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How big should a chuppah be?

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Dear Karen
Hannah asks...
We’re planning to build our own chuppah, but we’re totally unsure how big it needs to be. How do we figure out the right size so it looks great in our space but isn’t too awkward?

colourful-chuppah

Gena and Tony’s chuppah | Photo by Lara Hotz 

Yesss to DIY chuppahs! There’s something so meaningful about standing under a canopy you’ve built with your own hands (and if you’re looking for a full-on tutorial, we’ve got them here and here) – it really becomes a symbol of the home you’re creating together. That said, sizing it right is one of the most common questions we hear from couples. Let’s walk through how to make sure yours feels just right.

Who’s Standing With You?

The first thing you need to know is who’ll be standing under the chuppah with you. You’ll need your chuppah to accommodate a minimum of three – the two of you and your officiant. A good rule of thumb for a basic square chuppah footprint is about 5 feet x 5 feet. 

If you’re picturing parents, siblings, or anyone else standing with you, or you just want it to feel a bit more expansive, consider bumping it up to around 6 feet x 6 feet – or even larger if you have the space, depending on the size of your crowd. 

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The Top 5 Ways to Cover Your Shoulders Under the Chuppah in 2026

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Tonic bolero by Galia Lahav

From pearl-dusted couture boleros to barely-there detachable details, shoulder coverage for the chuppah has officially entered its fashion-forward era. Today’s Jewish brides are embracing clever, removable layers that honor tradition and personal style – without compromising on the dress of their dreams.

Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

Lauren‘s shrug | Photo by Natalie J Weddings

Whether you’re drawn to timeless elegance, modern minimalism, or a touch of drama, there are more beautiful options than ever before for ceremony-ready coverage that feels intentional, elevated, and unmistakably bridal. Here are our top five chic, modern ways to cover your shoulders under the chuppah in 2026 – and look effortlessly stylish while doing it.

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Sydney‘s bolero | Photo by Alex Knight Studio 

1. Brilliant Boleros 

A timeless and elegant choice for brides who want to keep their shoulders covered under the chuppah, boleros add structure and sophistication without overwhelming your gown – and there are so many options, whether you’re going for a classic princess look or something sleek and modern. 

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The Ultimate Jewish Wedding Glossary

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Camila and Benjamin, Tintswalo Atlantic, Cape Town, South Africa

Camila and Ben‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Nikki van Diermen

One of the most beautiful things about Jewish weddings is how rich they are in ritual. There’s so much meaning and so many centuries of tradition behind just about every step of the day, and there’s something so special about that.

There’s no denying, though, that there’s a lot of lingo to wrap your head around if you’re new to the Jewish wedding world (or even if you’re not!). 

That’s why we created our ultimate Jewish wedding glossary. Whether you’re planning your own Jewish wedding or attending your first one  as a guest, we’ll take you from aufruf to yichud in no time flat. 

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Sophie and Jonny‘s Jewish wedding | Photo by Liam Collard Photography

AUFRUF: A short ceremony during the Shabbat synagogue service that normally takes place on the Saturday morning before the wedding. The groom (and sometimes the bride) are honoured in front of their community. This is often followed by a small party or lunch.

ARAMAIC: A semitic language related to Hebrew. The traditional ketubah text is in Aramaic.

ASHKENAZI: Jews of Eastern and Central European descent.

BADEKEN: A short but meaningful ceremony where the groom covers the bride’s face with her veil. It occurs just before the actual wedding ceremony and is a custom that derives from the biblical account of Jacob’s first marriage, when he was deceived into marrying the heavily veiled Leah instead of Rachel, his intended bride. The badeken is often emotionally charged as the bride and groom may not have seen each other for 24 hours or longer (as much as 7 days) until this moment.

Jade and Adam, Sopwell House, St Albans, UK
Jade and Adam‘s badeken | Photo by Milda Vasile Photography

BENCHERS / BENCHING: A small booklet containing the Jewish blessings for a meal. Couples will often make personalized benchers for all of their guests to use and then take home as a souvenir.

