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The following is the text from the booklet we prepared for the day of the wedding. Its purpose is to explain to those whom are unfamilier with a Jewish wedding ceremony, what is going on. We have added pictures the the explanations to show how everything went. We also added some extra text, [in brakets], to help explain some of the pictures and events.
If you would like to see a full size picture, just click the thumbnail to see it.
Enjoy,
Eric & Jennifer
Welcome to our wedding!! We would like to thank you all (from far and near) for joining us as we celebrate this special day. The Jewish wedding ceremony that we have chosen is full of traditions and customs that we find very special. In this booklet we hope to share with you our thoughts as well as some explanations about the themes which comprise our service.
The wedding ritual itself consists of two distinct parts: the Erusin (betrothal,) and the Nissuin (marriage). The Erusin includes welcoming the bride and groom, praising G-d, the betrothal blessing, and the giving of a valuable object, the ring. The Nissuin includes the public reading of the Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract), the recitation of the Sheva B’rachot (seven blessings), breaking of the glass, and Yichud (the first moments of privacy).
 On the day of the wedding the Kallah (bride) and Hatan (groom) are treated as royalty, each holding court in a separate room. This custom is also referred to as a Tisch. Eric will be attempting to rally the men in a torah discussion, his last as a bachelor, while Jennifer is nervously chatting on similar themes with the women. The role of the guests in this ritual is to ease the nerves of the bride and groom by interrupting them with song and dance (and a few jokes!) that relate to the D’var Torah Eric has prepared, and the reading of Tehillim (psalms) with Jennifer.
 
The Ketubah is the ancient marriage contract, written in Aramaic, which outlines the obligations that a groom makes to his bride. Our Ketubah was beautifully hand made by Barbara Klaristenfeld, a close friend of the Lowe family. The signing of the Ketubah will take place during the Kabbalat Panim. The document will be looked at by both bride and groom during each individual Tisch. The contract will be signed in front of Eric by our chosen witnesses,  Daniel Klaristenfeld, and Reuben Kahn. Eric will later present the Ketubah to his bride under the Chuppah.
[After the Tish, The men all grab Eric, the groom and while singing march him in front of his bride for the veiling.]
The final tradition which takes place prior to the ceremony is the groom veiling his bride. This custom recalls the biblical story telling of the marriage of Jacob to Leah instead of her sister Rachel. Eric will be escorted by the men from his Tisch to join the women. At this point Eric will make sure the woman in white is Jennifer. Once he makes a positive I.D., Eric will lower the veil over Jennifer’s face, then he will be led away to meet her later under the Chuppah. . .
  [After the vailing our parents gave us the blessing for children.]
As you enter the balcony area and are seated for the ceremony you will notice the canopy toward the front. This canopy, or Chuppah symbolizes the creation of the Jewish home. It also symbolizes the tent of Abraham and Sarah, which had no walls, which suggests openness to family, friends, and the community. The word literally means covering or protection. It is a requirement to the Jewish wedding ceremony. Our Chuppah was lovingly made for us by Ellen Lowe, Eric’s mom. You will notice (later) that the underside depicts the star of David, and the phrase ". . .and I will betroth thee unto me forever": Hosea 2: 21-22. The outer flap of the Chuppah reads our names in Hebrew, translated Arieh-Chanan, and Yenta Malka, as well as the date of our wedding according to the Hebrew calendar, The 24th day of the month of Elul. Once everyone is seated, the processional will begin . . . AT LAST!!!!
Please Join us for the Processional...
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