Tips For Jewish Destination Weddings Courtesy Of A Wedding Rabbi

By Betty Clark


If you are planning on flying off to an exotic location for your upcoming nuptials, you will have to make a lot of the decisions from a distance. If you also intend for the festivities to be outdoors, you will have an extra set of challenges. A seasoned wedding rabbi has some good tips for those planning Jewish destination weddings.

It's important to find out if there is a rabbi available to officiate at the ceremony. If the location is really remote, there might not be someone who can conduct the service for you. In that case, you will need to discuss with your local rabbi the possibility of flying him to the site. The cost of an additional plane ticket and hotel room will have to be added to your budget.

An outdoor wedding is always subject to weather conditions. You need to find out if the Chuppah canopy can be moved inside. For an outdoor wedding the four legs are buried in the sand and a plank is put down for the convenience of guests and the bridal party. This can be a laborious process. If moving the canopy is out of the question, you should make sure the florist can provide a hand held one.

You will be nervous and excited on your wedding day. This is not the time to worry about what's happening with the ritual wedding elements. You should have a specific person assigned to pick up ceremony treasures and set them by the wedding cake or at your table. You have to provide a pull string bag for the person charged with picking up the breaking glass.

You must make plans for protecting and presenting your ketubah. If you're flying, inserting it into a heavy plastic bag and packing it inside your luggage should be sufficient. If you're planning a beach ceremony, a treated canvas ketubah can be used. That way you won't have to worry about the sand and water spray damaging it. You should have ribbon or wire on hand in case the wind picks up, You don't want your ketubah display toppling over.

If most of your guests are flying in for the occasion, you want them there in time for the ceremony. If possible, you should book the flights for the day before. For those who have to arrive the day of the service, booking them flights for early in the morning is the best idea. Your wedding planner should make the arrangements for transportation from the airport to the hotel.

It surprises some, but you can actually buy wedding insurance. It is certainly something you should consider. You never know what unexpected thing might happen. Insurance will give you some protection in case plans change, a caterer backs out, or you lose a nonrefundable deposit. Travel insurance is reasonable and something to consider.

Your wedding should be a joyous occasion. If you are set on having it in an exotic location, you must plan for everything. You never know what will happen and how you'll have to adjust to keep all the elements of your special day on track.




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