Some Preliminaries
Traditionally the Jewish wedding starts with the signing of the marriage contract or ketubbah. The ketubbah is a document that describes the rights and obligations of the bride and groom. It is signed by the groom and then given to the bride for safekeeping. In modern weddings the bride also signs the contract. This document is often framed and displayed in the newlyweds' home.

After the signing of the contract the groom goes up to his bride and gazes into her face. Having confirmed that she is the woman he chosen to marry, he lowers her veil over her face. This is a symbolic representation of the lesson learned from the story of Jacob who was tricked into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, his true love. Leah pretended to be Rachel and covered her face with her veil so Jacob wouldn't know the truth.

The Stage
The wedding ceremony takes place under the huppah (wedding canopy). The huppah is often made of velvet with embroidery and fringes but sometimes a floral canopy is used. The huppah is supported by four poles which is optionally held during the ceremony by friends or relatives. Under the huppah is a table with two glasses and a bottle of kiddush wine.

The Ceremony
By custom all of the immediate relatives are part of the wedding party. The bride and groom are escorted down the aisle by their parents. Siblings can act as attendants and grandparents may have a place in the procession. Under the huppah the bride stands to the right of the groom. Under Orthodox custom, the bride may circle the groom seven times (representing the seven wedding blessings) before taking her place at his right.

After the introduction by the rabbi, the groom recites his wedding vow and gives the ring to the bride. Traditionally the ring is a plain gold band without any breaks or engravings. This type of ring is used because it clearly shows the true value and purity of the ring. At the ceremony the ring is placed on the bride's right index finger because it is the finger of intelligence (it is the finger that points at the words when reading the Torah). Modern brides that follow this custom will sometimes switch the ring to the left hand after the ceremony.

Next the ketubbah is read aloud. This is followed by a reading of the seven wedding blessings by various guests. During this reading the bride and groom sip their wine. When the reading is done, the groom breaks a glass with his foot. The breaking of the glass represents various things, one of which is the destruction of the Temple. The shattered glass also reminds us of how fragile life is.

The Celebration!
The wedding party then proceeds down the aisle, led by the bride and groom. At this point, the couple may perform a traditional ritual known as yihud (union). For this they will go to a private room where they will briefly eat some food (typically a broth) together. They will then go to the reception area for the festivities.

A typical celebration includes circle dancing where the bride and groom may be lifted above the circle. In Orthodox communities, where dancing with the opposite sex is prohibited, a special dance may be done where the dance partners will hold opposite ends of a scarf. If either the bride or groom is the last child of the family to be married, another special dance may be performed for the parents to celebrate their success in marrying off all of their children.