Incredibly Emotional Orthodox Jewish Wedding
LB here! Before I married into my husband's giant family, I only had four cousins. Yep, four. One cousin from my mom's side, and three on my dad's. Well, as luck would have it, two of those cousins planned their weddings for the same beautiful Sunday in June. It was truly a terrible choice to have to make. The cousin from my mom's side eventually asked if I would read one of the Sheva Brachot, the seven blessings, during their ceremony, and I mean, how could I turn that down? It was a small comfort to know John and Maria would be with my other cousin all day, documenting every beautiful moment.
John worked with the groom while he was getting ready to get some awesome portraits.
The transformation into becoming a bride always begins with hair and makeup. Doesn't she have the most beautiful blue eyes?
The bride's sister finished fastening up the dress, and then the bride (the kallah, in Hebrew) takes a moment to let things sink in--this is really her wedding day!
It was an emotional day, and the bride and her mother take a moment to give each other comfort.
Family is so important, and a little place during a wedding with photos of loved ones we've lost is always a touching thing to see. You'll also see our kallah reading over some prayers before the day really gets rolling. It's good to have a moment to ground yourself before the chaos starts.
Aren't their wedding bands beautiful in their simplicity? In Jewish tradition, wedding bands must be of unbroken gold and without stones and embellishments. This is to symbolize the hope for a marriage that will be the same--no distractions or conflicts. It's a super interesting thing to read about.
When I asked my cousin about her day, she told me her best memory was during their first look. She was so nervous and excited, but in a good way.
After the first look, they took a few moments to do some formal portraits before the Hakhnassat Kallah (Attending the Bride) and Kabbalat Panim (the Groom's Table).
The bride's father was hospitalized unexpectedly in the days before the wedding. With the miracle of modern technology, he was able to see his eldest daughter's wedding in real time.
Like I said, an emotional day for sure as the bride and her sister hold hands with their mother, and the bride embraces her closest friends during the Hakhnassat Kallah (Attending the Bride).
During the Kabbalat Panim, the Groom's Table, the guys sign the ketubah and rejoice with the chosson.
Eventually, they start to sing and play music, and the groom goes to meet his bride for the veiling ceremony, the Bedeken.
The Bedeken is officially the start of the wedding ceremony. As they write at chabad.org, "The groom places the veil over the bride's face and recites the blessing given to Rebecca by her mother and brother before she left for her marriage to Isaac: Achotenu: at hayi le alfei revavah—'Our sister, be thou the mother of thou-sands of ten thousands' (Genesis 24:60)."
The bride enters the ceremony room as her father looks on.
Traditionally the bride and groom are escorted down the aisle by both parents. The bride's uncle, her father's brother, stepped in to take her father's place.
When you need a nap, you need a nap, even if it is during a wedding ceremony, and even if it looks like your sister doesn't approve.
Rabbi Posner, of Chabad Boston, reads the ketubah during the wedding ceremony.
The ceremony concludes and the bride and the chosson and kallah embrace.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom retreat for a little while for some alone time. Then they come back for more portraits. ;-)
They stepped out for a few quick portraits of the chosson and kallah before the reception got rolling.
The reception finally arrives, and it is time to let loose and relax!
The bride and groom share a dance together.
I love the pure joy in these reception photos.
At the end of a long, emotional, crazy day, it's such a comfort to be in the arms of your new spouse.
If you need a photographer who will tell your wedding day story artistically, creatively, and organically, say hello using the "contact us" button.
This spring wedding took place in at:
The Wilshire Grand Hotel
350 Pleasant Valley Way,
West Orange, NJ 07052
www.thewilshiregrandhotel.com
(973) 731-7007
er@thewilshiregrandhotel.com