A Traditional Twist on Chuppahs

It's possible to stick to the traditional without always following tradition (does that make sense?!) If you're having a Jewish (or even interfaith) wedding, a Chuppah is probably part of your ceremony.  

Slight break for a quick history lesson!

According to Wikipedia, A chuppah (Hebrew: חוּפָּה‎, pl. חוּפּוֹת, chuppot, literally, "canopy" or "covering"), also huppah, chupah, or chuppa, is a canopy under which a Jewish bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony. A chuppah symbolizes the home that the couple will build together. While a Jewish marriage is still considered valid in the absence of a chuppah, a chuppah is still considered a basic requirement for a Jewish wedding.

Traditionally, a chuppah consists of a cloth or sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles, or sometimes manually held up by attendants to the ceremony. But feel free to take a modern spin on this age-old tradition.  Use flowers, silk, a hand-made quilt or even lucite to create your chuppah.  In the end, it's what the chuppah symbolizes, not what it's made of that makes this tradition special!

A lucite canopy

{image via Davinci Florist}

Lighted by hanging lanterns

{image via LI Weddings}

A silk covering

{image via Dawn Easter Events}