Honoring Jewish Wedding Traditions

Honoring Jewish Wedding Traditions

Jewish weddings are full of rituals related to history and culture, and the emphasis on community and meaning is rich. Any wedding photographer who knows how to cover one knows there are some special things that simply can’t be missed. These include the signing of the ketubah which is part of Jewish civil law, the ceremony under the chuppah that symbolizes home, the Seven Blessings from family and friends, and the breaking of the glass after the ceremony which always ends with shouts of Mazel Tov! And of course, every Jewish wedding is wonderfully topped off by a line dance called the Hora, where the bride and groom, and often moms and dads, are raised up high above the crowd on chairs (and sometimes by other means that are even more exciting). Scroll down to see 15 wonderful photos that share the love and joy of Jewish weddings from some seriously skillful and culturally savvy wedding photographers.

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The Ketubah, a marriage contract that catalogs a husband's obligations to his wife, is traditionally read aloud and then given into the safekeeping of the bride..

Photographed by Storey Wilkins Photography - Ontario, Canada photographers
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Groom and veiled bride during the Seven Blessings

Photographed by Alex Paul Photography - Boston Massachusetts photographers
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​​Elder men blessing the groom

Photographed by Gloria Ruth Photography - Miami, Florida photographers
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Ceremony under the chuppah, a canopy that symbolizes God’s presence at the wedding and in the home.

Photographed by Joe Appel Photography - Pennsylvania photographers
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Prayers during the marriage ceremony

Photographed by M. Hart Photo - Los Angeles, California photographers
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Father embraces groom during ceremony

Photographed by M. Hart Photo - Los Angeles, California photographers
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Ceremony under elaborate crystal chuppah

Photographed by El Marco Rojo - Spain photographer
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Applause for couple kiss under hand quilted chuppah

Photographed by David and Sherry Photography - Ontario, Canada photographers
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Elaborate floral wall behind chuppah reflected in pool

Photographed by El Marco Rojo - Spain photographer
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Ceremonial stomping of the glass, an affirmation of difficulties that accompany joy: “As this glass shatters, so may our marriage never break.”

Photographed by f5 Photography - UK photographers
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Groom in tallis (prayer shawl), a reminder of the commandments in the Bible, at ceremony recessional

Photographed by Thierry Joubert Photography - France photographers
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Guests form a circle for the hora, a traditional dance where the newlyweds are lifted into the air while their family and friends dance in circles around them.

Photographed by Two Mann Studios - Calgary, Canada photographers
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Couple aloft during hora dance

​​​​​​Photographed by La Vie Photography - Seattle, Washington photographers
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Tossing the bride during hora dance

Photographed by Morgan Lynn Photography - Colorado photographers
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Couple standing on trays instead of sitting in chairs for traditional hora dance

Photographed by Alex Gordias Photography - Boston, Massachusetts photographers
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