Escorting And Unveiling The Bride

In the Christian tradition, the father escorts his daughter down the aisle and symbolically places her hand in the hand of the groom thus ‘giving her away’. In the Jewish tradition both parents escort the bride and the groom to the Chuppah. In some interfaith weddings where these rituals are important to both sides, a combination of the two can be used. Some modern couples often choose not to be escorted at all.

Veiling and Unveiling of the Bride

The common explanation for this ritual dates back to the Biblical time of Jacob who intended to marry his cousin Rachel. Laban, his uncle and future father-in-law veiled both Rachel and her sister Leah and switched the two. Jacob did not bother to unveil the bride prior to the wedding ceremony. The next morning he discovered he had married Leah. Jacob had to work for seven extra years in order to marry Rachel. The unveiling of the bride reassures the groom that he is indeed marrying the right bride. In the Orthodox Jewish tradition the groom unveils his bride when the guests begin to arrive (before the ceremony itself) to insure that he is marrying the right bride and also to allow the guests to congratulate the bride without the veil on her face. This ritual is called "Bedeken". The Groom places the veil back on the Bride's face right before the ceremony begins.

There is an interesting explanation for this custom. It is believed that on her wedding day the bride is given spiritual powers to protect her groom, herself and their future family. In certain Non-Jewish traditions that strength is being bestowed upon the bride by Mother Mary, while in the Jewish tradition it is the Shechina, the female essence of God who gives the bride this gift. This invisible protective energy radiates from the Crown Chakra (A Hindu term for the body’s spiritual energy centers) and makes the bride’s face shines bright. The unveiling of the bride and the exposure of the bride’s radiant face insures the most effective protection to her future family.

However, Jewish orthodox tradition calls for the bride to be covered with the veil again during the wedding ceremony. This is done so that her physical beauty or any other “earthly” factors would not influence the spiritual bond between the bride and the groom, during the ceremony. While some brides choose to omit the veiling and unveiling altogether,  many brides continue to wear a wedding veil or a hat.

Copyright 2009 Florida Rabbi Interfaith Jewish Weddings Jewish Interfaith Wedding Officiant Ceremonies . All rights reserved.

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