We’re all here for the same reason: we love Jewish weddings – and at STG, it goes without saying that our family of Smashing Suppliers are no exception. But what is it about a Jewish wedding that makes everyone want to be a part of the tradition, whether they’re Jewish or not?
We put the call out to our Smashing Suppliers to tell us their favourite element of a Jewish wedding and explain why it means so much to them – and they certainly had a lot to say on the subject! So take five minutes out of your day, sit down, relax and enjoy a verbal highlights reel of our suppliers’ favourite things. Oh, and don’t forget the most important thing of all:
The Tisch
We love the Tisch – it’s a fantastic moment, a totally kosher excuse for a last-second boisterous boys’ club for the groom and his crew to knock back some whiskey and get pumped up for the occasion. You can read more about the Tisch here.
Rahul from F5 Photography said:
“One of my favourite parts of a Jewish Wedding is the Tisch, it’s amazing to see all the ‘boys’ get together and celebrate the groom getting married, whilst singing songs and having a few shots of whiskey! The camaraderie is amazing to witness and photograph, it’s also really cool that the Rabbi often joins in too and has a drink with the groom.”
The Badeken
We had a first-look tradition before it was cool. That’s right, the Badeken is that touching moment when the bride and groom lock eyes for the first time before the ceremony. It’s moving, intimate and special – and, of course, our suppliers adore it.
Debbie from Qube Events & Productions said:
“One of my favourite parts of a Jewish wedding is the Badeken. I love seeing the expression on the brides’ and grooms’ faces when they see each other before for the wedding; usually very emotional and lots of happy tears.”
The Chuppah
The Chuppah is the traditional canopy under which Jewish couples conduct their ceremony. It’s one of our favourite aspects of a Jewish wedding because, symbolising the home the couple will create together, it’s such a fantastic opportunity for them to show off their creativity and express something truly personal about themselves.
Tania from Dany’s Traiteur said:
“It is very difficult to choose because I always have a special relationship with my brides and I am often the only one shedding tears just before the Chuppah.
Some of my favourite moments at a Jewish wedding are: when the bride is entering the chuppah with her father and when she’s having a dance with her father.
However, my very best personal Jewish wedding moment was one wedding we worked on where the bride was about to head towards the Chuppah and she realised that everybody was already at the Chuppah and she realised there was nobody to help her to put the veil on her face. She said ‘it’s for you’ and I did it…”
Ivor from Shir said:
“The bride’s procession to the chuppah – a beautiful and emotional moment when they always look stunning.”
Philippa from Philippa Louise Make Up said:
“My favourite thing about a Jewish wedding has got to be the traditions: the beautiful powerful singing under the chuppah and the craziness of the dancing!”
Involving the family
Family is so important in Jewish culture. Newcomers may wonder why it always sounds like we’re mid noisy row, but we know that it’s just a form of especially exuberant communication, and we wouldn’t trade it for the world! This has not gone unnoticed by our fabulous suppliers.
Chloe from 8 Northumberland said:
“The whole family is involved in planning a Jewish wedding rather than just the bride and groom and they always want to find a venue that no one has been to before.”
Kylie from Kylie McMichael Make Up said:
“My favourite thing about a Jewish wedding is the mother AND father giving the bride away, something I think other religious ceremonies could take on. I love the idea of two beings that have taken care of you your whole life passing you into the partial care of someone else. Simple.”
Adriana from Ink With Intent said:
“My favourite thing about a Jewish wedding is how (at least, typically) both parents walk the groom and the bride down the aisle. I always thought it was odd that the mother of the bride was left out of the processional in many of the weddings I saw growing up. I couldn’t imagine not having my mother, as well as my father, at my side during this important moment! I think this Jewish wedding tradition in particular really speaks to the importance of the whole family in these big life-cycle events.”
Smashing The Glass
We’re not too bothered about smashing the glass, to be honest. ONLY JOKING! We love the cathartic and beautiful end to a Jewish ceremony that we named our whole blog after it! And who wouldn’t? It’s an epic way to signal the end of the ceremony and the start of married life.
Laura from Reviva Weddings said:
“One moment I always find emotional is the smashing of the glass at the end of the ceremony, it heralds the marriage and the start of the celebrations.“
Jayne from Venice Events said:
“For me, as a non-Jewish person, I love the ceremony itself. Those details, the bride walking around the groom, the breaking of the glass, every little detail of a very family felt ceremony.
I once organised a ceremony with children singing in Hebrew and it was one of the most moving ceremonies I have ever had the privilege to witness. There is so much for me to learn when being involved in Jewish weddings, each and every one special. I love the beautiful detail of the Ketubah too.”
The Hora (Jewish Dancing / Israeli Dancing)
You can’t have a Jewish wedding without a good Hora! It’s the perfect way to break the ice at your reception, bring everyone together as a group and, of course, have the knees up of a lifetime.
Herschel from Herschel Gutman Photography said:
“My favourite think about a Jewish wedding is the Israeli dancing (the Hora). The wilder it is the better the expressions on everyones faces. Most of the time the guests have never experienced a Hora, so it takes them by surprise. But once they get into the swing of things, they are leaping over bodies, being swung around the room and lifting the couple into the air on chairs. Something you don’t get to see normally.”
Jennifer from Jennifer’s Paper said:
“My absolute favourite part of a Jewish wedding is the Hora – I know it might be clichà©d, but it puts everyone in a great mood and guests (Jewish and not) just love it. Some of my favourite wedding photos are taken during the hora – smiles are wide and full of genuine excitement.
And the look on people’s faces as the bride and groom are up on the chairs is priceless (as are the bride and groom’s). There is also a bit of nostalgia about it too – imagining it was danced at your parents and grandparents weddings alike.”
