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Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Bride and groom smiling at each other during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with an officiant in the background.

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.
 

Latest Rituals

Honoring seven role models by asking for their blessing

many hands touching

A new version of erusin focusing on the vulnerability of intimacy and the holiness of committed relationships

Bride and groom holding hands and smiling at each other under a wedding arch.

Seven blessings to offer at a wedding loosely based on the traditional sheva brakhot

man and woman holding hands palms down

Looking forward to a day when all loving couples can rejoice under the huppah in a marriage recognized by federal and state law

Floral arch on a beach with candles on a table beneath, ocean and sky in the background.

A ritual meant for a couple to really see each other, as if for the first time, on their wedding day

Close-up of hands pouring water from a blue ceramic jug into a matching bowl, symbolizing a ceremonial act.

A Jewish version of renewing vows to celebrate an anniversary or life change or to re-commit after a particular trying time or marital crisis

Floral arch on a beach with candles on a table beneath, ocean and sky in the background.

A contemporary tisch focused on bringing grateful awareness to the wedding day

People holding hands around a candlelit dinner table with wine and plates, creating a cozy atmosphere.

When, under traditional Jewish law, you can get married and when you cannot, where to hold a wedding, and whom to invite

planning journal

Who can officiate at a Jewish wedding? How do you find them, and what should you ask?

bride and groom under canopy

A checklist for planning a Jewish wedding

person checking off items on to do list

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

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The Reconstructionist Network