How do Jewish people celebrate a wedding?

Answer 1

The Orthodox wedding has four parts. The first two parts are under the Chuppah (wedding canopy).

Before the ceremony gets underway, the two families meet and agree upon tanaim (what their respective financial support to the couple will be). This may take place at any time before the wedding.

Just prior to the chuppah, the groom, led by the parents, approaches the bride and places a veil upon her which will remain during the chuppah. This is based on a tradition from Jacob.

The first part of the wedding: under the chuppah, the groom gives an item of value (customarily a gold ring) to the bride and, in Hebrew, declares his intention to marry her (see Tosafot commentary, to Talmud Ketubot 3a). Then a blessing is said (Talmud, Ketubot 7b). Technically, this actually constitutes the binding stage of the engagement, and in ancient times was usually done separately from the wedding ceremony.

Between the first and second parts of the wedding, the Rabbi customarily reads aloud the ketubah (marriage contract).

The second part of the wedding: the seven wedding-blessings (see Talmud, Ketubot 8a) are sung over a cup of wine, and the bride and groom take a drink from the cup. Then a glass or plate is broken, to symbolize that even in this happy time, we remain aware of the Destruction of the Temple (see also Tosafot commentary, to Talmud Berakhot 31a).

The third part of the wedding: the bride and groom retire in privacy for several minutes to a room. This constitutes a symbolic consummation and finalizes the formal portion of the marriage. During this seclusion they break the fast which they observed on their wedding day.

The fourth part of the wedding: the couple then enter the adjacent wedding hall, and the festive meal is served to the assembled guests amid a lot of music and dancing (see Talmud, Ketubot 17a).

Answer 2

The marriage itself is performed under the Chuppah (wedding canopy). The Rabbi reasds the marriage contract, the groom places a ring on the finger of the bride and declares that she will be betrothed to him, and seven blessings are said over a cup of wine. Then the couple adjourns to a private room, which serves as a nominal consummation; and they break their fast. After that, they enter the wedding hall, where there are several hours of singing and dancing during the wedding feast.

Answer 3

Family is very important in Judaism; and weddings are a very happy occasion, with a lot of rejoicing. The Torah gives prominence to history's first Jewish wedding (Genesis ch.24).

In traditional marriages, the groom is led to the bride, where he places a veil over her face. Then they are led to the wedding canopy, where seven blessings are recited over wine (Talmud, Ketubot 8a). The Rabbi reads the Aramaic marriage contract; and the groom places a gold ring on the bride's finger, saying "Behold, you are betrothed to me with this ring, according to the religion of Moses and Israel." The young couple then retire to a private room where they break their fast. After that, everyone goes to the main room of the wedding-hall, where there is food, music and dancing for several hours.

Answer 4

The Orthodox wedding has four parts. The first two parts are under the Chuppah (wedding canopy).
Before the ceremony gets underway, the two families meet and agree upon tanaim (what their respective financial support to the couple will be). This may take place at any time before the wedding.
Just prior to the chuppah, the groom, led by his father and father-in-law, approaches the bride and places a veil upon her which will remain during the chuppah. This is based on a tradition from Jacob.
The first part of the wedding: under the chuppah, the groom gives an item of value (customarily a gold ring) to the bride; and, in Hebrew, declares his intention to marry her (see Tosafot commentary, to Talmud Ketubot 3a). Then a blessing is said (Talmud, Ketubot 7b).

Technically, this actually constitutes the binding stage of the engagement, and in ancient times was usually done separately from the wedding ceremony.
Between the first and second parts of the wedding, the Rabbi customarily reads aloud the ketubah (marriage contract).

The second part of the wedding: the seven wedding-blessings (see Talmud, Ketubot 8a) are sung over a cup of wine, and the bride and groom take a drink from the cup. Then a glass or plate is broken, to symbolize that even in this happy time, we remain aware of the Destruction of the Temple (Tosafot commentary, on Talmud Berakhot 31a).

The third part of the wedding: the bride and groom retire in privacy for several minutes to a room. This constitutes a symbolic consummation and finalizes the formal portion of the marriage. During this seclusion they break the fast which they observed on their wedding day.

The fourth part of the wedding: the couple then enter the adjacent wedding hall, and the festive meal is served to the assembled guests amid a lot of music and dancing (see Talmud, Ketubot 17a).

See also:

How does having a Jewish wedding affect the couple?

Answer 5

With love and happiness for the Jewish bride and groom.

Answer 6

With a wedding ceremony, meal or seuda, and LOTS of dancing.