Orthodox Weddings

If you've never been to an Orthodox Jewish wedding ceremony and have been asked to attend one, it is important to know what to expect. An Orthodox Jewish wedding follows the Torah very literally. There are traditions practiced at an Orthodox wedding that differ from Christian weddings, and even other Jewish weddings.  You may notice that men and women must sit separately and dance separately at an Orthodox Jewish wedding.  And my favorite part is the Bedeken.  The Bedeken, or the veiling of the bride, occurs right before the bride's processional. This custom is based on the story of Jacob in the bible, when he accidentally marries the bride's sister, Leah, because she is hidden under her veil. The bride sits in a chair at the front of the room with her veil covering her face, and the groom, surrounded by his groomsmen, dances to the bride and lifts her veil.