My long-time childhood girlfriend got married today. She met her husband last fall. They began dating some time in December… he proposed on February 13th and they got married today – one month later.
When you know, you know.
This was one of the most unique weddings I’ve ever seen. I suppose it wasn’t unique to your average Orthodox Jew, but as a common gentile, I sure had never seen a wedding like it before.
Last night was a planned girls’ night before the wedding, but certain formalities were to be included. Both the bride and groom had to participate in ritual baths and fasting from sundown the night before, so we shoveled in some dinner together before the sun dipped below the horizon and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening engaged in some serious girl talk.
We finally called it a night around midnight because the wedding was scheduled for roughly 8am the next morning. We got up about 5am and proceeded to primp and prep and get ourselves dressed in our modest but stylish ensembles. All of us gals are married, so we had some fun deciding what hats to wear – married women are to cover their hair. And while I did have a really good time trying on every hat for sale on the North Shore, my favourite preparation was squeezing myself into panty hose for the first time in a zillion years… ack, those are awful.
An army of young men arrived with two Rabbis about 7:15am to pray over the wedding for about half an hour or more. There was something touching about that. I know it’s ritual, but there’s something special about knowing the people around you and your community are coming together in prayer to bless their marriage. Marriages should be honoured so much more than they are in our society.
The wedding was really quiet – but I think I did a really good job of standing still and saying nothing. That doesn’t really come naturally to me, so I did feel a hint of pride at my own accomplishment. The prayer warriors held up the chuppah – the marriage canopy – under which the groom gave the bride a ring and her silence indicated no objections. There was a signing of the marriage contract, some more blessings, some ceremonial hand washing, breaking of bread and again more prayers.
In the end someone who means a great deal to me is moving on to share her life with a wonderful man who makes her happy, loves her as she deserves and makes a great dad to her adopted two year old son. I couldn’t be more happy for her… or for him.
Today is the first day of the rest of their life together, and I wish them the very best this life has to offer – love, laughter, peace and joy and many many years of blessings to come.
Mazel Tov!