Planning a Jewish wedding in just six months might seem overwhelming, but with the right organization, it’s absolutely possible. Whether you’re incorporating Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or modern Jewish traditions, this checklist will help you stay on track and ensure every important detail is covered. From choosing a rabbi to finalizing your ketubah, here’s your step-by-step guide to planning a meaningful and beautiful Jewish wedding in half a year.

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Month 1: Lay the Foundation

Set the Date and Secure Your Key Vendors

• Choose Your Wedding Date: Consider the days that are traditionally avoided for Jewish Weddings such as Shabbat, Jewish holidays, and other important dates (like the Omer for Orthodox Weddings).
• Book Your Venue: Make sure it accommodates Jewish customs such as kosher catering and a designated space for the chuppah, Tisch and Bedekin if you are planning on having all three.
• Hire a Rabbi or Officiant: Schedule a meeting to discuss ceremony details and any religious requirements.
• Secure Your Photographer and Videographer: Ensure they understand Jewish traditions and can capture all key moments.
• Book a Band or DJ: Confirm they can play traditional Jewish music for the hora and other important dances.
• Determine Your Budget: Outline costs and prioritize spending.
• Draft a Guest List: Start gathering addresses for invitations.

Begin Pre-Wedding Traditions

• Engagement Party: Plan a l’chaim or formal celebration if desired.
• Pre-Marital Counseling: Some rabbis require couples to attend sessions or Bride + Groom classes or Torah classes before the wedding.

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Month 2: Plan Your Ceremony & Attire

Finalize Jewish Wedding Rituals

• Select Your Ketubah: Choose a design and confirm the text with your officiant.
• Decide on Chuppah Design: Rent or create a meaningful canopy for your ceremony. If you are looking to include florals on your chuppah, your florist should already have the Chuppah foundation for you!
• Plan Your Bedeken & Tisch: If incorporating these traditions, coordinate with your rabbi and start discussing how you want your Tisch and Bedekin to come to life. Each couple has a different vision for this and no matter how you plan it, it will be extremely meaningful and special.
• Select Sheva Brachot Honorees: Choose loved ones to recite the seven blessings during the ceremony under the Chuppah and at the post-wedding sheva brachot. In some sects of Judaism, this is done by the Rabbi!
• Order Kippot: Personalize yarmulkes for guests if desired.

Choose and Order Wedding Attire

• Bride’s Dress and Accessories: Consider modesty preferences and if the Rabbi has any kind of restrictions, keep that in mind!
• Groom’s Attire: Ensure a well-fitted suit and consider a kittel if following Orthodox customs.
• Schedule Dress & Suit Fittings: Ensure plenty of time for alterations.

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Month 3: Invitations & Catering

Send Invitations & Manage RSVPs

• Design and Order Invitations: Include Hebrew text if desired.
• Create a Wedding Website: Share details about Jewish customs, schedule, and RSVP options.
• Book Hotel Blocks: Reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.

Plan the Wedding Menu

• Choose Your Menu: Ensure they can provide the menu that works best for you and your wedding party.
• Plan the Bar: Select wine for the ceremony and celebratory drinks for the reception.
• Select the Wedding Cake and Desserts: Sometimes the best part of the meal!

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Month 4: Finalize Details

Confirm Vendors & Ceremony Plans

• Meet with Your Rabbi: Go over final ceremony details.
• Review Ketubah Text: Ensure accuracy and final approval from the officiant.
• Plan the Music List Coordinate with the band or DJ.
• Finalize Wedding Favors: Consider something that is unique and special to you as a couple.
• Schedule Hair & Makeup Trials: Find the perfect look for the big day.

Pre-Wedding Traditions

• Start considering the Mikvah Visit: Typically done a few days before the wedding but starting to research where and when is best for you and your personal experience is a good idea to consider a couple months before the wedding.
• Plan the Aufruf: If having an aliyah at synagogue, coordinate with the rabbi.

