Jewish weddings are filled with many meaningful rituals meant to symbolise the beauty of the relationship between the couple, as well as their obligations to each other as people. In this blog we’ll be examining exactly what traditions couples must complete before their Jewish wedding.

As Smooth Operator excel in planning Jewish weddings, in this blog, we’ll be exploring what these Jewish wedding rituals and traditions consist of:

• Fasting

In Jewish tradition, the couple getting married take part in a “personal Yom Kippur” in which they fast to cleanse their souls and earn forgiveness. They must fast from the beginning to the end of their ceremony.

• Kabbalat Panim

It is customary for the couple to not see each other for a week before the wedding, this increases the excitement and anticipation leading up to the event. Therefore, the couple must greet guests separately, this is called “Kabbalat Panim”.

• Badeken

Badeken refers to the veiling of the bride by the groom, this symbolizes modesty and that the soul is more important that physical appearance. It also signals the groom’s commitment to clothe and protect his wife.

• Chuppah

The chuppah refers to the canopy in which the wedding takes place under. This symbolises the home the couple will build together.

We have more images of chuppah’s in our gallery.

• The Ring

In Judaism, a marriage becomes official once the groom gives something valuable to the bride. This can be done with a ring. The ring should be made of plain gold without any blemishes or ornaments (such as stones).

• Breaking the glass

One of the more well-known Jewish wedding traditions, the groom shatters the glass with his foot. The breaking of the glass represents the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and identifies the couple with the spirituality of Judaism. To read more about the breaking of the glass click here.

Then the wedding party can really begin!

Smooth Operator recognises that family and friends are one of the most important parts of a Jewish ceremony. These traditional values and rituals are an important part of the day and due to this Smooth Operator ensures they are included in every stage.

Planning a wedding? We’re a bespoke, seamless event agency who are dedicated to providing you with a stress free day to remember! As well as weddings, we specialise in barmitzvahs and batmitzvahs, parties, corporate events and many more!

Take a look at our services here or our galleries here. Contact us for more information here.