ChaChaGirls

I just got off the phone with a Yenta, and I couldn’t wait to share her information with my ChaCha girls.

My amazing conversation was with Alison of The Wedding Yentas, a new company that writes a blog about Jewish weddings and provides ideas, photos, explanations, and information on Jewish wedding traditions. In addition, their website has a vast vendor directory that can help all brides, but the daily blog articles specifically references Jewish wedding traditions.

If you aren’t familiar with the term Yenta, the old school Yiddish definition (which is derived from German and Hebrew vocabularies) is busybody. Today, the word translates to mean an endearing person who knows a lot of people and many things, and who shares that information with her circle of friends. Alison and her friend/business partner, Nicky, who was also her wedding photographer, created this new company, The Wedding Yentas at www.theweddingyentas.com, and they share their expert knowledge about Jewish weddings and traditions. When they got married, there was no one-stop website that answered their questions in a modern way, so they created this company. ChaCha girls love women who solve problems! Both women are the kind of Yenta you want to know, because their blogs will make your wedding easier if you are a Jewish bride or having an interfaith ceremony.
Many brides have traditions they want to preserve in their wedding ceremony or reception. If you have never been to a Jewish wedding, it is deep in tradition. You may not be aware, but many Jewish brides can’t get married on Saturday afternoon, because it is the Sabbath, a holy day, and no weddings can occur until it is dark. Hence, they covet the three-day holiday weekends so that their guests can enjoy a Sunday wedding, and not rush back to work the following day. Brides of all faith love the three day weekends, as it makes great anniversary weekends too, and that is why they book up so fast.
My wedding was interfaith as my husband’s family is Christian. We had a rabbi and a minister preside over our service. One of the main traditions is to sign the Ketubah, which is the Jewish version of a marriage contract. It is signed, framed and displayed like a piece of art and they are very personal. This isn’t your traditional over the counter marriage certificate, which is also required by United States law. Jewish marriages are constantly reminded of their promises to each other every time they pass their Ketubah, and many brides search for new, modern phrases as no bride wants to be referred to as property or being owned. My Ketubah is on my bedroom wall. Do you know where your certificate is located? I hope it isn’t in the junk drawer of your kitchen!

Another Jewish tradition is having the bride and groom stand under a Chuppah (a bridal canopy), which is a cultural symbol representing the new happy home that the bride and groom will build and create together. The Chuppah is covered on top as a symbol of security and protection and is open on all sides so that family and friends will always feel welcome

Jewish brides also circle their future husbands seven times, which is an omen of good fortune, linked to the seven days of creation. The circling is also a means of protection, from evil spirits and from the temptations of the world. It also creates space, space from their families and space together. I only hope no one faints or gets dizzy after that practice, as that would be a wedding coordinator nightmare!
Jewish grooms step on a glass at the end of the ceremony and the reasons for this are so varied that I refer you to The Wedding Yentas’ website, www.theweddingyentas.com/traditions/kiss-my-glass. The key is making sure you pick a glass that is breakable (I think we used a lightbulb as a substitute) instead of your fine crystal. Judaica shops have specific glasses for this purpose.

I refer you to the Yentas for more information, as they are the experts and their website has the resources to help make the process easier. Oh yeah, and if a Yenta says that the ChaChaBella ring is a must have, you better listen up!

If you have had a Jewish wedding or an interfaith wedding that comes with a funny story about a traditional element, share with me and you will be blessed with a ring of your choice! I only hope your Chuppah didn’t fall down or you got dropped during the Hora!
Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.