. For example, most traditional Jewish weddings include a Kippot or skullcap for men and a lace covering for women.
You’ll see many couples have their names and wedding dates imprinted on the Kippot. Decorative paint and satin are also popular choices. You can really get creative with the Kippot by choosing your own color scheme and lettering to match the theme of your wedding.
The same goes for kiddush cups. These traditional cups are typically passed down through generations and filled with wine. As you receive blessings during the ceremony, you’ll sip from this cup.
You can either use a kiddush cup that’s been in your family or design one for your wedding. Don’t be afraid to get modern with your design and create a cup that you both love.
Many wonderful online sites will give you a fresh perspective on having a traditional Jewish wedding your own way.
Use These Memorable Jewish Wedding Ideas for Your Special Day
This guide gives you a great window into Jewish wedding ideas you can incorporate into your special day.
But don’t stop here once you select the date. You should continue to do your research and start narrowing down the ideas that speak to you the most. Don’t be afraid to mix traditional ideas with a modern flair to create a unique celebration you’ll cherish forever.
Don’t forget to visit our blog for more wedding ideas and inspiration. Our main goal is to help couples find a deeper understanding of Jewish wedding traditions along with the latest and greatest trends.