(image courtesey of Shelly Pate Photography)

Circling is not exclusive to Jewish weddings; it finds echoes in various cultures. Greek weddings involve a triple-circle dance, symbolizing the couple's journey. Indian weddings, particularly in the North, incorporate seven circles around a sacred fire, each representing blessings. Even Pagan ceremonies, like Handfasting, include a circle of guests binding hands around the couple.

Let’s talk about the traditional customs that surround the groom's tisch and the bride's throne - one way to enrich the happiest day of your life with Jewish customs that will bring friends and family from all faiths and customs a little closer together!

As a wedding rabbi, I have a lot of meetings where so many couples focus on the ceremony - which is great! Often, we don’t have time to talk about ways to incorporate pre-ceremony traditions into your wedding day, which can be another wonderful opportunity to include family members, especially when you are an interfaith couple.

The great thing about the groom’s table and the bride’s throne is that they require NOTHING in terms of Hebrew knowledge or special equipment! Here’s how these old-country customs can come through to add Jewish customs to your wedding ceremony without too much fuss.

A Shabbat (Saturday) wedding is not as forbidden or impossible as you might think.

Let's dive into a topic that's close to my heart – whether or not it’s “okay” for a Jewish wedding to take place on Shabbat.

So, picture this – you've had your wedding date locked in on your calendar for quite some time, and, for several reasons, it’s on a Saturday. A quick search online about Jewish weddings on Saturday might scare you. The first page is full of sites that say it’s just unacceptable.

HOWEVER. I'm here to tell you that Shabbat weddings, from my experience are not only “okay” - they're a joyful, inclusive celebration that can be every bit as meaningful and beautiful as any other wedding.