Weddingbee Blog

As the wedding day approaches, I’ve been getting more and more interested in our ketubah: the Jewish marriage contract.

I read Miss Pony’s wonderful post about Quaker marriage certificates/ketubahs, I read when Mrs. Spaniel discussed their search, and I also stumbled upon one on the wall of a house we were in last week. Lots of signs are pointing to me to start thinking about this wedding detail!

The history of the ketubah is actually pretty fascinating, and if you would like more information about it please go here.

I’m definitely leaning toward the tree motif, which is very very common among traditional ketubahs. I also really identify with the notion of a tree putting down roots as we start our lives together and begin our own traditions and foundations. Also, the two trees coming together relates to our interfaith relationship and the joining of two different families.

The ketubbot (plural for ketubah) that include trees celebrate the natural world and a couple’s relationship with nature. Because Judaism is a cyclical religion with many of its holidays and rituals tied to the seasons, natural images are potent Jewish symbols in a ketubah.

Info via Custom Ketubah

Loving the symbolism in the following examples! The watercolor ones are my favorite.

Image via Ketubah.com / Design by Ruth Stern Warzecha

Image via Jewish-Wedding-Rabbi.com / Sold by MP Artworks / Design by Eve Rosin

Image via AB Web Works / Design by Aya Betensky

Jewish families usually have their ketubahs framed and placed for viewing in their homes. Displaying our ketubah is something that I am really looking forward to. In modern days there are many interfaith ketubahs that have special wording for couples like us.

Are you incorporating any symbolic elements into your wedding day?