Chuppah Help!

[Fleur]

We are doing a DIY chuppah. I have found many websites that give great instructions for how to make one but I can''t find any specific measurements for the top. What are the dimensions of the fabric? It''s only going to be me, FI and officiant standing under it. I''m thinking it probably varies since people use tablecloths, tallis,etc but I''m trying to get some idea of proportions. I''m thinking a 5 or 6 foot square? Is that too big, not big enough?

Yes, another thing I''m probably overthinking....LOL!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I know nothing about Judaic traditions, but I would think it wouldn''t really matter how big it was as long as it fit you, FI and the Rabbi. The ones I''ve seen have been about 6'' x 6''.

 

[lliang_chi]

I think it really depends on how big you want to make it. Do you have any other things that could limit it, e.g. size of stage/platform? Take that into the equation also.

Random question: Are you planning on having it self standing or will it be supported by chuppah holders?

 

[doodle]

If I were trying to figure that out, I think I''d grab a few people to stand in for the sake of a visual, and have demonstration time with a bed sheet to get an idea of what size you need. You''ll look like an idiot, haha, but actually seeing what you''re working with will probably put your mind at ease.

 

[swimmer]

Mazel Tov!
So there is no real hard and fast rule on how big to make it, just think about who you want under it.
My big concern with the chuppah was to make the fabric light enough that it wasn''t dark under it...I''ve seen lots of pictures of weddings where the pole holders are more prominent than the bride since she was in the shadows. Personally we used brass flagpole stands and 7'' poles to hold it up so that everyone could see the bridal party (DH went to a wedding where the bride got cracked across the skull by a pole because her future BIL was bored). So he required that there be no people holding it up, also I couldn''t figure out what to do in terms of having those folks come early and when it would go up...so we just went without. Our chuppah was a group effort diy of friends and family, fabric from joanne''s.

My only other words of wisdom for Jewish weddings is to have super sturdy chairs for dancing. A friend got her finger crushed in a rented Chivari, and my sister had her platinum eternity band bent in a folding chair. I recently went to a wedding where the bride was dropped, so am still thinking about how best to handle it.

Have you read The New Jewish Wedding? I found it very helpful. Do you have your ketubah? Would love to see pics!

 

[Fleur]

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies. I always get good advice here.

lliang_chi: good suggestion about the size of the stage. We''re getting married outside in a walled courtyard/garden of an old house turned into a restaurant. It''s not really huge so we will need to think about proportions. My friend is making the poles and I''m making the top. She is using big flower pots with cement to anchor the poles so we won''t need anyone to hold them. Then she''s planting some flowers and greenery in the pots. My only worry is if it''s windy it might tip over. Yikes!

doodle: you crack me up! Yeah, we probably would look crazy but I had actually thought about trying that idea to get a visual.

swimmer: Excellent point about the fabric letting in light. It''s light cream with a very tiny cream leaf pattern. When you hold it up to the light, you can see the leaves, which I love. I am a beginning quilter so I''m using a cotton quilt fabric. My "guest book" will be squares cut from the same fabric that guests can sign and I''ll be using the chuppah fabric as the backing for the quilt or wallhanging (haven''t decided on the finished project yet.)

We are not having a traditional Jewish wedding. I am not a practicing Jew but my father was Jewish. He passed away many years ago and I miss him terribly. I am incorporating this element of the Jewish wedding tradition into my ceremony in his memory. So we won''t be having the chair dance (ouch! your stories sounded so painful!) or the ketubah.

 

[mayachel]

Hmm...I think I have quite the assortment of experiences with friends, I''ll see how many different pics I have. Some did super simple-the fathers held a talis over the bride and groom''s head for a few moments while the rabbi spoke about the symbolism, and then they stepped aside.

Another had the bm''s carry each pole and then place into the ground.

Another version was completely set up ahead of time and almost like a tent. This was the most "traditional aka religious" ceremony. Not sure what we are going to do yet. I do like your idea of the scrapbook/quilt. I just don''t think I''d ever get around to putting it together.

 

[mayachel]

Unfortunately I can''t find the third...

From my experience, the size matter seems to need only include space for you, the groom and rabbi. Though some couples make it big enough to include the parents.

 

[brendaman]

We''re having a Jewish wedding (well really a Fewish -- Filipino-Jewish -- wedding, as I''m Filipino and am converting). We''re not DIY-types, especially with a Chuppah. It might be best to do a simple one w/out nails. I''ve attached here one I liked where they used a tallis and just wrapped/tied it to tree stumps/branches.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

"Fewish" LOL so funny!