Ivor from Shir said:
“When the new husband and wife are lifted on chairs to connect with a handkerchief during the Simcha dancing – joyful celebration.”
Shaun from Shaun Taylor Photography said:
“It’s all about getting involved. There’s no room to be stood on the sidelines!”
Richard from Sensation Band said:
“What I love most about a Jewish wedding is the fact that it’s totally normal to launch someone dressed in a suit five metres into the air on a tablecloth.”
Louise from Louise Perry Weddings said:
“Without a shadow of a doubt it’s the Israeli dancing. I love the music, the energy on the dance floor and from the band and also just seeing the bride and grooms faces when they are on the chairs.
Its even better when you get a wedding where a lot of the guests aren’t Jewish and they get introduced to this for the first time. It’s just brilliant.”
Iain from Gomes Photography said:
“It has to be the Israeli dancing. Honestly sometimes there’s so much action going on you don’t know where to point the camera. Often I walk away battered and bruised but it’s so worth it.”
Candice from Paper Anniversary said:
“I love the dancing! Dancing at Jewish weddings is always dynamic, high energy and just plain fun. And because of all those calories burned, there is no guilt in having a second piece of wedding cake.”
Laura from Reviva Weddings said:
“I always love the hora! Always brilliant and do make sure I keep out the way!”
Liesl from Lamare London said:
“There are so many Jewish traditions that I love, but my favourite would have to be the Hora because of the infectious sounds of Hava Nagila with friends and family ecstatically dancing around in a circle in celebration of the newlyweds. Guests at Jewish weddings sure know how to have fun and dance!”
The atmosphere
Let’s face it – we Jews know how to party! It’s no surprise, then, that we received the most comments about the dancing and atmosphere at Jewish weddings – and we agree wholeheartedly with every one of them.
Max from Wedding Smashers said:
“We love the way in which sound plays such a key role in Jewish weddings. From gentle yiddish violins playing the couple down the aisle, to the uproar as the glass is smashed, we find that the sound (along with the food) is at the heart of Jewish weddings.
Everyone likes to dance at a wedding, however , the organised disorder on the Jewish wedding dance floor never ceases to amaze; the men come out soaked and the women seem to not have a hair out of place, it really is a spectacle! The crescendo comes when the bride and groom are lofted into the heavens on chairs. To see hundreds of guests having so much fun really is one of the reasons we do what we do.”
Geoff from Ambassador Band said:
“There are so many parts of Jewish weddings that are great fun and enjoyable. The food is always amazing and the atmosphere is always electric. If I had to pin point a specific part that I/we liked most then the thing that stands out for me is the fact that everyone has a good old dance right at the beginning of the night before for dinner or speeches have even started. This does not happen at any other type of wedding and it is specific to Jewish weddings and events.
Everyone gets up to join in with the Israel dancing set no matter what as it is traditional for every guest to be on or around the dancefloor and dancing – and everyone always does. This instantly sets the mood for the evening and breaks the ice within seconds. The atmosphere and vibe for the rest of the night is on a win win situation as everyone is in a great mood and up for a great party. For us as musicians and the band for the evening, this is great as the dance floor fills instantly for all of the additional sets we play beyond this.”
Valentina from Italian Lakes Weddings said:
“I could say that I love all the little steps of the ceremony that are just full of symbols and rituals, but, being honest, our appreciation is on a different level. It is something connected to the mood and the atmosphere you can always breath at a Jewish wedding. What we love seeing at Jewish weddings is the sense of belonging and the full involvement of all guests – from the very young to the older ones – in the ceremony, reception and the dances. Dances are the best, everybody dances, everybody is involved and is having fun celebrating the bride and groom and all their families in a fantastic whirlwind of dances. Dances to us really symbolise the group identity. It is a joyful moment and everybody is part of it on a higher and spiritual level.”
Stefania from Italian Wedding Company said:
“The thing that I really appreciate about Jewish weddings is the fact that they love a party moment.
The whole wedding is a party, from the moment they move to dinner area, it’s just fun for everybody, from the young guy to the old lady, which is something amazing. I remember the first time I saw a group of all ladies dancing like crazy I remained astonished in the best sense of the word. They do not even care about what they eat or if at the end they are all sweaty with their clothes all upside down, they just want to dance and have fun. This is something which is quiet unusual in all types of weddings, most of all Italian weddings where only young people dance.
The seated dinner becomes a moment that keeps everybody together, it’s a way to share love and happiness.”
Alice from SposiamoVi said:
“Jewish weddings are above all our favourites for entertainment and music. These elements are such a priority for Jewish crowds that they always manage to get the best bands that really make a unique party! The shows are so engaging that even the staff behind the scenes have fun! Also traditional klezmer music and the Hora are beautiful.
As a matter of fact, Judaism and music are strongly tied, through music and folk dances Jewish people express their culture made up of mixed influences. Other things we love are the strong traditions, the fascinating rituals and the bond between families that shine throughout the wedding day.”
Debbie from Qube Events & Productions said:
“It’s the part when everyone attending sits down for the meal and the bride and groom are outside ready to make their entrance. When I’m running a wedding I always get to give the band the cue for when they enter, and its so exciting as the bride and groom get to peek their heads inside the room and see it set up for the first time, we usually have all the friends jumping up and down with arches and confetti cannons and the bride and groom really relaxed and very excited to run in the room to start their simcha dancing.”
So there you have it! Our Smashing Suppliers love a whole lot of the above, so you can get on with a whole lot of this! L’chaim, everyone!
What an amazing read. I love getting to know different traditions than mine, they’re all so very interesting. Thank you for sharing.