Jewish weddings are steeped in culture and feature strong themes of family and community. As part of this, Jewish weddings can have hundreds of guests, all welcome to join in with the festivities, so there is a huge range of wedding venue types you could be going to. If you are lucky enough to be invited to a Jewish wedding, you may come across certain customs which you aren’t familiar with. As a rich and historic religion, Judaism is full of traditions which are an important part of any Jewish wedding celebration.
These may vary depending on the couple and their background, but to help you out, here’s our guide to what to expect when attending a Jewish wedding…
The Location
There is really no limit on where a Jewish wedding can take place. The only requirement is that the couple get married under a canopy called a Chuppah, which they stand under along with the Rabbi and, often, their parents.
As the Chuppah can be taken basically anywhere, the couple can have their choice of wedding venues as long as the Chuppah is permitted! As for the reception, typically there will be a lot of guests in attendance so large wedding venues such as town halls or function rooms are common choices.
Browse Large Wedding Venues here.
The Attire
Jewish weddings tend to take place in the evening, so if you’re attending one, it might be a good opportunity to dress to the nines! Generally, guests will be dressed reasonably formally, men in black tie or dinner suits and women in evening dresses.
It’s also important to consider the details of the ceremony. If the wedding is Orthodox, you might be required to cover up - especially in a Synagogue. Women may need to cover their heads, shoulders and arms whilst men will likely be provided with small circular head coverings also known as a Kippah. The couple will almost certainly provide you with a clear dress code with the invite, though, so don’t panic!
The Ceremony
A Jewish wedding ceremony usually lasts around 30-45 minutes, depending on how many traditions and personal touches the couple have included. There are lots of rituals and customs which may make up a Jewish wedding, however the couple may not include them all.
One of the more common traditions which takes place in the majority of Jewish weddings is the Signing of the Ketubah, which is sort of like a marriage contract where the couple declare their commitments, hopes and dreams for the union.
There is also the breaking of the glass, which you may already have heard of. This may represent a number of things, including the fragility of human relationships, a fresh start and a break with past relationships or, for more modern purposes, an indication to begin celebrating!
Depending on the denomination of the wedding, men and women may be seated separately in the ceremony. In Orthodox ceremonies, this would be the case, and there may even be a partition in between.
If you would like to learn more about the specific traditions and rituals you may see at a Jewish wedding ceremony, we have written a detailed guide to Jewish wedding ceremonies, which you can find here.
The Reception
Jewish wedding receptions tend to be evening events, and can be very lively - full of dancing and laughter. Before it begins, the couple spend around 10 minutes together in private to signify their unity and the start of their new life together. This is called the Yichud, and the couple may even consume their first meal together, usually something small and traditional, before the celebrations begin!
Food
Food is a big part of Jewish wedding celebrations, so expect a lot of it! There are usually canapés and often a three-course meal as well, so you certainly won’t be going home hungry.
One thing to bear in mind is that the food will be kosher, so there will not be any shellfish or pork dishes served. However, there will be lots of delicious alternatives such as rice, lamb, chicken, fish and vegetable options for you to choose from.
Drink
Alcoholic beverages also usually feature in Jewish weddings in some capacity. Wine is often used as part of the ceremony, but you can expect the reception to be serving alcohol too. If this is not the case, it will likely say so on your invitation.
Entertainment
The signature dance to celebrate is called the ‘hora’. Guests will normally form a circle to perform the hora! Traditionally you may see the men dancing with the men and women with the women to keep the divide however, in short, there will be a whole lot of dancing! As mentioned above, not only is there lots of food at a Jewish wedding reception, but they are evening events, so there’s no rush to get everything out of the way.
There will usually be live music throughout the reception, and dancing and speeches will punctuate the courses of the meal, so dinner will continue until the late evening. Then, there’s yet more dancing afterwards. Of course, there will be plenty of chances for mingling and other celebrations, but the dancing is integral to the post-wedding celebrations, so make sure you have your dancing shoes on!
Looking for some more ideas? Find amazing wedding inspiration here.