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.
Kiddush: Humanist liturgy
Learn about the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract
The seven blessings of the wedding ceremony with original additions
An original song based on Song of Songs composed for a lesbian wedding
An original song based on lyrics from Song of Songs celebrating female same-sex love
Original song based on Pslams for a baby girl blessing, bat mitzvah, or wedding
Alternative mikveh ritual before a wedding
Seven Jewish traditions performed before a wedding
A couple discusses the rituals they created and reinterpreted at their wedding ceremony
Breaking the glass at a Jewish wedding is reinterpreted through a personal and kabbalistic lens
