Why do we want a Chuppah?

The first thought that comes to mind when I think of the chuppah and home is a place of safety — a space where the two of you become artists, surrounding yourselves with your expressions of love and home. Home is the center of the couple’s life together.

Having a symbol of the home makes perfect sense when creating your wedding ceremony. Jewish or not, the chuppah is an icon worth considering when crafting your ceremony. I don’t want couples to have a chuppah because it is expected by the Jewish partner or because of parents’ expectations. I always encourage couples to think about what “home” means to them and how they can personalize their chuppah. This is what makes the chuppah so powerful.

I don’t mean how the florist decorates it; it’s about why you chose the flowers you are using. Using a father’s or grandfather’s tallit (prayer shawl) to cover the chuppah speaks of generations of devotion to God that shelter your home. If the groom chooses to make the chuppah poles, the kind of wood used can carry symbolism about the personality of your relationship. A large chuppah suggests a large family; if small, the word “cozy” comes to mind. Manzanita wood is extremely strong—an image of the strength of your relationship. Willow suggests the ability to bend with the winds of time.