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Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained – The Badeken

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Badeken
All imagery by Blake Ezra Photography. This is part 3 of the 8-part Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained series.

The Badeken is one of my very favourite traditions of a Jewish wedding, both emotionally and photographically.

This is the ceremony where the groom veils the bride, the term comes from the Yiddish word ‘to cover’. It’s often the most emotional moment of a Jewish wedding, where the bride and groom see each other for the first time a few minutes before the main ceremony begins under the chuppah. Often a couple will have time apart before their wedding, the more religious the couple, the longer the amount of time apart, so this moment where their eyes meet for the first time on their wedding day is so special, and such an honour for us to photograph. Even without the religious significance of the badeken, many couples of all different faiths nowadays choose to do a ‘first look’ on their wedding day; it’s a special thing to do.

Usually only very close family and friends are involved in this process, as the wedding guests are seated for the chuppah and excitedly await the procession down the aisle. However, sometimes the couple choose to open the badeken to all their guests, allowing everyone to share in this electric moment where the groom is brought into the room to see his beautiful bride, often accompanied by his groomsmen and friends singing and clapping, as the atmosphere reaches fever pitch.

Badeken
Badeken
Smashing The Glass Jewish Weddings Explained - Bedeken.
Bedeken
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How to Craft Your Perfect Interfaith or Jew-ish Wedding Ceremony {with 18Doors}

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Photo by @paramountsight

If you’re planning an interfaith ceremony – or a not-so-traditional Jewish one – it can be hard to know where to start. The fact that there’s no set template to follow can be freeing, but it can also be overwhelming. 

That’s why I’m so excited to share a wonderful wedding ceremony planning tool designed specifically for couples planning interfaith and/or unconventional Jewish weddings. 18Doors, a wonderful nonprofit organization that supports interfaith Jewish couples and families, has launched a DIY Wedding Ceremony Script Builder that makes it easy to explore the key traditions of a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. With the tool, you can figure out which Jewish traditions speak to you – and which might not – to craft a ceremony that feels true to who you are as a couple, and as a new Jew-ish family. 

If you’ve opted to have a friend or relative officiate your wedding instead of a rabbi or cantor with experience in advising ceremony structure, the wedding ceremony script builder is an invaluable tool.  And did I mention that it’s 100% free to use?!

Photo by Charlotte Watts Photography 

How It Works

To get started, you’ll have access to short videos explaining different components of the Jewish wedding ceremony featuring real footage submitted by interfaith couples from their own Jew-ish weddings. You’ll not only get a brief overview of what the tradition is and what it symbolizes, but you’ll also be able to see modern spins couples have chosen to put on them. 

Once you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the traditions and think what might be good to include in your own wedding, you’ll fill out a short form before being directed to the custom script builder. This tool was created by 18Doors with generous funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. 

Photo by @1028photo

The custom script builder tool will allow you to choose traditions you wish to include to your script, and offer multiple text options for your officiant for each tradition. With a few simple clicks, you can build your ceremony from start to finish and hand it off to your officiant. Whether you’re looking to go modern or traditional, to speak to classical Jewish symbolism or more universal motifs, you’ll be able to choose language that reflects your relationship and the marriage you’re creating. 

Photo by Lacey Gabrielle

For example, as an introductory remark under the chuppah, the script builder presents three different text options:

Option A

________ and ________ stand underneath this chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, today as a symbol of the home they have built and will continue to build together. The chuppah reminds us of the Jewish patriarch Abraham and matriarch Sarah who opened their tent to welcome in anyone who passed by. Today, this couple invites you to witness one of the most transitional moments in their lives as they combine their families into one. May they be blessed in doing so under this holy structure.

Option B

In all Jewish weddings, the chuppah acts as a temporary structure that reminds us of how far the Jewish people have come from nomadic times in search of permanence. Today the chuppah shows the community’s supportive role in celebrating this marriage, as this couple creates a permanence in their relationship today. May _____ and ______ build their home in a way that mirrors this chuppah, and allows them to continue to be open to the community that surrounds them.

Option C

Surrounded by those you love, and who love and support you both, you stand underneath this chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, the symbol of the home. This home, a unique blend of each of your backgrounds and cultures, is open on all sides, welcoming others to enter into our lives and reminding us that we are part of a larger community. May your home be a shelter against the storm, a haven of peace, a stronghold of faith and love.

