Welcome Receptions

For the hour before the ceremony, Jason, Marla, and their families will be hosting receptions to welcome the guests! Please come have a drink and get ready to celebrate with us!

Just as we are excited to welcome you to our special day, we are excited to welcome you into the next phase of our lives with us, and into the home that we will build together.

Bedeken

At the end of the welcome receptions, before the ceremony, Jason’s family and friends will escort Jason into Marla’s reception with singing and dancing. Once there, Jason will put Marla’s veil on her, indicating that Marla is the woman he wants to marry. Following this, Jason and Marla’s parents will offer them blessings for their wedding day.

The entire affair, from escorting Jason to Marla’s reception to the blessings is a raucous party. Please sing, dance and make a fuss! This is an exciting day!

See below for videos of bedekens.

Chuppah

The chuppah (or huppah) is the wedding canopy under which we will get married. It represents the home that we are committing to build together. The chuppah is open on all four sides, representing Abraham’s tent, which was open on all four sides so that he could welcome in guests from all directions.

Ketubah

The ketubah is the marriage contract that defines the terms of Jason and Marla’s marriage. We will sign it before the wedding, and have it on display during the ceremony.

Processional

We are honored for our immediate family to precede us and for our parents to escort us down the aisle.

Grape Juice

Wine and Grape juice represent celebration. We will drink Grape juice under the chuppah.

Ring Exchange

The ring exchange is the most important part of the wedding ceremony. It solidifies the commitments we made to each other in the ketubah and makes us married.

Sheva Brachot

The Sheva Brachot are the seven traditional marriage blessings. We will have them at our wedding. It literally means “seven blessings.”

Yichud

After the ceremony, Marla and Jason will spend their first few moments alone together as a married couple. Please grab a drink and get ready for dancing!

Recessional

There will not be a recessional. After the Marla and Jason exit the ceremony and go to yichud, the guests are free to leave as they like.

Announcement of the Couple

When Marla and Jason enter the reception, please be on the dance floor to welcome us! Jump and scream and give us a big hug! We will go right into simcha dancing from here.

Simcha Dancing

Simcha means happiness. Simcha dancing is more about excitement and enthusiasm than it is about grace or rhythm. Please join us on the dance floor, hold hands with the strangers next to you, and run around in a circle!