The groom reads the ketubah with the rabbi, in the small window of time before the bedeken and chuppah that follow. The ketubah is the Jewish marriage contract, a document with roots going back two thousand years. It outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride and is signed by witnesses in the presence of the rabbi. The reading and signing are quiet, deliberate moments, and they sit at the heart of what makes a Jewish wedding day feel anchored.
This one was photographed at the Royal York Hotel on Front Street in downtown Toronto. As with any tradition that isn't my own, I prepare for it well in advance: learning the order of the day, knowing what comes next, and understanding which moments matter most so I can be in the right place without being in the way.
Location: The Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3, (416) 368-2511
Location: Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3, (416) 368-2511.
Keywords: bedecken (3), ceremony (28), downtown (27), hotel (11), jewish (30).