Jewish Wedding Customs - information from Wikipedia
A Jewish wedding usually follows this format:
- Before the ceremony, the couple formalize a written ketubah (marriage contract), specifying their obligations to each other and contingencies in case of divorce. The ketubah is signed by two witnesses and later read under the chuppah.
- The couple is married under a wedding canopy (Chuppah), signifying their new home together. The chuppah can be made from a piece of cloth or other material attached to four poles, or a prayer shawl (talit held over the couple by four family members or friends.
- The couple is accompanied to the chuppah by both sets of parents, and stands under the chuppah along with other family members if desired.
- Seven blessings are recited, blessing the bride and groom and their new home.
- The couple sip from a glass of wine.
- At some weddings the couple may declare that each is sanctified to the other, and/or repeats other vows, and exchanges rings. In Orthodox and traditional Jewish weddings, the bride does not speak under the chuppah and only she receives a ring. The groom recites "Harei at mekudeshet li k'dat Moshe V'Yisrael"- "behold you are [thus] sanctified to me as the law of Moses and Israel" as he places the ring on the bride's right index finger. The bride's silence and acceptance of the ring signify her agreement to the marriage. This part of the ceremony is called kiddushin.
- The groom then says:
"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth. if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem in my highest joy."
- The ceremony ends with the groom breaking a glass underfoot, The breaking of the glass represents the Jewish community's continuing sorrow of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; no celebration is totally complete without the Temple.
- The couple spend their first moments as man and wife in seclusion, "cheder yichud"- "the room of seclusion (or 'oneness')" which halachically 'seals' the marriage to a greater degree.
- The ceremony is followed by a "seudat mitzvah", the wedding meal, as well as music and dancing.
- At the conclusion of the wedding meal, Grace After Meals is recited as well as the seven wedding blessings.
The couple will celebrate for seven more days called the "sheva brachot" (seven blessings) during which the seven wedding blessings are recited at every large gathering during this time.