Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained

Normally, the procession starts with the rabbi, then the grandparents, the groomsmen, the groom and his parents, the bridesmaids, a flower girl, a ring bearer and finally the bride and her parents will walk down the aisle. At the end of the procession, it is common for the bride to circle the groom seven times to signify her commitment to him.The Chupah. Instead of an alter, the bride and groom will be married under a small structure called a chupuah – or a canopy supported by four poles.This dates back to the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah and is said to symbolize the couple new home which is always open to guests.The Ceremony. Jewish wedding ceremonies are divided into two parts – the Kiddushin and the Sheva B’rachot. During the Kiddushin, a greeting is said to the guests, then the rabbi blesses a cup of wine from which the bride and groom both drink. This is also the time when rings are exchanged. The bride and groom will place a ring on the other right index finger, as that is thought to be connected to the heart. The tradition is said to have derived from a time when members of royal families were carried on chairs.The Mezinkle Tanz or The Krenzel.This happens when the last daughter in the bride family has been married.The mother and father of the bride sit on chairs in the middle of the dance floor and the mother is given a crown of flowers to wear.The guests will dance around the couple and kiss them as they go by.Should you choose to include some of these great traditions into your wedding ceremony, consider putting an insert in your program that explains what the guests will see.