Weddingbee Blog

As I dive into the next set of posts and the wedding kicks off, I am going to include the text from our program. We had a (mostly) traditional (conservative) Jewish wedding, and many of the parts may be unfamiliar. Please feel free to use this text for your own programs, or as a guide to future weddings that you may attend!

Our wedding kicked off officially at 11:30 AM with cocktail hour and a “shmorg” (short for “shmorgasboard” and describes basically tons of stations, buffets and passed hors d’ouerves).

The cocktail hour, and all of our guests arriving!

More guests—oh baby, that’s a lot of people!

Our program began with the following text:

Welcome! We are so happy that you are here to join us in celebrating our wedding. It is very meaningful to share our special day surrounded by family and friends.

We would like to thank our parents, Dad and Step Mom Hermit Crab, Mama Hermit Crab, and FIL and MIL Hermit Crab, for enabling us to reach this day. Throughout both of our lives, they have constantly supported us with their love, instilled in us our values, our love for Judaism, and a strong sense of family. We are thankful for their love and support more than we can truly say.

As service to our community, both locally and globally, is a core value imparted to us by our parents, we have decided to make a donation in honor of our wedding guests to Save A Child’s Heart. SACH is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child’s nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation. SACH is motivated by the age-old Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world. By mending the hearts of children, regardless of their origin, SACH is contributing to a better and more peaceful future for all of our children.

We have put a great deal of thought into our wedding ceremony, in the hope of making it unique, personal and accessible to everyone. This guide is meant to clarify the traditions we have chosen to incorporate, their function and their religious and spiritual significance. We hope you enjoy!

Mr. and Miss. Hermit Crab

Just outside the tent for cocktail hour, was Mr. Hermit Crab’s Chatan’s Tish

Kabalat Panim/Chatan’s Tish - Welcoming the Guests

To kick off the festivities, Mr. and Miss Hermit Crab will each host separate parties for their guests, just like kings and queens did in ancient times. Miss Hermit Crab will host the

Kabbalat Panim; she will sit surrounded by her family and friends as guests greet her and exchange blessings, led by college friend AG. Similarly, Mr. Hermit Crab will host the Chatan’s Tish; he will sit at the front of a large table, symbolizing a king banqueting with his friends and advisors, led by family friend Rabbi AL. Guests are welcome to attend either or both of these parties.

More of Mr. Hermit Crab’s Tish

It is often custom for the groom’s guests to try and get him drunk while he gives a little speech—I was relieved to find out that the only interference to Mr. HC’s speech was little heckling…

Rabbi AL takes a turn

Mr. HC’s dad enjoys the moment (there was music playing)

But where was Miss Hermit Crab through all these festivities?

Well, that’s coming up!

Hermit Crab wedding tip #12:

If you are including traditions that not all of your guests are familiar with, a program is a great way to spread the word!

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Did you miss any of the Hermit Crab recaps? Catch up here!

• L’Chaim is for Lovers: What’s with the recap title?
• We kick off the wedding weekend on Friday night with an intimate family dinner
• I spend Saturday buzzing with some Bees, and we greet our out of town guests
• I get pampered and beautified
• I arrive at the scene
• I get dressed and have a different kind of first look(s)
• My somethings: Something Borrowed, Something Bee
• All the small things - up close and personal with my bridal deets
• I strike a pose and Mr. HC arrives just in time
• We have our first look
• We take some photos together - just the two of us
• Our families join us for some family fun photo ops!

(Unless otherwise noted, all photos in the Hermit Crab recaps are by Joel Greenberg of Joel Greenberg and Wendy Stewart Photography)

Check out the Hermit Crab Honeymoon in Croatia!

• Part 1: Zagreb and Istria
• Part 2: Plitvice Lakes and Zadar
• Part 3: Split and Dubrovnik