Junior Rasmussen
Jewish weddings are steeped in tradition, with rituals that can take place in the weeks leading up to the wedding and seven days of celebrations after the event. The length of a Jewish wedding ceremony varies depending on the couple's religious movement and whether they choose to incorporate all Jewish rituals. The main wedding ceremony typically takes 25 to 45 minutes, but the entire celebration can last 5 to 7 hours, or even longer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding ceremony length | 25-45 minutes |
| Chuppah (canopy) ceremony length | Up to 30 minutes |
| Bedeken (veiling) length | 5-7 minutes |
| Kabbalat panim (reception) length | 1 hour to 1 hour and a half |
| Entire ceremony length | 5-7 hours |
| Dancing length | 2 hours to 4+ hours |
| Celebration length | 7 days |
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The ceremony
A Jewish wedding ceremony can be held at any time of the day, but they often take place in the afternoon or early evening. The entire wedding celebration usually lasts around seven hours, so a later start time ensures that the event finishes at a reasonable hour.
There are several pre-wedding traditions that occur on the wedding day, before the ceremony. One of these is the aufruf, a religious service that usually takes place at a synagogue the Saturday before the wedding. At this event, the groom or the couple is called to the Torah to recite blessings.
The wedding ceremony itself often begins with the kabbalat panim, or the greeting of the bride and groom, which can add an extra hour to the event. During this time, the bride and groom are separated as they greet their respective guests. The groom and his male family and friends also sign the ketubah, the marriage contract. The kabbalat panim ends with the bedeken, or veiling ceremony, where the groom places the veil over the bride's face. This ceremony is based on the biblical story in which Jacob was tricked into marrying the wrong sister, and it usually lasts around five to seven minutes.
After the ceremony, the couple may retreat to a private room, or yichud, to spend some time together. Following this and the cocktail hour, the reception begins.
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The reception
Following the Kabbalas Panim, the wedding ceremony takes place, which includes the Chuppah, or the wedding canopy, symbolizing the new home being built by the couple. The couple stands in the centre, surrounded by their closest family and friends, who form a 'wall of love' around them. The bride circles the groom seven times, symbolizing the building of a wall of love around their relationship. The couple then exchanges rings, with the groom giving the bride a ring under the canopy, and the breaking of a glass.
After the ceremony, the couple may go into a private room, known as yichud, to spend some time together for the first time as husband and wife. The reception then continues with dinner and dancing. The Hora, or chair dance, is a traditional part of the reception, where the bride and groom are hoisted above the crowd on chairs while guests dance around them ecstatically. The dancing can run for 2 to 4 hours, and guests will often drop out to rest and refresh. The traditional way to end the meal is with the birkat hamazon, or Grace after Meals, followed by the Sheva Brachot, or blessings after the meal. Booklets of prayers, or benchers, can be handed out to guests. The blessings over the wine are then recited, with two glasses of wine poured together into a third, symbolizing the creation of a new life together.
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The meal
The wedding meal is usually held after the Chuppah ceremony, which can last up to 30 minutes, and before the dancing begins. The entire wedding celebration can last 5-7 hours, and this includes the various rituals and ceremonies before and after the main event.
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The dancing
The dance is usually the Hora, a traditional Ashkenazi dance. The Krenzl is another Ashkenazi dance, in which the bride's mother is crowned with a wreath of flowers as her daughters dance around her. This dance traditionally takes place at the wedding of the mother's last unmarried daughter. The Mizinke is a dance for the parents of the bride or groom when their last child is wed.
The wedding day is considered the bride and groom's personal Yom Kippur, and they may choose to fast leading up to the wedding. The Yichud is a period when the couple can break their fast and have their first meal together, before the dancing and celebrations of nissuin begin. The nissuin is the second of two distinct stages of the Jewish wedding process, the first being kiddushin, or betrothal. The kiddushin is effected when the groom gives the bride the wedding band. The nissuin is when the couple starts their life together.
The whole wedding celebration, from beginning to end, can take 5-7 hours. However, the seven days following the wedding are also considered a time of celebration, known as Sheva Brachot. During this time, Orthodox Jews celebrate with friends and family, hosting festive meals in honour of the newlyweds.
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The celebrations after the wedding
The newlyweds traditionally perform the Yichud, where they spend some time alone, breaking their fast and having their first meal together as a married couple. This moment provides them with a secluded opportunity to relax and connect before rejoining their guests for the rest of the festivities.
Dancing is a significant part of the post-wedding celebrations and can last for several hours. Guests form a circle in the middle of the room, and everyone takes turns dancing in front of the seated couple to entertain them. The band adds to the lively atmosphere as people celebrate the union of the newlyweds.
The wedding feast is a time for merriment and culinary delights. It is often separated into two parts: a more subdued celebration with men and women in different areas, followed by a livelier gathering where everyone mixes and dances together. The bride and groom are usually offered drinks, and the groom may go around with a bottle, offering a L'chaim to his male guests.
In addition to the festivities on the day of the wedding, there are often celebrations that extend beyond. For Orthodox Jews, this includes seven nights of celebrations, known as Sheva Brachot, where friends and family gather to host festive meals in honour of the newlyweds.
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Frequently asked questions
A Jewish wedding celebration can last anywhere from 5 to 7 hours, followed by seven days of celebration. However, the rituals and preparation for the wedding can go on for weeks before the actual wedding.
The wedding ceremony (Chuppah) can last up to 30 minutes, depending on the length of the readings. The entire ceremony, including the Bedeken, Chuppah, recitations, reception, and Jewish dancing, can take 5-6 hours.
The reception can last for a couple of hours, with the older guests leaving after the first few hours, and the remaining guests, usually relatives and close friends, staying until the early hours of the morning.
