Client Names: Sarah and Meir
Wedding Date: November 2, 2008
Ceremony and Reception Location: Beth Tfiloh, Baltimore, Maryland
Photographer: Michael Temchine Photography, Washington DC Wedding Photographer

Wedding Description
Orthodox Jewish weddings are amazing affairs if for nothing else the shear emotion and energy brought to the day by the family and guests.

Sara and Meir began their day with fasting and prayer. They have not seen each other for the preceding week. Unlike many secular couples they have only known each other for a few intense months and have never touched. Their wedding day was tremendous.

Guests at Jewish Orthodox weddings are commanded to make the couple happy on their wedding day. The guests at Sarah and Meir’s wedding knew how to do that. With raucous dancing, schtick that included Sarah’s brother breathing fire, and recklessness not generally associated with orthodox people (unless you know them), the wedding left Sarah and Meir with sweat dripping from their brow, sore feet, and enough joy to propel them through their wedding year.

Michael Temchine, Washington DC Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
website: Michael Temchine Photography | email: michael@michaeltemchine.com | phone: 202.744.8447

Sarah smiles at the beginning of the day.

Sarah has time alone in the bridal room.

Sarah pauses for a moment as the day’s festivities begin to get started in the main hall.

Surrounded by family, Sarah’s father arrives to announce it is time to go to the kabbalat panim (where the bride -the queen for the day- sits in her throne and is greeted by hundreds of people there to wish her well).

Friends escort Sarah to her throne. Wherever the bride and groom go on their wedding day they are escorted by singing and dancing guests.

A child find another angle to shoot from as Sarah sits on her throne during the kabbalat panim.

Sarah’s sister Rivka shares a quiet moment despite the chaos around them.

At the bedecken Meir puts the veil over Sarah’s face after ensuring the Sarah is indeed Sarah, his betrothed.

Meir’s father offers his prayers as Sarah is flanked by her mother and future mother-in-law.

Sarah’s father offers a prayer to Meir.

Meir waits at the front of the chuppah all the while praying, concentrating on the what is to come.

Supported by the mothers Sarah walks around Meir seven times under the chuppah.

Sarah looks to Meir during the ceremony.

They are married. In an orthodox wedding such as Sarah and Meir’s there will be no kiss or public embrace, it would be immodest.

After the chuppah friends cheer the new couple and escort them to their yichud room where the new couple will be alone for twenty minutes for the first time.

Allowing both the men and women to go crazy the dancing is separated with Meir being carried in Sarah’s brother’s shoulders.

Sarah pulls a friend into her inner circle to dance as they are surrounded by circle after circle of women.

The men’s side can resemble a mosh pit at times. Meir dances with a friend from school.

Sarah’s brother treats the couple to fire breathing during schtick.

Towards the end of the evening Sarah’s father sings for the new couple.

Michael Temchine, Washington DC Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
website: Michael Temchine Photography | email: michael@michaeltemchine.com | phone: 202.744.8447

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