The Ketubah

Sorry about the hiatus...but I think when you're planning an event sometimes you just need a break :)

Photo from CultivaStudio.com

Now I'm back and on the hunt for a ketubah.

The ketubah is the Jewish marriage contract.  This document is often an elaborate work of art that includes Hebrew and/or English text.  Originally the contract was negotiated between the bride's father, the rabbi, and the groom. Traditionally, the legal document outlined the financial responsibilities of the groom and the compensations that would be made should the marriage end in divorce. First written over two thousand years ago, the original ketubah document was quite liberal in its small degree of recognition for women's rights. 

Today, the ketubah often reflects an equal commitment by both the groom and the bride and outlines their rights and obligations to and for each other.  It has become a spiritual and symbolic contract, which is signed alongside the state's marriage license.  Typically, the ketubah is signed in a small, intimate ceremony before the actual wedding with at least two witnesses.  

Photo from WeddingBee.com

Finding a ketubah is not an easy feat.  There are actually quite a few websites and stores that sell the documents and there are a number of artists, styles, color palates, designs, and texts.  What's great is that in many cases you can customize your text in both Hebrew and/or English to reflect the values that you and your future spouse share.

Urban Collective at etsy.com

Here are a few websites for finding your perfect ketubah.

Many Jewish brides will tell you that Ketubah.com is the place to go for your wedding ketubah needs.  This website has a plethora of ketubot that are searchable by artists, color, theme, text, and price range. 

I personally prefer Gallery Judaica.  I think they have a better selection of the paper cutout ketubot.

Urban Collective {Modern Ketubot}  on etsy also has some amazing hand-made paper cut out designs.

From Urban Collective at etsy.com