You are engaged. Mazel Tov! The next step is to plan the wedding. If you or your fiance, or both of you, are Jewish, there are certain things to consider when planning your big day.
The first thing you need to do is pick the date. Most rabbis won’t do a ceremony on Saturday because it is the Jewish Sabbath. When choosing the date, also take into consideration when the monthly cycle of the bride’s is. She will often be required to immerse in the Mikvah, which is the ceremonial bath, the night prior to the wedding and she needs to be “clean” for the seven days beforehand.
After the date has been decided, the ceremony is next to be planned. Depending on the couple’s religious background, most couples get married under the special wedding canopy, known as a huppah. If the couple is very Orthodox, they don’t see each other for seven days before the big day, and they also have to fast during the twenty-four hours building up to the ceremony. At the beginning of the ceremony the bride, along with her mother, circles around the groom seven times. A lot of prayers are said and when the ceremony is done, the groom takes a glass and stomps it with his foot. This is supposed to chase away the “evil eye”. If the couple is not as Orthodox, they will usually decide on a few traditions to have and then say the prayers in both Hebrew and English.
Choosing a location for the reception is also important. Make the decision based upon the traditions of the groom and brides’ religious views, as well as those of their guests. For Jews who are Orthodox, a partition, also known as a mehitza, is used to keep separation between the women and men during the reception. Make sure the venue you choose can accommodate that. Consider if you are going to have kosher food at your reception. Make sure the venue can supply the food themselves or if they will let you bring in your own kosher catering.
One of the most fun things about Jewish weddings is the music. Dancing the horah and lifting the groom and bride up on chairs is one of the most memorable parts of the night. Cake is eaten, speeches are given, and the bride tosses the bouquet.
Don’t stress out too much about planning your wedding. Regardless of your religious tradition, the event is about your love for each other. It should be fun and after the night is finished, people should go home happy, inebriated, and wishing the new couple a happy, healthy, and long life together.
