My Jewish wedding in North Carolina: July 20 and 21st, 2007

[tulipchica]

I really was married twice: on Friday, July 20th with a Rabbi (signing the ketubah and the civil marriage license--with only very close family and friends present), and on Saturday, July 21st in a larger ceremony (~100 guests, with a UU minister--who nonetheless conducted a Jewish ceremony; there's a story there if anyone wants to hear it).

For

Comments

[eicnan]

Woo community exclusive! =)

Your color scheme and flower in your hair are gorgeous!

[tulipchica]

Yes!

Thank you on the color-scheme compliment. The cake flowers ended up being the only thing outside of my blue/peach/green/white theme (the cake-maker got creative--but did a wonderful job either way). The cake flowers and my hair flowers were the only real flowers; all the rest were fake (and arranged by me). Lots of work and oodles of help, but it all turned out nice.

[whtrbbt420]

what is that dance your guests are doing around you? It's a jewish thing right?

(god I hope that didn't sound stupid lol)

[tulipchica]

Heh. Some of the photos are from our first Israeli dance, which is called the hora. We did other circle dances and a few Israeli partner and line dances. Mainly, very fun group folk dancing to music in Hebrew or Yiddish.

[whtrbbt420]

awesome! I didn't mean to sound like a dummy, but I've only seen it done on TV..and we all know how real that is =P

[potatogoddess]

the turquoise is perfect, it looks amazing!

[tulipchica]

Thank you! It's David's Bridal "pool blue"--and I immediately chose it as our main color when I saw it in the store. AfterHours--where we rented the tuxes--matches their colors with DB's, so I was able to be all coordinated.

[tulipchica]

Thanks! I was actually a little worried about how bright the blue might be on the men, but it ended up being a great color.

[harinakshi]

I've always wondered, what is the reason for stomping on the glass?

[tulipchica]

I don't know the official reason--being mainly raised as a secular Jew--but there's all kinds of interpretations of the symbolism [after a search online]: To scare away bad spirits; That marriage brings change, just as you're changing the glass by stomping on it; The destruction of the second Temple (even during great joy, we remember great loss--the bittersweet nature of life); That brides and grooms leave their families (break) to start their own; That breaking the wine glass is a harbinger of many children.

I liked the "marriage brings change" interpretation :)

[cherish]

I've also heard it done with a blessing that the love and marriage will last as long as it takes for the pieces of glass to mend themselves. Kind of a neat sentiment.

[tulipchica]

Ah, I really like that interpretation :))

[sparklefluff]

beautiful pictures!!
what's the story about the minister?

[tulipchica]

Thank you!

The story of the reason for the two ceremonies:
We're both Jewish and wanted a Jewish wedding. I wanted to have a Saturday daytime ceremony so that all my friends and loved ones could come (those that had to travel and get back to work on Monday). However, neither of us belonged to a congregation, and no Rabbi would officiate during a Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath). However, my husband wanted our marriage to be sanctioned by a Rabbi. So...we had two ceremonies, a smaller one on a Friday with a Rabbi...and a larger one on a Saturday with a UU minister. The Saturday ceremony was also in a UU fellowship hall--which was beautiful, allowing for an indoor ceremony in a sanctuary...and the reception nextdoor. I loved the UU minister too, who worked with us closely on designing the ceremony and was so hippy-dippy and wonderful.

[sparklefluff]

That's great that you had someone who would work with you so you could have what you wanted.