In the Moment: Veiling the Bride

After we finished getting our photographs taken it was almost time for the festivities to start so we headed back to the Odeon room. Unlike when we'd started taking our portraits the room was no longer a quiet out of the way room. It was swarming with people. We'd told everyone that the ceremony would be starting promptly at 5:30 pm so as guests arrived they were all stopping in to say hi and congratulate us. 

When it came time for the ketubah signing at 5:00 pm - the room was still full of guests.

I don't know what I'd expected but when the rabbi called for the bedeken de kallah (or the veiling of the bride) and Ames came forward, the fact that we're getting married and we're getting married right now hit me. 

The veiling can be done by the groom, the bride's mother. We hadn't planned on having Ames veil me, but it felt perfect in the moment. As Ames veiled me, our rabbi explained the significance to our gathered guests.

In the bible, Jacob accidentally married his beloved Rachel's sister Leah by mistake. The father had veiled Leah and Jacob did not see his bride until he raised the veil at the completion of the ceremony. Brides are veiled in front of the groom so that the groom is sure he's marrying the right girl.

Up next, Signing the Marriage License.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.
• cubes and I took our turn in the spotlight for our portraits.
• The bridespeople get herded for photos.
• Socks captured!
• The groomspeople get herded for photos.
• The wedding party strikes a pose.

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Bride's dress: Vintage I.Magnin, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Bride's hat and veil: Estar Hats. Bride's and Girls' makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Bride's and Girls' hair styled by Catherine Walters. Bride's hair color and cut by John Skinner and Louise Frost of CODE Salon, respectively. Girls' dresses: Adrianna Papell from Nordstrom.