Jewish weddings are among the most ritual-dense ceremonies in American life. Even highly secular Jewish couples often include the chuppah, the ketubah, and the breaking of the glass.
The chuppah is the wedding canopy, four poles supporting a cloth roof under which the couple stands. It represents the new home the couple is building together. The open sides symbolize that the home will be open to guests and community.
The ketubah is the Jewish marriage contract. Historically it outlined the husband's obligations to his wife, a protective document at a time when women had few legal protections. In modern practice, egalitarian couples use updated texts describing mutual obligations. The ketubah is typically a work of art, signed by two witnesses before the ceremony and displayed in the couple's home.
Under the chuppah, one or both partners circle the other seven times, corresponding to the seven wedding blessings and the seven days of creation.
Under the chuppah, one or both partners circle the other seven times, corresponding to the seven wedding blessings and the seven days of creation. The Sheva Brachot are chanted during the ceremony and repeated at festive meals in the seven days after the wedding.
The ceremony ends with stomping on a glass wrapped in cloth. Even in the greatest joy, Jews remember the destruction of the Temple. The breaking of the glass anchors even a wedding in Jewish history and collective memory.
The hora is the circle dance that erupts at Jewish receptions. The whole room joins hands and dances in circles. The couple is lifted in chairs and carried through the crowd. It is chaotic, joyful, and one of the most genuinely communal moments in American Jewish life.