Eleven Essential Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained
Pre-Ceremony
Tisch
Traditionally, the tisch is a Jewish pre-ceremony ritual for the groom. The word tisch literally means “table” and represents the groom’s table, a place for pre-ceremony gathering with food, drink, and festivities where the groom and men of the wedding party prepare for the wedding together. Sometimes, the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride will come together during the tisch to break a plate, a symbolic gesture of the mother-child ties and that their children will soon be feeding each other. Click here to see more images from Augusta and Yoel’s traditional Jewish wedding with a tisch and bedeken.
Bedeken
Similar to a first look, the bedeken is a very special moment where the couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day. In traditional Jewish ceremonies, the groom will veil his bride ceremonially to symbolize that they are two distinct people even in marriage and that he values her inner beauty. Click here to see more images from Augusta and Yoel’s bedeken during a traditional Jewish wedding.
Ketubah
The ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract and is an essential part of Jewish civil law. It outlines the shared responsibilities of the couple to one another. The ketubah is signed before witnesses and may be read to guests before or during the ceremony. Click here to see more images from Alexis and David’s Jewish wedding featuring a ketubah signing, in Topanga, California.
Ceremony
Chuppah
The chuppah, or wedding canopy, is the site of the wedding ceremony and is meant to created an intimate, sanctified space. Chuppahs can be highly personalized and distinct for each couple. In some cases, the four posts of the chuppah are held up by friends or family as a symbol of support for the couple's new life together. Click here to see more images from the Maggie and Nick’s Jewish wedding featuring a beautiful handmade chuppah in Lake Tahoe, California.
After Sundown Wedding Ceremony
Some couples choose to follow traditional Jewish custom which prohibits a marriage ceremony on the Sabbath, opting instead for an after sundown wedding ceremony. The following wedding featured an after sundown wedding ceremony by lantern light. The bride’s mother, not having a Jewish background, wanted to contribute to the tradition by creating the chuppah out of her own wedding gown. Click here to see more images from Steph and Henry’s Jewish Concord, Massachusetts wedding.
Circling
In traditional Jewish ceremony, the bride circles around her groom seven times after she processes down the aisle. Some people believe this is to create a magical wall of protection from evil spirits. More recently, it is common for the couple to circle each other. Click here to see more images from Alexis and David’s Topanga, California wedding featuring the circling tradition.
Sheva B'rachot: Seven Blessings
The seven blessings, called the Sheva B'rachot, come from ancient teachings and may be read in Hebrew or English. The blessings are shared by a variety of family members or friends, and focus on joy, celebration, and the power of love. Click here to see more images from Alexis and David’s Topanga, California wedding featuring the Sheva B’rachot, or seven blessings.
Prayer Shawl
A tallit, or fringed prayer shawl, may be used in several ways as part of Jewish wedding traditions. During the final blessings, the couple’s parents may wrap the tallit around the couple’s shoulders as a symbol of unity and being surrounded by love. Click here to see more images from Alexis and David’s Topanga, California wedding featuring a prayer shawl.
Breaking the Glass
This is one of the most well-known Jewish wedding traditions and carries multiple meanings. Some believe it represents the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. For others, it symbolizes the idea that marriage has both difficult and joyful times. Traditionally, the groom will smash the glass, but more recently it is common for the couple to break the glass together in unison. Click here to see more images from Ashley and Ben’s Jewish wedding featuring the breaking of the glass tradition.
“Mazel Tov!”
A yiddish phrase meaning “Congratulations!” or “Good luck!”. You might often hear this phrase shouted after the breaking of the glass.
Reception
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. Click here to see more images from the Maggie and Nick’s Jewish wedding featuring a celebratory hora and chair raising in Lake Tahoe, California.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Palm Springs and Boston wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.