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Month 5: Final Preparations

Confirm Logistics

• Create a Wedding Day Timeline: Ensure everyone knows where they need to be.
• Assign Wedding Day Roles: Designate people for traditions like the Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings), Ketubah signing and wearing your Jewelry when you are under the chuppah.
• Confirm Final Guest Count: Provide the number to your caterer and venue.

Get Ready for the Big Day

• Pack for Your Wedding Night & Honeymoon: If leaving right after the celebration.
• Pick Up Wedding Attire: Ensure all accessories and shoes are included. I always tell my couples to put all of your accessories and whatever details you want photographed at the beginning of the day in a box as you get them so you do not forget or misplace anything!
• Prepare a Wedding Day Emergency Kit: Include essentials like safety pins, tissues, and extra bobby pins.

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Month 6: Enjoy the Celebration

The Final Week

• Have Your Mikvah Visit: A significant spiritual preparation before marriage.
• Rehearse the Ceremony: Go over final details with your officiant and whomever else needs to know what is going on!
• Get Plenty of Rest: Enjoy this exciting and sacred moment in your life!

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A six-month timeline can be a little daunting at time, but with proper organization, you can create a beautiful and meaningful Jewish wedding. Focus on what matters most, celebrating your love and honoring Jewish traditions.A six-month timeline can be a little daunting at times, but with proper organization, you can create a beautiful and meaningful Jewish wedding. Focus on what matters most—celebrating your love, bringing together family and friends, and honoring Jewish traditions that have been passed down for generations. Every detail, from choosing the perfect chuppah to selecting who will recite the Sheva Brachot, contributes to making your wedding day a deeply personal and unforgettable experience.

Remember, while planning is important, the heart of a Jewish wedding is the sacred commitment you are making to each other. Embrace the process, and don’t stress over perfection—what truly matters is the joy, the love, and the memories you create together. Lean on your family, friends, and vendors who understand your vision and can help bring it to life.

If you’re looking for a photographer who not only captures the beauty of your wedding but also understands the significance of each Jewish tradition, I’d love to help. From the excitement of the Tisch to the emotional moment of the Bedeken, from the chuppah ceremony to the high-energy hora, I’ll be there to document it all with an eye for both artistry and authenticity. Let’s work together to create images that will tell the story of your wedding day for generations to come.

Need a photographer who understands Jewish wedding traditions? Let’s capture your special day! Contact me today to discuss your wedding photography needs.

Mazel tov and happy planning!

Being a Jewish photographer is more than just a profession for me, it is a calling, a privilege, and a deeply personal journey. Every time I witness a couple standing beneath the chuppah, a young child beaming with pride at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or a Jewish newborn cradled lovingly in their parents’ arms, I feel a profound connection to my heritage. These moments don’t just fill my camera with beautiful images; they fill my soul with pride, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Why I Love Being a Jewish Photographer

Jewish traditions are rich with meaning, history, and emotion. From the ancient customs of our weddings to the powerful coming-of-age ceremonies of our children, every milestone is infused with something greater than just a celebration, it is a reaffirmation of our identity, resilience, and faith. To capture these moments as a Jewish photographer is not just about taking pictures; it is about preserving legacies, telling stories, and strengthening our collective memory.

When I photograph a Jewish wedding, I am not just capturing a union between two people, I am documenting centuries of tradition coming to life in a new way. The chuppah, a beautiful symbol of the home a couple will build together, holds so much weight in our culture. Every time I see a couple standing beneath it, surrounded by loved ones, I am reminded of the strength of Jewish families and the deep-rooted values that bind us together. The blessings, the breaking of the glass, and the joyous dancing that follows all reflect a love that is deeply intertwined with faith and history.

