The OurWeddingDay Blog

If you’re planning a traditional Jewish wedding, then you might want to explore your music options. When choosing the ceremony and reception music, make sure that you pick songs that highlight this joyous occasion, and that the music honors and respects the Jewish religion.

Before the bride makes her way toward the Chuppah wedding canopy, it is customary that two processional music selections are played for family members and the wedding party. The first song should be played for the family members, and the second as when the groom waits for his bride.

Music has always been a strong and lasting part of the Jewish religion, that it is imperative to integrate traditional wedding music into Jewish wedding ceremonies. Jewish brides typically choose ceremonial music like “Erev Shel Shoshanim,” or “Dodi Li." Another option is a modern Hebrew song called “Lechi Lach,” or even “The Wedding Song."

Jewish wedding reception music includes the music played while guests dance the Hora, which is a basic grapevine step. This is the most joyous and exciting part of the Jewish wedding because all wedding guests are invited to dance in a circle and celebrate the occasion.

Make sure you buy comfortable shoes for your traditional Jewish wedding, because you’ll be doing a lot of dancing!

Read more:

• Jewish Wedding Traditions
• Jewish Wedding Ring Traditions
• Veiling the Bride & Beaking the Glass: Jewish Traditions

As with most religious weddings, rings play an important role. In the Jewish religion, rings have a significant amount of symbolism, and must be present if the couple chooses to have a traditional Jewish wedding.

In the Jewish religion, rings are extremely important, and have specific requirements. Jewish wedding rings must consist of solid gold, and cannot have any holes that break the circle. While most Jewish wedding rings are solid gold, it is not uncommon for a couple to have them engraved with Hebrew phrases on the inside surface.

Jewish rings, and as with most Religious wedding rings, are given as a symbol of hope for a marriage that lasts an eternity. In ancient times, rings were worshiped because their shape matches that of the sun and moon.

During traditional Jewish ceremonies, the groom places the ring on the right index finger of the bride. The bride then places the ring on her left “ring finger” any time after the ceremony has been concluded. The reason for the ring being placed on the right hand initially dates back to the early years of Judaism, when those following the Jewish faith wanted the ring to be placed closest to the heart.

Read more:

• Modern Jewish Wedding Planning
• Veiling the Bride & Breaking a Glass: Exploring Jewish Wedding Traditions
• Jewish Wedding Traditions

If making each other laugh really is the secret to a happy marriage, then these two should be just fine!

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen  were married in a traditional Jewish ceremony in Paris last week — at sunset!

We love it!  So romantic!

Ending their six year engagement (!!!), they enjoyed an extremely intimate wedding: Only a few close relatives and the couple's daughter were in attendance. Later, Isla emailed her friends: "We did it — we're married! It was the absolute best day of my life and in so many beautiful moments I missed you all so much. I thought of you as everything was happening, but Sacha and I wanted no fuss –- just us!"

Check out the full story here.