Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

Your ketubah is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a beautiful, meaningful document that represents your love, commitment, and the unique story of your marriage. But if you’re just diving into the world of Jewish wedding planning, you might be wondering: What exactly is the significance of a ketubah? Do we really need one? How do we pick the right one for us?

To answer all these questions (and many, many more!), we sat down with Adam Paskow, founder of Judaica brand Tchotchke, to get the lowdown on all things ketubah.

Evilish Eye Ketubah

Tchotchke, best known for their playful menorahs, mezuzahs, and kiddush cups, has just launched their brand new ketubah line. Featuring whimsical designs with a nod to tradition, each piece is designed for couples who feel that Judaism is an expression of ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. Based in New York City and shipping internationally, Tchotchke’s ketubah designs are some of the coolest we’ve seen—and we see a lot!

Papercut Ketubah

Whether you’re looking for guidance on selecting a design, navigating different text options, or even choosing the best pen for signing, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for your ultimate ketubah crash course.

Ketubah 101

Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by EFEGE

What is a ketubah?

Simply put, a ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract. It was originally created to financially protect women in case of divorce or widowhood, and ensure that the wife was properly cared for throughout the marriage. For most of us these days, it’s more of a symbolic representation of a couple’s union.

Why should we get a ketubah?

The reason to get a ketubah has evolved for most of us—what was once a legal document, for many people, is now a personal artifact from the most magical and transformative day of your life. We believe that couples should have a ketubah they want to hang proudly in their home not only for sentimental reasons, but also to celebrate their Judaism, regardless of what Judaism means to them. It’s our responsibility to fill our homes with Jewish art to preserve our history, customs and culture.

Full Cup Ketubah

What does a ketubah say?

We have many options of ketubah text to choose from, as well as an option to write your own. While these days, different denominations have different requirements and allowances for ketubah text, it is essentially a contract between partners on their wedding day, stating their obligations to each other. Some denominations use text that is relatively standardized, for example, an Orthodox ketubah does not generally differ from couple to couple, whereas a secular couple may choose to write their own ketubah, treating it more like an extension of their vows.

Petals Ketubah

Can we have a ketubah for our interfaith wedding?

Absolutely. We have an interfaith text option that celebrates mutual respect, understanding and compassion for each other’s beliefs while recognizing that shared religion isn’t a necessary ingredient for a healthy, happy, fulfilling union.

The Details

Alana and TJ‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by

Photo by EFEGE

What is the process for ordering a ketubah?

Start by picking your favorite design and you can simply place your order. It’s a good idea to review our text options first to make sure there is an option that resonates with you, but we will send you a form with the different options which you’ll choose from as well as filling out the personalized details for your ketubah. You’ll receive the form immediately after purchase, at which point you’ll pick the text, or choose to provide your own text. In addition to text options, the form will give you the option to input your names, wedding location and date, parents’ names, and signature lines. We’ll use this information to make a digital proof, which we will email you for approval before making your ketubah (if you are having a rabbi officiate the wedding, we highly recommend they sign off on the text as well). If at any point you feel overwhelmed, pause, take a deep breath and email us at shalom@shoptchotchke.com

How do we decide on text?

We recommend you start by reviewing the text options that match your denomination and/or best fit with your lifestyle. While some rabbis will have criteria around what text is on your ketubah, many are all too happy for you to pick something that resonates with you personally—after all, it’ll be hanging on your wall until death do you part. If you don’t find text that speaks to you, reach out and we can look into alternate options.

How far ahead should we choose our ketubah?

If possible, give yourself two months just so it isn’t something you’re stressing about as the date approaches, but our standard turnaround is about a month. Just make sure you have the wedding date and location locked in before ordering, and if you do put it off and need it in a hurry, just reach out.

Ahava Lions Ketubah

What if our wedding is postponed?

If you have already ordered and received your ketubah, but your wedding date was postponed, let us know as soon as possible and we would be happy to send you a new ketubah with an updated date. We just ask that you pay for shipping, but there is no charge for the replacement ketubah.

Does my rabbi need to approve the ketubah?

If you’re getting married by a rabbi, we recommend it, but the decision is yours. We will provide a proof that you can send to the rabbi, and they might have input for you.

Paper Star Ketubah

What if I don’t know my Hebrew name, or was never given one?

If you don’t know your Hebrew name, there are a handful of resources online that let you type in English or pick from a list in English and then will give you the Hebrew name, otherwise, just let us know what it is in English and we’ll do our best to translate it for you. If you don’t have a Hebrew name, some people choose to use the transliteration of their English name. If you ask Google for a transliteration of your name into Hebrew, we’ve found that to work well. We recommend you check with your rabbi if you decide to do this because it’s not universally accepted.

What if we need to travel with our ketubah?

Your ketubah will be shipped to you flat (not rolled in a tube), so we definitely recommend you hang onto the box it arrives in so you can reuse it to transport the ketubah, ship it to a framer, or just keep it safe.

On the Day—and Beyond

Flower Eye Ketubah

When does the ketubah signing happen?

Traditionally the ketubah is signed on the wedding day about 30 minutes before the ceremony in a small, private setting consisting of the rabbi and the people signing the ketubah. We have seen instances where a rabbi has the couple sign after the ceremony to coordinate with the end of Shabbat, or the day before so you don’t risk damaging the ketubah at the ceremony.

Who should sign my ketubah?

It all depends how kosher you want to be—for an Orthodox wedding, the rabbi and two unrelated male witnesses sign the ketubah, not the couple getting married. Many couples these days like to sign their own ketubah, and don’t have the requirement that the witnesses be male. Ultimately the decision is up to you and your rabbi. We are happy to print more or fewer signature lines on your ketubah, and label them however you prefer.

What kind of pen should I use to sign the ketubah?

We’ll send you a Pigma Micron Archival pen to sign with ink the color that looks best with the design you choose. We also provide an extra piece of paper with signature lines for you to practice signing before committing to the real thing.

Shapes Ketubah

How should we display the ketubah at our wedding?

If you choose to display your ketubah at your wedding, the safest method is to put it inside of a frame and place it on a table or on an easel. It can be hard to frame the ketubah during the ceremony right after signing, so we suggest looking into purchasing a “double panel acrylic picture frame” specifically for displaying at the wedding—they are essentially two sheets of clear rigid plastic that you sandwich your art between and clamp it shut with included thumb screws. Whatever method you choose, we caution against using tape or any sort of adhesive, or leaving it out without protection against the free-flowing Manischewitz.

How should we display our ketubah after the wedding?

We work with incredible artists, designers and illustrators because we believe a ketubah should be framed and proudly displayed in your home. Your ketubah should be beautiful on its own, but it’s also a lovely reminder of your wedding day, your union and the life two partners continue to build together. We really love working with a framing company called Framebridge because they offer fully custom framing at a reasonable price.

If you’re ready to find your perfect ketubah, head over to Tchotchke’s website to see their full selection of designs.