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Jewish weddings are full of rich traditions and customs that are important to capture. From the rituals required by Jewish law to the customizations the couple gets to incorporate into their traditional wedding, each holds a significant part of the ceremony and unionization of the newlyweds. Some even have a deep history and meaning that have passed down as a tradition for generations. These are just a few essential memories you want your Jewish wedding photographer to capture.
The Ketubah Signing is an important ritual, as it’s a standard marriage contract that Jewish law requires. This contract requires the groom to provide for his bride starting on their wedding day. It acts as a protective document for the woman by establishing the man’s financial obligations to her, even in the case of divorce or widowhood.
The Ketubah will list all of the details of the wedding, including the date, the name of the bride and groom, and the groom’s specific financial and marital responsibilities. This signing seals the deal in the ideology that the groom promises to take care of his bride forever. The start of the wedding rituals deserves its own photos!
The ceremony under the Chuppah is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to capture as the Jewish couple stands under the Chuppah for their ceremony. As long as four poles support the Chuppah, open on four sides, and covered from above, the bride and groom can decorate it to their heart’s content, making it custom to their vision.
During the procession, the Rabbi and Cantor can lead the procession or arrive from the side, marking the beginning of the ceremony. Initially, the bride’s grandparents will walk down the aisle, sitting on the right side of the aisle in the first row. Following them are the groom’s grandparents, who sit on the left side of the aisle. The groomsmen will then enter, followed by the best man and the groom, who his parents will escort. The bridesmaids will follow in pairs, then the maid of honor, followed by the ring bearer or flower girl, who the bride will follow, escorted by both parents.
The wedding ceremony has many different components after the procession worth capturing. The traditional veiling, vows, circling, ring exchange, and Sheva Brachot (The Seven Blessings) deserve their moments to be recorded for the newlyweds to look back on and enjoy.
Breaking the glass is a significant ritual meant to provide a moment of reflection on the horrific, influential, and tragic events in Jewish history while also creating a moment of happiness. Your Jewish wedding photographer will capture that epic photo of the groom crushing the glass, especially when it signifies such special memories and feelings.
The blessing of the Challah bread is something you want to capture as it is an intimate portion of the Jewish wedding reception and happens before the rest of the party continues. This is a significant ritual, as an elder in the family or the rabbi says, or sings a prayer, blesses the bread, then cuts it and takes a bite. Additionally, this signifies the beginning of the wedding meal.
The high-energy Hora dance can go on for hours at some weddings! It is a traditional dance to celebrate the newlyweds during the reception. During this dance, guests dance in a circle, and women often dance with women, and men dance with men, although they may dance in a single circle in more modern weddings.
The bride and groom hold a handkerchief as they are lifted into the air, as guests dance in the circle around them. It’s not a Jewish reception without this dance! Having a photographer present to capture this iconic and significant celebratory moment for the couple and family is so important, as these are truly the ones you want to look back on.
These are only a few significant moments and rituals during a Jewish wedding that you’ll want to capture and be able to look back on forever. As you plan your wedding, look into wedding photography as a beautiful investment that you can enjoy the product of for the rest of your life and marriage. If you’re looking for someone specializing as a Jewish wedding photographer, look no further, as I dedicate myself to capturing these extraordinary moments. Look back on these unforgettable memories with beautiful photographs, physical reminders of one of the most important days in your lives together.
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Eliana Melmed is a Jewish wedding and event photographer specializing in candid imagery for celebrations in Chicago and wherever love takes you.
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