On the 4th of July Two Thousand and Fourteen, I headed off to Rossendale Vineyard on the Old Tai Tapu Road.
On arrival the bride’s family were busy finishing off the chuppah . I hear you saying – what is a chuppah? As I told the guests a chuppah is something the bride and the groom will be standing under during the ceremony.
Yes before the groom and the bride entered, I advised the guests that they were to experience something different. I didn’t tell them it was magical but the ceremony that Chelsea and Akiv had put together was for me different and indeed magical.
This is what I told the guests: “This wedding will be a bit different than what most of you would have attended previously. It will be traditionally New Zealand wedding with Jewish elements infused within.
So, before we get underway, I will briefly explain some aspects of the ceremony.
Chuppah:
The bride and the groom will be standing under this chuppah during the ceremony.
This hoopah is a decorated piece of cloth, held aloft as a symbolic home for the new couple.
It is usually held outside, under the stars, as a sign of the blessing given by God to the patriarch Abraham; that his children should be as the stars of the heavens.
BREAKING OF THE GLASS:
As a symbol of the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem, a glass will be broken.
Feel free to shout ‘Mazel Tov’, as congratulations to the couple once the glass is broken.
So it was time for me to get the guests to stand and welcome our groom, Akiv. His parents escorted him to the front and he stood beside me.
Graham Jones the manager at Rossendale told me the bride had not arrived but being calm and controlled we waited just a few minutes for the car to pull up. With the bride’s arrival, the music changed and in came the flower girls and the bridesmaids. Then Chelsea and her Dad, Jason.
When Chelsea got to the front, Akiv covered Chelsea’s face with the veil.
I was happy to share that “one person in particular is responsible for the meeting of these two people.
After a little bit of match making from Natalie, neither of Chelsea nor Akiv ever thought that a casual Sunday morning cappuccino would result in marriage!”
After the couple joined hands Akiv and Chelsea agreed to live in a relationship of love, laughter and friendship. To choose each other above all others, to stand by each other, respect their individuality, their needs, encourage their dreams and aspirations and enjoy their love throughout all their life.
I invited Akiv’s father, Lemuel to join us for the wine ceremony. I shared with the guests that “the cup of wine symbolizes the gratitude Chelsea and Akiv have for the loving care and teaching of parents, the ties of heart and mind and memory that link brothers and sisters, and for the friendships that fill the cup to overflowing.”
So Lemuel comes forward and pours wine into the glass to over-flowing. He hands it to Akiv to sip. Then Akiv holds the glass so that Chelsea can sip. Red wine and beautiful wedding dress, my heart was thumping. As it turned out it was unnecessary as Chelsea, lent forward and Akiv had a white napkin. Thanks again Graham from Rossendale – that was great thinking!
Lily and Jazmin hand over the written vows, and Akiv starts reading his vows followed by Chelsea sharing hers. Akiv got a clap from the guests, can’t remember if Chelesa got one as well. Her vows were equally as impressive.
Yes, we exchanged rings in a somewhat traditional way. Our ring bearer, a guest was Katalina.
Akiv, please place this ring on Chelsea’s finger (index finger), and repeat after me:
I love you Chelsea,
and I give you this ring
as a symbol
of my love and friendship
and as a sign
of the promises
we have made to each other today.
Akiv said: Harie et mekudeshet li betabat zoo kedat mosh eve Israel
Then I explained: Which means, so you are blessed to me by this ring in memory of Moses and Israel.
Chelsea moved the ring to ring finger.
Chelsea placed the ring in the same way and repeated her ring vows after me.
We took a few minutes to sign the marriage certificates and I called upon Lemuel, Naomi, Jazmin and Hayley to come forward to act as witnesses. Yes only two witnesses are needed, so two of the witnesses signed the back of the copy they would retain.
Even the pronouncement of marriage was a little different. After I spoke Akiv came back under the chuppah and recited:
Im eshkachech yerushalim tishkhak yamini tithbakh lashoni lakhakhi imlo iskharkhi imlo aaley et yerushalim aalrosh simhathi.
I therefore have much pleasure in pronouncing you husband, wife and best friends for life!
AKIV STOMPS ON THE GLASS
Then a kiss to finish.
It gives me great pleasure to present to you, MR. and MRS. ROHEKAR.
Frank Visser the Photographer had taken photos prior to the wedding ceremony. I look forward to seeing them, I know they will be stunning. I like Frank. He comes in and says to Graham and I “Hello you two, the two shortest people in the wedding industry”. Haha, I don’t take exception, because I am not that short! Note the photos below are just my snapshots.
Nice to get this thank you message: Thank you so much for all your help making our special day so perfect and hassle free! It was a pleasure working with you! We look forward to seeing any pictures that you snapped!
Kind regards
Mr and Mrs Rohekar!
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