Besides reviewing beautiful wedding submissions on a daily basis and helping brides with tips that could help save them from breakdown on the best day of their lives, I also love meeting new friends in the wedding industry. Beverly Harris is as classy as it gets and she sure knows a thing or two about her town, and coincidentally, her name twin, Beverly Hills. She’s also a skilled wedding planner and adores the opportunity to work with on Jewish weddings. So between working high-end events in Beverly Hills and managing the behind-the-scenes of Jewish weddings, Beverly is well-versed in chuppah design and beauty. Today she shares with us a few words about her knowledge and love for the Jewish wedding canopy!
As a wedding planner, I’ve worked on lots of Jewish weddings. One of my favorite things about a Jewish wedding is to see the bride and groom standing under the chuppah. According to the Jewish view of marriage, the purpose of marriage is both companionship and procreation. The chuppah is a marriage canopy that symbolizes the couple’s first home together.
According to many authorities the chuppah is a metaphor for groom’s house, or at any rate an actual room or building other than the bride’s parental home. By entering it, the woman is declaring her official independence from her family and accepting the protection of her husband.
I believe the chuppah is the most distinctive feature of any Jewish wedding. It actually sets the tone to the beginning of a beautiful wedding. A chuppah can be made of any material. Silk or quilted chuppot are increasingly common, and can often be customized or personalized to suit the couple’s unique interests and occupations.
These days though, chuppah design is usually more flexible, from flowers to birch branches and natural vines an so much more. The decoration possibilities are endless. The important thing is to have four secure poles and a canopy overhead. The chuppah is open on all four sides so to symbolize the welcoming of family and friends to the couple’s new home and lives together.
I’d like to share some photos of beautiful chuppahs that I think are super impressive. Happy chuppah-ing!
Wildflowers Photography
Orange Turtle Photography
Norris Photo
Norris Photo
Guest Post by: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events
