In a Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride and groom as well as their parents, stand under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, while the ceremony is performed.  The chuah is generally interpreted as a symbol of the home that the bride and groom are about to create with their marriage; as well as the creative and religious expression of the hope that their new home will be filled with God’s presence.  For many, the fact that the chuppah remains open on all four sides symbolizes the welcoming nature of the newlywed’s home to family and friends as Abraham’s tent was to passing strangers as told in the Bible.

{Photo:  Phil Kramer; Location: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia]Traditionally, the chuppah was made using a family prayer shawl called a tallis tied to sticks, branches or simply held over the bride and groom’s heads.  Nowadays, the chuppah is constructed out of drapery, fabric, flowers, greenery, crystals, candles, potted plants, twigs, trees, chandeliers and clear acrylic.  In our thirty years of designing weddings from Boston to Florida, we’ve had the pleasure of creating some memborable wedding canopies for our clients.  Here are just a few of our favorites:

{Photo: Clair Pruett; Location: Westin Philadelphia}

{Photo: Michael Leslie; Location: Hotel duPont}

{Photo:  Cliff Mautner; Location: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia}

{Photo: Susan Stripling; Location: Hotel duPont}

{Photo: Ash Imagery; Location: Westin Philadelphia}

{Photo: Cliff Mautner; Location:  Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia}

{Photo: Marie Labbancz; Location: Trust the Venue}

{Photo:  Susan Beard; Location: Loews Hotel Philadelphia}

{Photo:  Cliff Mautner; Location: Urban Outfitters}