健一公馆室外婚礼 北京婚礼摄影
The Couples
“Why do you have a Jewish wedding in China?”
“你们为什么要在中国办一场犹太婚礼？”
“Because we love China very much, the friends here are just like family members, and there is a sense of home in this wedding ceremony.”
“因为我们非常喜欢中国，这里的朋友就像家人一样，在这办婚礼同样有一种家的感觉。”
“Then how did you decide to have a wedding in Beijing?”
“那你们是怎么决定要在北京举行婚礼的？”
“The reason is very simple because we like the wedding photos you took for a pair of Baha’is.”
“理由很简单，就是因为看了你们以前给一对巴哈伊教教徒拍摄的婚礼照片，我们很喜欢。”
The answer from Alex, the groom, surprised me, not only because well written Mandarin came from the Canadians who have lived in China for many years, but also because the photos of the wedding could have such an impact. As a wedding photographer, it’s undoubtedly a great pleasure. I think it’s the feeling of “home” reflected in the photos that moved them, because bride Shira mentioned many times before the wedding how important family members are to them, what is home, “Your love is home”.
新郎Alex的回答，让我非常意外，不只是因为字正腔圆的普通话出自这个在中国生活多年的加拿大人之口，更是没想到那场婚礼的照片竟能产生如此的影响，作为婚礼摄影师无疑件很欣慰的事。我想，是照片中体现出来的那种“家”的感觉打动了他们，因为新娘Shira在婚礼前曾多次提到，家庭成员对他们是多么重要，什么是家，“你们的爱就是家”。
This wedding really can be called a combination of Chinese and western, and it is not just a formality. Every part had a deep meaning. The amount of information is too large, and I will give you details in several parts.
这场婚礼真的可以称之为中西合璧，而且绝不是流于形式，每个环节都有很深的含义，信息量太大，且听我分几部分细细道来。
婚礼地点：健一公馆
健一公馆室外婚礼 北京婚礼摄影
婚书（Ketubah）
According to Judaism, signing a marriage contract is one of the oldest traditions in Jewish weddings, dating back 2000 years. Now, the marriage contract embodies the equality of the bride and groom and represents the commitment to each other. Its existence is not only a legal document but also a spiritual contract. In order to make the two people cherish and support each other, and create a loving family together. Their marriage contract is a work of art designed and produced by Diane pally, a Jewish artist who specializes in Chinese paper-cut art. The marriage book is rich in the images of life, fertility, vitality and good luck expressed by Chinese and Jewish people and the verses in the Old Testament song. In the middle is a life tree surrounded by symbolic plants and animals. Therefore, the theme of the marriage book is “LIANLI tree”, which means that as a couple, we will share a private, natural and public world.
依照犹太教的规定，签订婚姻契约书是犹太婚礼中最古老的传统之一，最早可追溯到两千年前。现在，婚姻契约书体现了新娘和新郎的平等，代表对彼此的承诺，它的存在不仅是一纸法律文书，更是一种精神契约，为了让两人相互珍惜，相互扶持，一同创造一个充满爱的家庭。他们的婚姻契约书是由一个擅长中国剪纸艺术的犹太艺术家Diane Pally设计制作的一件艺术品。婚书中富含中国和犹太民族中表达生活、生育、活力和好运的形象以及旧约雅歌中的诗句，在中间是由具有象征意义的植物和动物环绕的生命树，所以婚约书的主题为“连理树”，寓意作为一对夫妇，我们将共有私人、自然和公共的世界。
Before the wedding ceremony, the new couple signed the marriage contract in the presence of all the guests.
在婚礼仪式开始前，新人在所有宾客的见证下签署这份婚姻契约书。
Before signing, Alex and Shira carefully practiced on the white paper. Like the child who just learned to write, they were more careful when signing, for fear of writing badly and leaving regrets. The room was dark and quiet. People’s expressions were so solemn that the shutter sound of the camera was a little harsh.
Alex和Shira在签署之前，认真地在白纸上反复练习，像刚学写字的孩子，签字的时候更是小心翼翼，生怕写得不好，留下遗憾。房间有些昏暗，很安静，人们表情凝重，以至于相机的快门声都略显刺耳。
Then Shira’s sister helped her put on her headdress.
随后Shira的妹妹帮她戴上头纱。
健一公馆室外婚礼 北京婚礼摄影
婚礼华盖 (Chuppah)
The Jewish wedding ceremony is held under the wedding canopy, which symbolizes the family that the new couple will establish and share. The support of Huagai symbolizes the love and encouragement of family and family to new people. There is no wall around the wedding Huagai. The symbolic new people open their doors to welcome all family members and friends to their new home.
犹太婚礼仪式是在婚礼华盖下举行的，象征着新人将要建立并分享的家庭。撑起华盖的支柱象征着家庭和家人对新人的爱和鼓励，婚礼华盖四面没有墙，象征的新人敞开大门欢迎所有的家人和朋友到新家做客。
入场仪式 Entrance ceremony
This is a Jewish custom. The two new people will be led by their immediate relatives through the ritual channel, which means to lay a flat road for the happy marriage life of the new people with their love and support. When new people are walking, their parents will accompany their children. This tradition explains that marriage is not only a combination of individuals, but also a combination of two families. It also witnesses that parents’ dreams and efforts are for the happiness of their children.
这是犹太人的习俗，二位新人会由他们的直系亲属引领走过仪式的通道，代表用他们的爱和支持为新人的幸福婚姻生活铺设一条平坦的道路。新人在行走的时候，他们的双方父母会陪伴着自己的孩子。这种传统诠释了婚姻不单只是个人的结合，也是两个家庭的结合，同时也见证了父母的梦想和努力都是为了孩子的幸福。
绕身礼 (Hakafot)
Just as Joshua walked around Jericho’s walls seven times, when the bride and groom walked seven times, it was like breaking all the remaining barriers in their hearts and combining their souls. New people choose to walk around each other for three times, and then walk together for the seventh circle, which symbolizes the combination of life, and also makes a new definition for the new family life.
就好像Joshua围绕着Jericho的城墙行走了七次那样，当新娘和新郎完整地走完七圈，就好像打破他们心中所有残存的壁垒，使他们的灵魂相结合。新人选择相互个围绕对方行走三圈，然后在一起走完第七圈，这象征着生活上的结合，同时也为新的家庭生活做了一个新的定义。
祈福式 (Kiddush)
In Jewish life, this is a very sacred ceremony, usually in the form of wine and prayer. The bride and groom drink the same glass of wine, which means that in this life, we will share and experience the joys and sorrows of life together.
在犹太人的生活中，这是非常神圣的仪式，通常会用酒和祈祷的形式来进行。新娘和新郎共饮同一杯酒，这就意味着这一生，我们将一同分享和经历人生的喜怒哀乐。
The parents surrounded the couple with a shawl, a gift from Shira’s parents at the 13-year-old adult ceremony. On that day, they gave Shira blessings: abide by the law, get true love, and do more good deeds.
双方父母用一条披肩（Jewish tallit）将新人包围住，这条披肩是Shira在成人礼（13岁）时父母送给她的一份礼物。在那一天，他们为Shira送上祝福：遵纪守法，得到真爱，多行善举。
Mazel Tov!
接下来我会在另一篇文章中介绍更精彩的中式婚礼仪式 晚宴和after party!
Wedding Venue：JE Mansion 健一公馆