Ceremonies & Traditions

1. My mother, my rabbi

   Rather than have an anonymous clergyperson marry us, my mom, who's a rabbi, officiated the wedding ceremony. At 55, my mom decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a rabbi. She was ordained last year and now has her own congregation in Michigan.... read more

   October 31, 2007 7:50 PM

2. A ketubah that keeps it real

   In Judaism, the marriage contract is called a ketubah—it's a parchment with the couple's vows written in calligraphy. I wanted something atypical, so I went to Theketubah.com for mine.... read more

   November 5, 2007 8:31 PM

3. Breaking the glass with a wooden shoe

   To make the wedding more inclusive for Jeffrey and his Dutch family, we added some cultural fusion to the ceremony. In Jewish tradition, the groom stomps on a glass, signifying that the marriage is official. In Holland, breaking glass is considered a sign of good luck, too.... read more

   November 7, 2007 12:20 AM

4. Capricorn moon: Family tradition time

   The holiday season is all about honoring family customs—and soon, you'll be creating your own. This afternoon, the moon enters family-oriented Capricorn, making it a great day to explore how you and your future hub' will merge celebration styles. ... read more

   December 10, 2007 12:46 AM

5. Wed your own way!

   Quirky Aquarius is in the hizz-ouse for another week, a great time to let your rebellious side have a hand in the wedding plans. For ideas, I love the book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for the Independent Bride. The Web site is fun, and has a whole gallery of offbeat brides and their non-traditional weddings. One featured bride left her ceremony in a canoe and served tiny pies instead of wedding cake.... read more

   February 12, 2008 9:08 PM