So pausing “Sunrise, Sunset” and putting the shock behind me,
I had to address another issue after her quick engagement led to an
even faster wedding: What would an Orthodox wedding be like?
I had never been to one before — or many weddings in general
— and I was aware that this wedding probably wouldn’t include
American traditions like throwing the bouquet and garter or a silly
choreographed dance with members of the wedding party (I was
very OK with eliminating that one).

I grew up in an active Reform community, but the traditions
differ greatly from Orthodox communities.

Based on their backgrounds — both husband and wife in this
scenario were raised pretty Reform or non-religious — a lot of their
secular Jewish friends and family members had a lot to learn as well.

Most of us tried to understand the Orthodox customs and avoid
insensitive questions like, “Am I allowed to rip toilet paper on Shab-
bat?” or “Why are you wearing a wig?”
To start, there were a bunch of words and phrases I didn’t know.

The bride and groom (or kallah and chosson) acknowledged
that this was a new experience for everyone, providing a brief sum-
mary on “Orthodox Weddings for Dummies,” in which they ex-
plained terms like bedeken, the veiling of the bride, or the yichud
room, where the couple share their first moments alone as husband
and wife.

Traditionally, the couple doesn’t see each other or communicate
for a week prior to the ceremony, building anticipation. Then for a
Most of us tried to understand
the Orthodox customs and avoid
insensitive questions like, “Am
I allowed to rip toilet paper?” or
“Why are you wearing a wig?”
week after, the celebrations continue and they don’t leave each other’s
side, generally sitting at their own table during Shabbat for sheva
brachot, or the seven blessings said post-nuptials.

The sheva brachot are the same ones recited under the chuppah,
proclaiming blessings from God for the newlyweds.

See Wedding, Page 24
Name: The Logan Hotel
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