I was so blessed to be able to travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to visit my cousins, parents & my grandparents for my cousin Monique's Jewish wedding.
It was the most meaningful wedding I've ever attended. Every part of the evening had meaning and tradition that represents something from the Old Testament.
The Saturday before the wedding, I was honored to join Monique at her Bridal Tea at the beautiful and fancy Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans for afternoon tea. It was so proper and dainty! We ate cucumber sandwiches, scones and yummy little desserts and drank tea with cream and sugar in fancy china. We had THE best time with all the women in our family there.
As Anne of Green Gables says, "After that, ordinary life will never be the same."
The wedding was on Sunday evening. Here are all the girl cousins (Anna. Monique, Aimee and I) before the wedding...
(this is all taken from the wedding program)
The first time Monique and Joshua saw each other was during the bedeken, or veiling of the bride. This ceremony is based on the biblical story of Jacob, who in not seeing his bride's face before his wedding was tricked into marrying his intended bride's sister, Leah. As a result, to this very day, Jewish grooms are required to confirm the identity of their bride before the marriage can proceed.
Before Monique & Joshua ener the huppah, Monique will circle Joshua seven times, representing the seven wedding blessings and seven days of creation.
The sheva brachot, or "seven blessings," consist of praise for God, prayer for peace in Jerusalem, and biblical passages of joy and blessings for Joshua and Monique. Britta, their matchmaker and cantor, chanted the blessigns in Hebrew during the ceremony. It was beautiful!
At the conclusion of the huppah ceremony, Joshua broke a glass under his foot, commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; which reminds us that sorrow is present even in the moments of our greatest joy. The breaking of the glass is the official signal to shout "Mazal Tov!" and begin celebrating.
2 comments:
I can't believe how much your traveling right now! It sounds like ya'll are having a good time! I sure do miss you, we need to catch up this week before the baby comes.. I love you!
Wow! How cool!
Miss you so much. Are you done traveling fora while?
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