Wedding Under Jewish Chuppah In Cretan Winery Kait & Ben
Working with couples from all over the world gives us an invaluable opportunity of experiencing new cultures, and when it comes to wedding day traditions, every culture offers a range of fascinating customs. That was just the case with the Jewish wedding customs of Kait & Ben: we had a chance to plan a wedding according to the rituals of this unique culture in the beautiful setting of Cretan landscapes.
The morning of Kait & Ben wedding in Crete started with signing Ketubah – Jewish marriage contract. Both families gathered in the bride & groom’s suite in the old harbour of Chania to be the witnesses of that special moment and congratulate the couple taking this formal step.
After signing Ketubah, the time has come for the couple to start with their preparations for the ceremony ahead of them. In a relaxed family atmosphere they were exchanging gifts, congratulating each other and taking photos of two families that just became one! Going for a walk through the Old Harbour of Chania, the bride & groom and their dearest ones had photographer & videographer capturing these joyful moments for the family archives.
It was the first day of the fall, when the hot Cretan air is softened with the fresh breeze – perfect wedding day weather! While the couple and their families were strolling through the harbour of Chania, the team of Crete For Love were making the final arrangements in the rustic winery where the upcoming ceremony and wedding dinner were to happen.
Once the couple and the guests arrived to the winery, they were greeted with live music and welcome table offering variety of wines. The ceremony was taking place in the courtyard of the old family quarters that, with its tall pine trees, lush greenery and rustic setting provided a truly whimsical atmosphere. To play on the contrast with this organic look, opted for softness of roses & hydrangea in shades of pink and purple, combined with greenery: decorating the aisle and the four-legged wooden ceremony arch.
The guests took their places and the family chuppah was placed on the arch, where the groom was waiting for Kait, his soon-to-be wife. With respect to Jewish traditions, the ceremony included several rituals that, together with the heartfelt blessings of couple’s parents and their son, made this moment uniquely meaningful. Ben smashed the glass, the couple kissed and now the bond became official!
Following the ceremony, the guests exchanged warm wishes with the new Mr. and Mrs. and continued mingling to the live Cretan music, savouring the local wines and light snacks. As the evening was taking over, the dinner in gardens of the winery began. One long family table was decorated with centrepieces of little pots full with local greeneries and herbs of lavender and rosemary placed on the soft moss. Each dinner set was adorned with a gentle rose, a customised menu card and a bottle of organic olive oil as a guest favour.
The newlyweds and the crowd with their cheerful laid back vibe, had a delightful time enjoying the excellent local cuisine, watching the Cretan dancers and dancing to the classic hits played by the DJ.
Beautiful intimate weddings like this offer a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and have a very special place in our hearts!
