My Betrothal
Abbas’s timing is so perfect.
I had a complete 3 week notice to pull off a Betrothal Ceremony with my Suitor. He would be flying in with his Parents and we would move from being in a courtship to being betrothed. Everything sailed smoothly and fell into place beautifully. My community was so wonderful! Everyone seemed to have a little part to play in helping this Betrothal come together.
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The venue would be at the same place we would have Passover the following night hosted graciously by a lovely couple from our Community, in their amazingly humble green backyard.
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The Chuppah was built by my dear friend’s Husband.
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The tent, chairs and tables were ½ off the price because our fellowship was already renting them for Passover for the following night. All we had to do was order it to come a day early!
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The Local flower shop allowed me to make the Chuppah and flower arrangements there 2 days early, keep it in their cooler and pick it up on the day of the Betrothal.
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My father had 3 HD video cameras to shoot from 3 angles!!! As if one wasn’t enough?
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My dear friend from our community who is a wonderful Photographer graciously offered to take our Betrothal pictures before and during the ceremony.
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Another wonderful friend from our community just had completed school in Makeup and Artistry and offered to do my makeup. What a royal pampering treat!
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My Betrothal dress I had found 4 months earlier in a vintage shop in Oklahoma. The owner originally did not want to sell it to me because she was afraid I would destroy it for a Halloween costume and throw fake blood all over it. The dress is from the 1920;s and she did not want to see it be damaged. When I explained to her I don’t even celebrated Halloween and the purpose why I wanted it, she insisted that I try it on. It fit beautifully length wise but the back would not zip up. I knew I could add more material so she sold it to me for $80! What a blessing!
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Another lovely woman from our community offered to put her seamstress abilities to the test and added lace in the back and made it work wonderfully!
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My veil was handmade from an Etsy shop store and I got it within the week.
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The Bridegrooms Father would play and sing “Sunrise Sunset” and “Beautiful Bride” on his guitar.
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In our community we had 2 men with a guitar amp and a microphone amp that we were able to use.
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Another woman from our community gave me the most perfect ivory pearl earrings for my 1920”s vintage ivory dress. Her and her husband also hosted my Bridegroom for the week in their home.
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A gentleman from our community eagerly helped my father manage the video cameras
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Food was picked up
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Flowers were picked up
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Betrothal programs were printed and passed out to guests.
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Miraculously a very Large Tallit that I ordered 3 weeks prior came in the day of the Betrothal! This same tallit would be my gift to my Bridegroom in remembrance of our Chuppah.
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The owner of the House has memorized many Psalms and scripture in Spanish, Hebrew and Greek. He recited for us Psalm 128, the priestly blessing and our Betrothal blessing in Hebrew. What a blessing that was!
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My matchmaker made it to the Betrothal and she gave the most heartfelt speech, made me tear up.
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My dear friend who had been almost every step of this journey with me spoke and used scripture so eloquently and in such a gracious manner, I will never forget. She also helped direct the day of and give everyone jobs to do to make it come together.
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Candles were lit and passed to each guest as the sun went down and I lit the Menorah under our Chuppah, were my light will never be put out by night.
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My mother painted our Ketubah and a friend of a friend of a friend translated our vows from English into Hebrew just in time to transfer to the finished Ketubah.
What a blessing how all of this came together. Thank you everyone for your support, efforts and time.
A big thank you to my parents for your support, time and everlasting love.
A big thank you to my father and mother in-law for their input, love support and coming at last moments notice from Oklahoma.
To my Bridegroom for passing test after test that he is the man Abba ordained for me and my son.
A special thank you to the creator of the Universe, the Elohim of Abraham, Issac and Jacob for providing me with a man who was willing to leave his house, his family, work, school, congregation and friends to start a new life with me and Eliad. For showing me when one waits on Him, trusts in Him and focuses on Him, He will provide and answer. I love you dearly Father.
"When it’s ordained from above, everything falls into place".
The Ketubah or marriage contract known as Torah was given to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai on Shavuot and the marriage is finalized for Yom Teruah, when the Bridegroom comes for His bride on a White Horse.
For now I will be enjoying this new phase of my life as a Bride waiting for my Bridegroom to come and get me. I will not know the day or the hour of the wedding ceremony. Let the shofars blow when it is time.
Amanda
Here is a glimpse into the Betrothal program and the order in which it happened, feel free to use this and change around as you please for your Betrothal or your Childresn Betrothal Ceremonies... This took about 1 hour to go thru.
Betrothal Ceremony Program
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שופר Shofar - Blowing of the Shofar
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שיר Shir - Song “Sunrise Sunest” played and sung by Bridegroom’s Abba
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באַדעקן Bedeken - Veiling - Bridegroom lifts Veil and places back over her face, remembrance of Ya’acob & Leah, when Laban deceived Ya’acob for Leah instead of Rakhel
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חוּפָּה Chuppah – Bridegroom welcomes Bride into the “House”. “Avraham’s tent”.
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קָדַשׁ Qodesh - Bride and Bridegroom consecrate each other with blend of pure olive oil from Israel with an essential oil base blend of Frankincense & Myrrh, Spikenard, & Hyssop.
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תפילה Tefilah - Prayer – Brides Abba (Father)
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הוֹרָאָה Hora’ah - Teaching – “Betrothal” by Teacher "xyz"...
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דָּבָר Dabar - Speech– Matchmaker
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דָּבָר Dabar - Speech – Merea- Friend
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דָּבָר Dabar - Speech – Grooms Father
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תְהִלִים Tehillim - Psalm 128 recited in Hebrew by "xyz", translated in English by "xyz"...
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שיר Shir - Song – Abba and Bridegroom sing “Beautiful Bride” from Paul Wilbur
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דָּבָר Dabar - Speech – Bridegroom
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The Mohar - Bridegroom gives Bride Price to Brides Father
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ברכת כהנים Birkat Kohanim - The Priestly Blessing Numbers 6:23-27, recited by Oscar
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הגפן HaGafen – Bride & Bridegroom recite Blessing over the Wine
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קידושין Kiddushin - Bircat Erusin by "xyz" – Bride & Bridegroom recite Betrothal Blessing
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Bride’s Ima (Mother) lifts the veil & Bride and Bridegroom take the Wine from the Kiddush Cup
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טבעת Tahba’at - Ring Blessing – Ring is placed on Brides right index finger. "Harei At Mekudeshes Li B'taba'as Zo Kedas Moshe v'Yisrael - Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel."
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כְּתוּבָּה Ketubah - Marriage Contract – Bridegroom presents the Ketubah to Bride and reads it to her. Bride responds her Vows to the Bridegroom
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Bride Recites Ruth 1:16-17 to her Bridegroom – “your people shall be my people”…
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Witnesses sign the Ketubah – Parents of the Bride and Bridegroom
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לָ֫חֶם Lechem – Bride & Bridegroom’s family take of the bread covenant uniting families - Echad.
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מנורה Menorah - Lighting of the 7 Branch Menorah – Parable of the 10 virgins – Brides light is never put out by night. Lighting of the candle Blessing with help of Grooms Ima.
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Abba of the Bridegroom sings “Miflati” by Ted Pearce
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Everyone Blows their Shofars making a joyful noise
