Although you might not find “something blue” on Ritualwell, you will find much that is “borrowed,” “old,” and “new.” Jewish tradition is rich in wedding customs, and we have attempted to bring you some samples from this delightful smorgasbord. You will find pre-wedding customs such as ten’aim (engagement), during which it is customary for the mothers of the couple to break a plate, the bedecken (the veiling of the bride and modern alternatives), and the tischen (literally, “tables,” where grooms and/or brides receive blessings and enjoy other rituals immediately prior to the wedding ceremony). You will also find several complete wedding ceremonies along with a breakdown of the constituent parts and alternatives for them, various ketubot (wedding contracts), ideas for tzedakah (charity), and much more. We also explore weddings and ceremonies not envisioned by the rabbis of old—interfaith marriages and weddings and commitment ceremonies between partners of the same sex.
Origins of practices and the simplification of the betrothal-marriage process
An article about the ketubah, or wedding contract, which describes its history, new ketubot, egalitarian ketubot, and alternatives to the ketubah
An agreement between bride and groom to be used with a Conservative ketubah that does not include the Lieberman clause
Meant to be appended to the traditional ketubah and written in Aramaic by the late, great Rabbi Saul Lieberman, this clause requires the husband to grant a religious divorce (get) to his wife, should the marriage dissolve. This clause is usually used by Conservative Jews instead of the Orthodox pre-nuptial agreement.
An agreement signed by the bride and groom prior to the wedding which abrogates the situation of a recalcitrant husband who refuses his wife a religious divorce
Text of the standard, traditional ketubah in Aramaic and English
An example of a halakhic (sanctioned by some interpretations of Jewish law) ketubah drawing on precedent from ancient text
A thoughtful article about how two modern brides reconciled tradition and feminism in their weddings
A brief description of this ritual, traditionally only practiced for the groom, but now embraced by both members of the couple, separately or together
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