Shera & Jared, Sheraton Grand Hotel, London, UK

Shera and Jared‘s benchers by Oy Vey Studios | Photo by Devon Shoob

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5 of Our Favorites: Breathtaking Chuppahs We Adore

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Gilda and Shahin‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Jessica Claire

Welcome back to “5 of Our Favorites,” where we bring you five stunning Jewish weddings, all curated around a special theme. This week, we’re focusing on one of the most meaningful and beautiful elements of a Jewish wedding: the chuppah.

The chuppah is not just a beautiful structure under which to make things official, but a representation of the couple’s new home and the love they share. From lush floral designs to minimalist elegance to DIY exuberance, these chuppahs are a true reflection of each couple’s style and the spirit of their celebration.

We can’t wait to inspire you with these incredible designs!

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Gena and Tony‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lara Hotz 

Gena and Tony’s Extraordinarily Imaginative ‘Color Explosion’ Jewish Wedding at the Sydney Polo Club, NSW, Australia

Get your sunglasses ready, because Gena and Tony’s wedding is a massive rainbow-hued color fest, featuring the most epic DIY chuppah made from tissue paper decorations and a calico roof!

Gena and Tony‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lara Hotz 

There are so many fab details to love, from Gena’s pom pom crown t0 her crochet dress to her supersize bouquet filled with flowers of every possible hue, glitter, ribbons, and pom poms. Then we’ve got bridesmaids dressed in orange carrying big foil heart shaped balloons with tissue paper tassels instead of bouquets. There’s a super cute dog taking centre stage during the ceremony. And 1200 odd colored ribbons used to decorate the barn and chairs. 

Gena and Tony‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lara Hotz 

In Gena’s words,

They say the chuppah represents the home you will build together so it was only fitting that ours would be a colourful space. I just wanted to have something quirky but still traditional and the result was like a sculptural installation and a work of art. We used an assortment of tissue paper honeycomb shapes (including ice creams) as well as tissue paper garlands and a calico roof.

Marina and Gary‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lilian Haidar

Marina and Gary’s Ultra Glam Jewish Wedding with a Mirrored Peony Chuppah at the Metropolitan Club, New York City, USA

Um, WOW. Excuse us as we pick our jaws up off the floor. We are just floored by the magnificent mirrored (!) peony (!!) chuppah in Marina and Gary’s Jewish wedding.

It is just BEYOND, and those hanging peonies suspended from the canopy? Serious, serious #chuppahgoals. Marina says standing under it felt like being in a midsummer night’s dream garden!

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Marina and Gary‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lilian Haidar

Actually, just about everything about this wedding is hardcore #goals. And it’s no wonder, with superstar wedding planner Amy Katz running the show.

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Marina and Gary‘s Jewish Wedding | Photo by Lilian Haidar

This duo had absolutely the quintessential NYC wedding, just bursting with old-school elegance (but with some very cool, very contemporary touches thrown in to keep things from getting stodgy — you won’t want to miss their tequila-infused Mar-Garita cake pops!).

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Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained – The Chuppah

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Chuppah
All imagery by Blake Ezra Photography. This is part 4 of the 8-part Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained series.

The word ‘chuppah’ is used in two ways. Firstly, it’s the Hebrew name of the canopy under which Jewish couples get married. Secondly, it’s also colloquially used as another word for ‘ceremony’. So if someone asks you “When’s the chuppah?” don’t assume they’ve lost all grasp of how to put a sentence together, they’re not asking when the canopy is, but when the ceremony starts.

So what is a chuppah? Why do Jewish couples get married underneath one? What do they do when they get there?

The chuppah, like many elements of a Jewish wedding, is beautifully symbolic. It symbolises the home that the couple will build together in their married life, and is open on all sides like the biblical tent of Abraham and Sarah, signifying that everyone is welcome and that everyone will be treated hospitably.

For readers of this blog, who may be planning their own Jewish wedding, the chuppah is also one of the great opportunities to personalise your ceremony. It can range from a massively decadent, custom-designed piece of floral artistry, to four friends holding poles, upon which sits a custom made quilt or Jewish prayer shawl, called a Tallit.

Chuppah, for Smashing The Glass Jewish Weddings Explained. Chuppah, for Smashing The Glass Jewish Weddings Explained.Chuppah, for Smashing The Glass Jewish Weddings Explained.Continue ReadingContinue Reading