THE CREATIVE JEWISH WEDDING BOOK: A Hands-on Guide to New & Old Traditions, Ceremonies & Celebrations

This guide to Jewish weddings will be best appreciated by those who are new to Judaism, those who wish to adapt tradition to personalize their Jewish wedding or those who want to incorporate elements of the Jewish tradition into an unconventional or interfaith wedding ceremony. Kaplan-Mayer writes accessibly and engagingly, leading readers through Jewish customs such as the ketubah , the marriage contract that she encourages them to modify according to their own backgrounds and needs, and the chuppah , the wedding canopy that she helps them envision and create. She tackles food, music, family dynamics and ritual objects ("something oldish, something newish, something borrowed, something Jewish"). Kaplan-Mayer pays special attention to the needs of interfaith and same-sex couples, with practical suggestions for diminishing possible tensions and helping family members and guests feel at ease. (July)