Jewish marriage, a codified ceremony

The religious ceremony of the Jewish wedding must conform to the rules and conditions imposed by the religion. This traditional event symbolises both the couple's vow to join together for life and their commitment to traditional values. Here's what you need to do to have a proper Jewish wedding.

Strict conditions to be respected

Jewish marriage is one of the most codified ceremonies. It can only take place when all the conditions are met. A Jewish wedding can only take place when both spouses are of the Jewish faith. This first condition is irrevocable and no exception is tolerated. If one of the spouses is not of the Jewish faith, he or she must convert. In order to do so, he or she must follow a defined procedure for conversion. This rule applies to both men and women. Several steps are necessary to achieve conversion. Once the rule has been honoured, it is possible to prepare the ceremony. The rituals begin the day before the ceremony when the woman must take a purifying bath. This is the mikveh.

During the wedding day, the lovers must also fast. Of course, the civil wedding must be performed before the religious wedding. This is a second requirement of the Jewish wedding ceremony. It is possible to perform the Jewish wedding every day except Saturday, the Sabbath, holidays and during the Omer period.

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How does a Jewish religious wedding take place?

The kosher wedding is celebrated under the hupa in the synagogue. It is the bridal canopy symbolising the family home. The ceremony takes place in several stages and must respect an order of priority.

The rabbi stands under the stupa, followed by the groom
The bride approaches the altar
The groom puts the prayer veil or talith over his face
The rabbi reads the blessing of the bride and groom
He blesses the wine
Then comes the moment of the exchange of rings. The groom puts the ring on his future wife's finger. He then puts a beautiful gold ring on her finger in front of the two witnesses.
The rabbi reads the marriage contract and has it signed by the groom. This is the ketubah.
The rabbi goes on to read the seven blessings of marriage over a second cup of wine.
The ceremony ends. The groom breaks the drunken glass with his right foot. This gesture is done in memory of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. It is believed that the more shards of glass, the better off the couple will be.
The couple left the hupa to the cheers of the guests who shouted "mazel tov".
The newlyweds: the hatan (groom) and kala (bride) then join the Yi'houd room, an intimate place reserved for them.

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Preparing for a Jewish Wedding: What you need to know

Jewish weddingsrequire a number of specific preparations that must also be followed to the letter. The bride and groom must prepare for the ceremony with the rabbi. The bride-to-be must also attend classes with a married woman. The latter will teach her all the rules to be respected and the behaviour to be adopted by a married woman. She also gives advice to help her.

Rituals in Jewish Marriage

This ceremony is marked by several rituals. This is the case of the purification bath or mikveh. The fact that the spouses fast on the wedding day also means a lot. By uniting in the Jewish religion, the bride and groom agree to live in love and mutual respect. They will also be expected to carry on these traditions by instilling the values of religion and marriage in their offspring. Similarly, they will have to fulfil all obligations to the Jewish people.

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Jewish wedding: what to wear?

Jewish weddings do not have strict dress regulations. In the synagogue, the usual standards imposed by the church are to be observed. The bride usually wears a white wedding dress and the groom a suit.

How does the reception work?

The wedding meal is called seouda and is prepared by a kosher caterer.. During the reception, music and dancing are used to celebrate. The festive meals last for seven days after the wedding day. At the end of each meal, blessings are always recited.

Contacting a Rabbi for a Jewish Wedding

If one of the spouses is Jewish, the bride and groom should contact a rabbi to organise the celebration. This religious person will guide them in all the steps of the weddinge. In particular, he will ensure that all the requirements are met. The rabbi will also help the bride and groom to adopt the right gestures in order to prepare the ceremony properly.

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To marry at Grand Hôtel des Sablettes-Plage

Ideally located facing the Mediterranean Sea, the Grand Hôtel des Sablettes-Plage is a small piece of paradise a few kilometres from Toulon.

Let yourself be charmed by the refined elegance of this fabulous late 19th century building, offering you top-of-the-range services for all the highlights of your wedding.

The garden terrace overlooking the sea offers you direct access to the beach that will surely seduce all your guests. We invite you to experience a dream wedding in this 4-star establishment, which is part of the prestigious Curio Collection by Hilton.

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