The Emotional Power of Jewish Milestones

It is not just weddings that make me proud to be a Jewish photographer, it is all of our meaningful milestones. Every time I photograph a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, I see the next generation stepping into their Jewish identity with pride. There is something incredibly moving about watching a 13-year-old stand before their family and friends, reading from the Torah, and embracing their place in our people’s story. I see the generations that came before them, the struggles and triumphs that brought them to this moment, and the bright future that lies ahead. Documenting these moments feels like an act of preservation, ensuring that their journey into Jewish adulthood is forever remembered.

And then there are moments like the birth of a Jewish child. The arrival of a newborn in our community is more than just the beginning of a new life; it is the continuation of a story that has endured for thousands of years. Photographing a baby’s bris or naming ceremony is one of the most profound experiences I have as a photographer. There is something so powerful, healing and hopeful about capturing a new generation, knowing that our traditions, faith, and identity will live on through them.

The Power of Family and Engagement Sessions

Family sessions and engagement sessions hold a special place in my heart as well. Whether it’s a young couple joyfully sharing their engagement story, or a family gathering together to celebrate their bond, these sessions give me the opportunity to photograph Jewish love in all its forms. There’s a beautiful intimacy in these moments—capturing the tenderness, laughter, and connection between family members or future spouses reminds me of the strength and beauty of our shared heritage.

Engagement sessions are a celebration of the future. It’s an honor to document a couple beginning their journey toward building their own family and future, with their Jewish faith and traditions at the center of that commitment. Similarly, family sessions are an opportunity to preserve the timeless connections between loved ones. From a family’s first celebration after the birth of a child to grandparents surrounded by grandchildren, these sessions remind me of how love, tradition, and faith continue to bind us all together.

How Photography Heals My Heart

As a Jewish photographer, every moment I capture is a small act of healing. We live in a world where being Jewish is sometimes met with challenges, where our traditions and identity can feel threatened, specially since October 7th. But every time I see a couple under the chuppah, every time I see a proud Bar or Bat Mitzvah standing tall, and every time I see a Jewish newborn cradled in love, it restores my faith in the beauty and resilience of our people. We are strong, we are hopeful, we never give up on our beliefs and ourselves. We support one another and even during some of the most painful moments, we are proud to be Jewish and we continue to hold on to the comfort and strength of our people.

Photography has the power to remind us who we are. It allows us to look back on the joyous moments and see the strength that carried us through. For me, every photo I capture is a celebration of Jewish life, love, and continuity. I take pride in knowing that my work is more than just images, it is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of our people.

The Importance of Preserving Jewish Stories

Our history is one of resilience, and every image I take is a way of ensuring that our customs and celebrations continue to be remembered and cherished. Weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, newborn ceremonies, engagement sessions, and family portraits are not just personal milestones; they are communal victories, reminders that Jewish life continues to flourish despite any obstacles, despite all the hate and despite the hardships we go through as a people. There is a light beyond the hardship and it is all of us, continuing to honor and cherish our culture and community.

Being a Jewish photographer means that I am not just an observer, I am an active and proud participant in these sacred moments. I understand the weight of each tradition, the significance of every ritual, and the emotions behind each celebration. My goal is to capture not just what these moments look like but what they feel like, to preserve the warmth, the laughter, the tears of joy, and the overwhelming sense of belonging that comes with being part of the Jewish people.

Why I Am Proud to Be a Part of This Culture

At the heart of my work is immense gratitude. I am grateful to be a witness to so many powerful Jewish moments, to be entrusted with capturing them, and to be part of a community that values love, tradition, and connection. Every wedding, every Bar or Bat Mitzvah, every engagement, and every new life that I photograph strengthens my own Jewish identity. It reminds me that our traditions are not just relics of the past but living, breathing celebrations of who we are.

Photography is my way of giving back to my community. My goal is to ensure that the beauty of Jewish life is documented and cherished for future generations. Every time I pick up my camera, I do so with a deep sense of purpose, knowing that I am preserving not just memories, but the heart and soul of our people.

In a world that often challenges our identity, Jewish photography is my way of saying, “We are here. We are proud. And we will continue to celebrate our traditions, our milestones, and our love for generations to come.”