We are getting married at the Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver.
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3600 S. Ivanhoe St.
Denver CO 80237
Phone: 303-758-9400
http://headenver.org/default.htm
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HEA is a conservative Jewish synagogue. We will be having a traditional Jewish wedding, which means that we will be observing all of the beautiful wedding traditions that Judaism has! Because many of our guests are not Jewish, we will offer you very thorough explanations of what happens in a Jewish ceremony.
So that you can fully experience our day, we will also be providing yarmulkes (the small, round skullcap) to our male guests, which is worn inside the sanctuary of the synagogue. Kippot (head coverings) have many meanings throughout history, but the simplest is that it is a special way to honor G-d during prayer. Although head coverings are only required for men, women are welcome to wear hats or other head coverings as well.
Here’s what you can expect to see at our wedding…
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Before the Ceremony
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The Ketubah
The Ketubah is a Jewish Marriage contract. It is gorgeous and usually hand-painted, but really is more legal than romantic. Both Aaron and Valerie will sign the contract (separately) in a room of Jewish witnesses and close family members. The contract, according to Jewish law, then becomes Valerie’s property, and is a document that protects her rights as a wife. It obligates Aaron to care for, provide for, and love his new wife. The Ketubah will be read during the ceremony.
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Badeken di Kalah
Badeken di Kalah literally means, “veiling of the bride.” This will be the first time Aaron and Valerie see each other. Just before the ceremony, Valerie will send for Aaron. Aaron, attended by his family and close friends, will join Valerie and her family and friends in a smaller room next to the sanctuary. Aaron, after seeing Valerie’s face, will lower Valerie’s veil to avoid making Jacob’s mistake. Because Jacob never saw the face of his bride, he married Leah instead of Rachel, the woman he really loved (Genesis 29:23-25). This is a beautiful tradition that is reserved for family and very close friends.
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The Ceremony
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The Processional
The processional will begin with Rabbi Solomon Gruenwald and Cantor Martin Goldstein. Aaron’s groomsmen, Mike Wickwar, Brad Pollard, Joel Kruschwitz, and Seth Blacksburg will follow, along with Aaron’s Best man, Jason Gunderson. Aaron will then be escorted to the Chuppah by his parents, Thomas and Sandra Svoboda. Valerie’s bridesmaids, Esther Anderson and Shannon Styers will lead her Matron of Honor, Tracy Smith, and Maids of Honor, Shannon Denham and Ramona Wickwar. Aaron and Valerie’s Ring bearer, Michael Kruschwitz, and flower girl, Jordan Smith, will directly precede Valerie, who will be escorted to the Chuppah by her father, Robert Wickwar.
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Under the Chuppah
The Chuppah is the marriage canopy. This is where Aaron and Valerie will be, along with their parents, Rabbi Gruenwald, and Cantor Goldstein, as the ceremony unfolds. As Valerie approaches the Chuppah, Aaron will come out to receive her. Valerie will then circle Aaron seven times, an ancient Jewish tradition thought to create a magical barrier around the groom, protecting him from the evils of the outside world, including temptation and the glances of other women!
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Following the circling, is the Betrothal blessings, where Aaron and Valerie will drink wine from a single cup, symbolically affirming their commitment to join their two lives as one.
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After the wine will be the ring ceremony. Aaron and Valerie will exchange two plain wedding bands. In Jewish tradition, the wedding band must be a continuous circle, with no breaks (meaning no diamonds or other adornments) to symbolize the wholeness achieved through marriage and a hope for an unbroken union. It is also a symbol of perfection, completion, and safety. The rings will be temporarily placed on the index fingers. This tradition is nearly a thousand years old, stemming from an ancient belief that the index finger was connected by an artery to the heart, thus symbolically joining Aaron’s heart to Valerie’s.
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The Seven Marriage Blessings, or sheva b’rachot is next:
Blessed are You, G-d, Source of the world, who creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, G-d, Light of Life, who created everything for your glory. Blessed are You, G-d, Spirit of all things, who has created the human being. Blessed are You, G-d, Foundation of every life, who fashioned humanity in Your likeness, and prepared for us a shape and form in Your image, from one generation to the next and for all eternity. Blessed are You, G-d, who has created human beings. Zion will surely celebrate and exult in the coming together of her children. Blessed are You, G-d, who brings joy to Zion through her children. Give pleasure to these beloved companions as You did to Your creation in the Garden of Eden so long ago. Blessed are You, G-d, who makes the hearts of this couple rejoice. Blessed are You, G-d, Source of the universe, who has created each of these two people, their delight and their happiness, their rejoicing and singing, dancing and festivity, love and friendship, peace and pleasure. O G-d may the voices of this celebration be heard in the streets of our cities and the hills of our countryside. May the words of this couple go out with gladness from their wedding huppah, and may the music of their friends and guests surround them. Blessed are You, G-d, who brings joy to the hearts of this couple.(an artistic interpretation of The Seven Marriage Blessings by Janet Berkenfield)
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To end the ceremony, Aaron will break a glass. The broken glass reminds us that even in the midst of a joyous ceremony, we must still remember the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. After Aaron breaks the glass, you are strongly encouraged to yell “Mozel Tov!” or “Simon Tov!” as congratulations to the couple.
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After The Ceremony
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Yichud
Yichud is a period of about 10-15 minutes where Valerie and Aaron will be secluded by themselves to reflect on the day and enjoy each other as a married couple before the reception. Because of this time, there will not be a receiving line at HEA. However, they will certainly be sure to greet all of their guests at the dinner reception!
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