If you’ve ever been to a traditional Jewish wedding, you may have noticed some different traditions and customs. If you’ve never been to a traditional Jewish wedding, well, now is your chance!

Jewish weddings typically take place on Saturday night or Sunday because of the Sabbath (Shabbat). The Sabbath - a day of rest and worship - is observed every Friday night until Saturday night.

Aufruf—Calling Up

Aufruf, which means “calling up” in Yiddish, is a traditional ceremony that takes place the Saturday morning before a Jewish wedding. During the aufruf, the bride and groom are called to the Torah for a blessing called an aliyah. When the blessing is completed, the entire congregation wishes them luck and happiness by throwing soft candies at them.

Bedeken—Veiling of the Bride

This tradition takes place before the ceremony starts. Stemming from the Bible story of Jacob marrying the wrong woman due to her veil, this tradition avoids such trickery for any other groom-to-be. During the Bedeken, the groom covers his bride-to-be’s face with a veil. This signifies his love for not just her outward beauty, but also her beauty within.

Ketubah—Signing the Wedding Contract

A ketubah is a wedding contract that, traditionally, both the bride and groom sign before the wedding ceremony. In ancient times, a ketubah was a legally binding document, signed by witnesses, describing a groom’s “acquiring” of a bride and stating the amount that the groom would have to pay the bride in case of divorce.

Chuppah­—Exchanging Vows Underneath the Wedding Canopy

The chuppah, or wedding canopy, dates back to the tent-dwelling Jewish nomadic days in the desert. Historically, Jewish wedding ceremonies were held outdoors, and the chuppah created an intimate, sanctified space.

Kiddushin—The First Part of the Ceremony

The kiddushin (betrothal ceremony), or the first part of the Jewish wedding ceremony, takes place under the chuppah. It begins with greetings, a blessing over the wine, and a sip taken by the bride and groom. Next come the rings: The groom recites an ancient Aramaic phrase as he places the wedding band on his bride's right index finger—the finger believed to be directly connected to the heart. In a double-ring ceremony, the bride also places a ring on the groom's index finger while repeating a feminine form of the Aramaic phrase, or a biblical verse from Hosea or Song of Songs. The ketubah is then read aloud.

Walking To The Chuppah

Traditionally, both of the groom's parents walk him down the aisle to the chuppah, followed by the bride and both of her parents. Often, the couple's parents stand under the chuppah with them throughout the ceremony.

The Bride Circles the Groom

When the couple first enters the chuppah, the bride circles the groom seven times, representing the seven wedding blessings and seven days of creation, and demonstrating that the groom is the center of her world.

Nissuin—The Second Part of the Ceremony

The second part of the Jewish wedding ceremony signifies the nuptials and uniting of the couple. It begins with Sheva B'rachot (Seven Blessings), given over a second cup of wine. The cup of wine from the kiddushin and the cup of wine from the nissuin represent the betrothal and the nuptials.

Sheva B'rachot

The sheva b'rachot, or seven blessings, consist of praise for God, a prayer for peace in Jerusalem, and good wishes for the couple.

The Groom Breaks the Glass

At the end of the wedding ceremony, the groom receives glass wrapped in a cloth. He’s then told to stomp on this glass. Depending on whom you ask, the breaking of the wineglass is, among other things: a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; a representation of the fragility of human relationships; and a reminder that marriage changes the lives of individuals forever. When the glass shatters, everyone shouts out a happy, loud “Mazel Tov!” and the party begins!

The Yihud—The Newlyweds Retreat into Seclusion

In a day filled with chaos, the yihud — or "seclusion" — is a standout ritual that lets you focus on the day's true purpose: the bride and groom’s new partnership. Immediately after the ceremony, bride and groom retreat to a private room for 15 minutes of personal time. No in-laws, no seating arrangement charts, no videographer.

The Seudah—Party Time!

The Seudah translates to “the feast” in Hebrew! It’s a time to dance, eat, drink, and be merry – this is the part that everyone attending looks forward to! The Jewish circle dance, known as the Horah, is when the bride and groom are lifted into the air on chairs while friends and family dance around in a circle. The significance of these celebratory dances is to place the new couple in the center of the Jewish community and to bring joy, love, and happiness into their newly founded union.

Blessing the Challah

The wedding meal and reception starts with a blessing, or hamotzi, over a beautiful loaf of challah, the traditional braided Shabbat and holiday bread which symbolizes love.

Birkat Hamazon—The Final Tradition

The last of the Jewish wedding rituals is the Birkat Hamazon, or Grace after Meals. This blessing is recited by the guests, often with booklets of prayers (benchers) handed out. The seven wedding blessings are then repeated. In the final blessing, the person leading the blessing blesses the wine, then pours wine from two cups into one, drinking from the original cup and handing the other two cups to the newlyweds to drink.