Deborah Chan
The Jewish wedding is a rich tapestry of tradition and symbolism. From the veiling ceremony to the signing of the ketubah, each ritual holds a special meaning for the couple and their families. One such tradition is the act of standing, which is performed by both guests and the wedding party at various points during the ceremony. But why do guests stand for the bride in a Jewish wedding, and what does this ritual symbolise?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Guests stand for the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle | Respect for the bride and groom |
| Bride stands to the groom's right | "A queen shall stand at your right side" (Psalms) |
| Direction faced by the couple | East (towards Jerusalem) or any convenient direction |
| Bride's side of the aisle | Right |
| Groom's side of the aisle | Left |
| Bride's escorts | Both mothers or father and mother |
| Groom's escorts | Both fathers or father and mother |
| Veil | Reminder of Jacob being tricked by Laban into marrying Leah before Rachel |
| Emphasizes the groom's interest in the bride's inner beauty |
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What You'll Learn
Guests stand for the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle
In Jewish weddings, guests stand for the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle. This custom is rooted in the idea of honouring and respecting the couple on their wedding day, with the bride and groom taking on "celebrity status" for the day.
The wedding ceremony itself is a highly ritualised affair, with specific customs and traditions that are followed. The groom usually arrives at the chuppah (the wedding canopy) first, as it is considered the symbolic home of the groom, and he must welcome his bride. The bride is then escorted to the chuppah, often by both her mother and the groom's mother, and takes her place on the right side of the groom, symbolising the verse in Psalms, "a queen shall stand at your right side."
During the ceremony, all participants under the chuppah stand, including the bride, groom, their parents, and the rabbi. In many circles, it is also traditional for the assembled guests to stand, showing deference to the couple. The rabbi may face east, in the direction of Jerusalem, while the couple faces the guests or turns to face the rabbi and witnesses, depending on the custom.
The Jewish wedding process has two stages: kiddushin (betrothal) and nissuin (marriage). The first stage marks the point when the couple is betrothed, and the second stage permits them to be together. The chuppah ceremony accomplishes the nissuin, symbolising the new home the couple is building together.
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Bride and groom face each other during the ceremony
In a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom stand under the chuppah, or wedding canopy, which symbolises the new home they will build together as a married couple. The bride stands to the groom's right, which is said to allude to the verse in Psalms, "a queen shall stand at your right side".
While the direction in which the couple faces is not set in stone, it is customary for them to face the wedding guests during the ceremony. In most American weddings, the couple faces only the rabbi and witnesses, reflecting the personal nature of the celebration. The rabbi, cantor, and witnesses, in turn, face the couple. The direction in which the rabbi looks may also vary, though it is customary for them to face east, with their back to the guests.
The wedding ceremony itself is preceded by the veiling ceremony, during which the groom covers the bride's face, usually with a veil. This custom is said to symbolise that the groom is interested in the bride's inner beauty, which will never fade. The couple is then led to the chuppah for the marriage ceremony. The groom arrives first, as the chuppah is considered the symbolic home of the groom, who must be there to welcome his bride.
The chuppah is also where the ketubah, or marriage contract, is read aloud, usually in its original Aramaic. The ketubah details the groom's obligations to the bride, including food, clothing, and marital relations. This document is legally binding and is often displayed in the couple's home after the wedding.
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Bride stands to the groom's right
In Jewish weddings, guests stand for the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle. The bride customarily stands to the groom's right under the huppah, or wedding canopy, which is considered the symbolic home of the groom. This custom is said to allude to the verse in Psalms, "a queen shall stand at your right side." The bride's position to the right of the groom also represents the bride's encirclement of the groom, alluding to the seven cycles of creation during the biblical seven days of creation.
During the marriage ceremony, the bride and groom may face in any direction, although contemporary opinion tends toward facing east as the blessings refer to "the cities of Judea and the streets of Jerusalem." In most Hasidic weddings, the couple faces the wedding guests, while in most American weddings, they face only the rabbi and witnesses. The rabbi, cantor, and witnesses customarily face the bride and groom. The direction in which other members of the wedding party face is their own decision.
The huppah is usually accompanied by the parents of the couple, and a minyan, or quorum, of at least ten Jewish males over the age of thirteen to legally validate the marriage according to Jewish law. In liberal communities, the minyan consists of ten adults of either gender. It is customary for those escorting the couple to the huppah to carry candles, symbolically lighting the way of the couple as they begin their life together.
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Bride and groom are escorted to the chuppah by their parents
The Jewish wedding ceremony is steeped in tradition and ritual, each symbolic of the relationship between the bride and groom, their obligations to each other, and their commitment to Judaism. One such ritual is the escort of the bride and groom to the chuppah, the canopy held up by four poles that represents the home they will build together.
The bride and groom are usually escorted to the chuppah by their respective sets of parents. The parents are there to support and encourage the couple, preventing them from becoming overwhelmed on their way to be wed. The escorts lock elbows with the bride and groom as they lead them to the chuppah, and they carry candles to symbolise lighting the way for the couple's future life together. In some communities, it is customary for the grandparents of the bride and groom to join the procession.
In the case of divorced parents, another couple is chosen to escort the couple to the chuppah. The divorced parents are still expected to join the procession, but they are not the official escorts. The same is true for converts—the parents of the converts may join the procession, but they are not the official escorts.
In some communities, the groom is escorted by his father and father-in-law, with his father on his right, and the bride is escorted by her mother and mother-in-law, with her mother on her right.
The chuppah ceremony is considered a sacred moment, and all participants are expected to stand, except for the infirm and the elderly. The bride and groom stand at the centre of the chuppah, with the bride to the groom's right, and they face the guests. The rabbi stands facing the couple, looking in an easterly direction, with his back to the guests.
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The chuppah symbolises the couple's new home
In Jewish weddings, the chuppah is a canopy held up by four beams, symbolising the new home that the couple will build together. The chuppah is also referred to as the huppah or wedding canopy. The structure is traditionally placed outdoors under an open sky. The couple stands under the chuppah during the wedding ceremony, along with both sets of parents and the rabbi.
The chuppah is an integral part of the Jewish wedding ceremony, which is technically a two-stage process. The first stage is kiddushin (betrothal), and the second is nissuin (marriage), when the couple starts their life together. The ceremony that accomplishes nissuin is also known as chuppah. The chuppah is considered the symbolic home of the groom, and he arrives there first to welcome his bride. The bride stands to the right of the groom, and they may face in any direction, although contemporary opinion tends toward facing east.
The chuppah is often made from a cloth canopy, but some Sephardic weddings use the tallit (prayer shawl) worn by the groom as the chuppah. After the ceremony, the groom wraps the tallit around himself and his new wife, signifying their union. Before the ceremony, it is customary for the groom to cover the bride's face with a veil, and a prayer is said for her. This veiling ritual is known in Yiddish as badeken.
The chuppah ceremony is also when the ketubah (marriage contract) is read aloud, usually in its original Aramaic. The ketubah details the groom's obligations to the bride, including food, clothing, and marital relations. It is considered a legally binding agreement.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is customary for guests to stand for the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle.
The bride stands to the right of the groom under the chuppah, which is a canopy that symbolises the new home being built by the couple.
This position is an allusion to the verse in Psalms, "a queen shall stand at your right side".
