Generally, Jewish wedding ceremonies proceed in the order presented below, though some details vary depending on personal tradition and level of Jewish observance.
Kabbalat Panim
The bride and groom each welcome the wedding guests in different rooms. Traditionally, the two have not seen each other for the week preceding their wedding. The bride often sits in a throne-like chair to represent the idea that the bride and groom are a queen and king on their wedding day. In traditional ceremonies, the groom has a reception called a tisch, where he gives an informal speech as his guests sing and dance.
Ketubah Signing
At a more private gathering, the ketubah -- the Jewish wedding contract -- is signed. Orthodox Aramaic ketubot (plural of ketubah) are signed by two appointed witnesses, who are not family members, while more modern ketubot are usually signed by the bride, groom, witnesses, and rabbi. The Orthodox ketubah text talks about the groom's financial responsibilities to the bride, as well as his obligation to respect her and provide for her needs. There are also more modern ketubah texts that feature poetic words about love and commitment. A ketubah is often a beautiful lithograph that a couple frames and displays in their home as a piece of custom wedding art.
Guests at the ketubah signing partake of a little nosh, or snack, as they toast the couple with stiff drinks. In Orthodox tradition, the mothers of the bride and groom break a plate together to represent the seriousness of the occasion (though the two moms often have fun doing it).
Badeken
The badeken, or veiling, begins when the groom is joyously ushered to the bride's chambers, accompanied by family and friends. The groom looks at the face of his bride, then lowers her veil. This ritual symbolizes the idea that while physical attraction is important, it is the couple's inner qualities that are the foundation of their marriage. In some modern ceremonies, the ritual is balanced with the bride's placing a kippah, or skullcap, on the groom's head. The original meaning of the badeken is thought to represent the biblical story of Jacob and Rachel, when after his wedding, Jacob found that he had been tricked into marrying Leah, Rachel's sister -- oops! So now, to make sure the groom has the right bride, he covers her face himself.
Huppah
The bride and groom then take part in two marriage ceremonies under the huppah, or wedding canopy, which is held up by four poles. Huppahs vary in style, from exquisite fabric to a large tallit (fringed prayer shawl), and symbolize the home that the bride and groom will make together. The huppah is open on all four sides to show that their home will be a place for guests to visit -- like Abraham's tent in the days of the Bible.
Kiddushin
The first ceremony is called Kiddushin. The bride and groom are welcomed into the huppah, often by a hazzan, or cantor, who sings blessings to the couple. The bride and groom approach the huppah separately, accompanied by their respective parents. The bride then circles the groom seven times (can vary depending on tradition). The rabbi recites two blessings over the wine. Traditionally, one Kiddush cup (wine cup) is used, though some rabbis prefer to use two (some even use three, pouring the wine from two cups into one).
The groom holds the ring before the bride's waiting finger, while he declares in Hebrew, "Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring, according to the laws of Moses and Israel." The groom places the ring on his bride's finger. In more modern ceremonies, the bride then places a ring on the finger of the groom. The ketubah is then read aloud.
Nisuin
The second ceremony is called Nisuin. A second cup of wine is poured, and several guests have the honor of reciting the Seven Blessings. These blessings praise God for creating human beings, and for making the groom and bride as happy as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. The blessings declare, "The sound of joy, the sound of celebration, the voice of the groom, the voice of the bride." After the blessings, the bride and groom drink the wine.
Then comes the part almost everyone knows about, thanks to TV and movies, where the groom smashes the glass with his foot. There are many interpretations of the breaking of the glass. The most commonly known is that it represents the destruction of the Holy Temple, and that completely pure joy can't exist until the temple is rebuilt someday. Alternately, it is thought to represent the end of the couple's lives alone, and the beginning of their new lives as one. Mystically speaking (according to ancient Kabbalah texts), there is also the idea that the beginning of the world began with breaking of glass vessels, and that humans were put on Earth to put the pieces back together -- a concept known as tikkun olam, or repair of the world. Once the glass is broken, the guests rejoice, "Mazel tov!"
Yichud
After the ceremony, the bride and groom are then ushered off into a room, where they spend a short while in yichud, or alone time together. The couple usually takes this time to eat a little and regroup before being greeted by the guests at the reception (shouldn't all brides and grooms be so smart and lucky!).
Meanwhile, a savvy guest or two might gather the pieces of broken glass in order to encase the shards in a work of art later on. Broken wedding-glass art is one of the newest Jewish wedding customs.
The Reception
The guests mingle and nosh for a bit at the reception, and then witness the bride and groom making their very first entrance as husband and wife. A meal follows, as does lots of singing, dancing, toasts, and entertainment. During grace, after the meal, Birkat Hamazon, the Seven Blessings, are repeated. Kol sasson v'kol simchah! -- the sounds of joy and celebration!
Many thanks to Jewish wedding expert Andrew Fish at Gallery Judaica in Los Angeles for the information provided. To see a complete Jewish wedding checklist, visit GalleryJudaica.com.