Weddingbee Blog

With a quick hair check and a peek at our guests hurrying to take their seats for the processional, I was giddy. We made our way to the ceremony site, and stood behind those green doors that you will see at the back. Waiting during the ceremony processional is one of my most vivid memories from the wedding—it was unbelievably surreal being at the back of the line, meaning this was my wedding—I was the bride!

Hiding behind those doors means we missed out on one very special experience.

My wonderful and amazing Aunt B had somehow arrived after everyone else had been seated.

Apparently she walked up and down the aisle a few times welcoming everyone and trying to figure out where to sit (despite our telling her that the front seat was saved for her!). Everyone said it was adorable (and hilarious). I’m happy that she got her moment in the aisle!

And then the processional really began. First up, Mr. HC and his family. We decided to use traditional Hebrew songs that are special to us (instrumental versions) for our processional. Though I have included a little bit about each of the songs here, we really chose them because we enjoy singing them in Hebrew, and not because of their literal translations. I have also included two videos that my friend took so that you can hear the songs!

Mr. HC and his family walked to Hamalach - a traditional Hebrew lullaby.

The words in English are:

May the angel who has delivered me from all harm bless these lads. May they carry on my name and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude on earth.

Mr. HC’s sister and brother began the processional

Followed by Mr. HC and his parents

Next up, my family walked down the aisle to Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses) - one of my favorite songs—I hum it all the time around my house!

The words in English are:

Evening of roses

Let’s go out to the grove

Myrrh, perfumes, and incense

Are a threshold at your feet.

The night falls slowly

A breeze of roses blows

Let me whisper a song to you quietly

A song of love.

At dawn, a dove is cooing

Your hair is filled with dew

Your lips to the morning are like a rose

I’ll pick it for myself.

My step-mom and Bubbe headed down

Followed by my sister and brother-in-law

My little sister as the flower girl—and she did an amazing job!

Here is the first video: you will hear the song change between Mr. HC and his parents and then my step-mom and bubbe.

Processional 1 from Mrs. Hermitcrab on Vimeo.

(All music by Nafshenu)

And then it was my turn!

We smiled at my little sister as she headed down the aisle, knowing our turn was not far behind.

I walked to the song Al Kol Eileh (All These Things), one of my favorite songs to sit at youth group events and pretty much all the time. This song in particular really gives me the chills now whenever I hear it—it is my song, the song that sung me down the aisle at my wedding!

The words in English are:

Every bee that brings the honey

Needs a sting to be complete

And we all must learn to taste the bitter with the sweet.

Keep, oh Lord, the fire burning

Through the night and through the day

For the man who is returning

from so far away.

Chorus:

Don’t uproot what has been planted

So our bounty may increase

Let our dearest wish be granted:

Bring us peace, oh bring us peace.

For the sake of all these things, Lord,

Let your mercy be complete

Bless the sting and bless the honey

Bless the bitter and the sweet.

Save the houses that we live in

The small fences and the wall

From the sudden war-like thunder

May you save them all.

Guard what little I’ve been given

Guard the hill my child might climb

Let the fruit that’s yet to ripen

Not be plucked before its time.

Chorus:

As the wind makes rustling night sounds

And a star falls in its arc

All my dreams and my desires

Form crystal shapes out of the dark.

Guard for me, oh Lord, these treasures

All my friends keep safe and strong,

Guard the stillness, guard the weeping,

And above all, guard this song.

Chorus:

For the sake of all these things, Lord,

Let your mercy be complete

Bless the sting and bless the honey

Bless the bitter and the sweet.

Bless the sting and bless the honey

Bless the bitter and the sweet.

He’s waiting for me, you guys!

I walked down the aisle with my parents. You can kind of tell in this picture, but it took everyone a long time to stand up when I started walking. It was a little weird. But really, I did not care at all!

I am pretty sure I silly-grinned all the way down the aisle!

My mom and I had a moment when we reached the chuppah

(Oh! I just realized that this is the first picture that you have seen of our chuppah structure! Lots more to come - I was (okay, still am) obsessed with how gorgeous it came out.)

My dad and I had a moment

He went to take his spot under the chuppah as I began circling Mr. HC

You will see and hear more about the circling in the next post!

For now, here is the video of me walking down the aisle (circling included at the end of this video)

Processional 2 from Mrs. Hermitcrab on Vimeo.

(Music by Nafshenu)

How did you choose your ceremony music?

What songs did/are you using?

Hermit Crab wedding tip #16:

Choose your ceremony music by what is special and meaningful for you and your fiance(e). I knew that most people would not recognize our music, but these are special melodies for us, and I still get the chills if I hear any of them!

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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!
• Mr. Hermit Crab’s Tish officially kicks off the festivities as our guests arrive
• I make my big entrance and join the party!
• We signed and signed again - our marriage license and ketubah
• Bedekin - I was veiled and he was kippah-ed!

(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