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A Celestina Agostino Bride for a Colorful, Personal Jewish Wedding at Fortin de Corbières, Marseille, France

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Rebecca-Jeremy-Fortin-de-Corbieres-South-of-France

Get ready to be transported to the beautiful South of France, where Parisians Rebecca and Jeremy held their absolute stunner of a Jewish wedding!

The pair fell in love with their venue, Fortin de Corbières, the moment they set eyes on it, and with its epic views overlooking the Bay of Marseille it’s easy to see why. It was the perfect spot for Rebecca and Jeremy’s exuberance-meets-elegance aesthetic, filled with bright florals and personal touches – there are SO many, but just for one don’t miss the name cards made with antique keys! Photographer Moonriver Prod captured them – and all the lovely details of the day – so perfectly.

When it came to choosing a kosher caterer for the special day, no one would do but the best of the best, and that was Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Dany’s Traiteur. Rebecca and Jeremy were thrilled with how delicious and well-presented the food was – and they got tons of compliments from their guests.

There’s lots more to say, but we’ll turn you over to Rebecca, who looked ever so elegant in her

Celestina Agostino dress, for the rest…

Rebecca-Jeremy-Fortin-de-Corbieres-South-of-France Rebecca-Jeremy-Fortin-de-Corbieres-South-of-France
How we Met

Rebecca, the bride and Jeremy, the groom: We are both dentists and met during our first year at medical school. For Rebecca it was love at first sight but it took some time before they decided to go on a date. It was when we met again the following year at dentist school that we really got to spend some time together and made it official.Continue ReadingContinue Reading

A Suzanne Neville Bride for a Tuscan Fantasy of a Jewish Wedding at Villa Palmieri, Florence, Italy

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Holly-and-Ben-Villa-Palmieri-Florence-Italy

There’s something about a Jewish wedding in Tuscany that just makes our hearts beat a little faster. And the fantastic wedding of UK couple Holly, a business owner, and Ben, who works in acquisitions, captures ALL the most beloved things about this beautiful part of the world.

The couple’s venue, Villa Palmieri, is quintessentially Tuscan, and we can’t get enough of David Bastianoni’s exquisite photos of the day – scroll through them and we guarantee you’ll be tempted to book a flight to Italy ASAP!

This wedding was so much more than all the fabulous details, though – the joy and love between the couple is just beyond, and there’s no better way to experience it than through their wonderful wedding video by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Denee Motion, who, in Holly’s words, “captured the day beautifully and really found the balance of emotional and atmospheric.”

We were also thrilled to hear that Holly and Ben turned to Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Wedding Shop when it came time to set up their wedding gift list. There’s so much more to say – like, how stunning did Holly look in her Suzanne Neville gown?! – but we’ll turn you over to the bride herself for the rest…

Holly-and-Ben-Villa-Palmieri-Florence-ItalyHolly-and-Ben-Villa-Palmieri-Florence-Italy Holly-and-Ben-Villa-Palmieri-Florence-Italy Holly-and-Ben-Villa-Palmieri-Florence-Italy
How we Met

Holly, the Bride: Ben and I met on Hanoar Hatzioni camp when we were 9 and 10 years old. We have been best friends since, and became boyfriend and girlfriend nearly 10 years ago.

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Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained – The Tisch

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Tisch
All imagery by Blake Ezra Photography. This is part 2 of the 8-part Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained series.

The Tisch, traditionally, is a period of loud and atmospheric boy-time before the ceremony starts. In the more secular world, there are probably some parallels with going for a few drinks in the pub before the big match, but substitute beers for whiskey, football chants for symbolic Hebrew songs, and Barmaids for Rabbis. OK, I admit that may not have been a flawless comparison, but it can be loud and full of energy, whilst meaningfully building the anticipation for the events to come.

Some Grooms opt not to have a Tisch, and instead prefer to be elsewhere in the venue, welcoming guests as they arrive. It all depends on individual preference and also on how religious or spiritual that person is. For me, a wedding is great when it truly represents the couple, so there shouldn’t be pressure on a Groom to have a Tisch, or indeed not to.

The word ‘Tisch’ literally means ‘table’, and the common theme of every Tisch we’ve ever photographed is that there’s a table in the middle, laden with food and drink for the guests to enjoy before the ceremony.

TISCH.
Tisch
Tisch
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