May 12, 2004
Programs! Get Your Programs He-ah!
One of the things L and I put on our to do list during our most recent "production meeting" was the task of writing the wedding programs. Most couples have little booklets that are handed to guests as they enter ceremony. Some are merely a Playbill-like listing of the wedding's cast of characters with brief bios of the best man, sister of the bride and other participants. In a Jewish wedding (and I'm sure it's similar in other weddings in which there are a variety of religious and cultural traditions) many of these programs provide a play-by-play of the ceremony, explaining, for example, the significance of a chuppah or why the bride and groom circle each other before the ceremony begins.
(One thing we won't include in our program is a sinner's prayer. Via ChgoRed. Enjoy.)
L was surprised and excited that I volunteered for this job, as she is a rabbi and I am decidedly secular, with atheistic tendencies. But I figured it was a good task for me. First of all, L has been doing a lot lately, from dealing with how to print place cards to picking up the slack on the thank-you notes, so I figured I owed her. Secondly, since so many of our friends are not Jewish, I figured having a program written by a layperson might be a great way for them to learn about the ceremony.
So now I have some homework to do. L, being the good rabbi she is, gave me a copy of The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant. Not unlike my college experience, I must admit that I've so far slacked in cracking the book (tip for L: threaten me with a pop quiz and I'll be more likely to read the thing) but I'll get to it soon.
L has said that the book is an indispensable tool for Jewish couples to help them understand the wedding ceremony. However, I think I've found something that might be even more indispensable: programs from the past weddings of our Jewish friends from which I might liberally borrow. Okay, I know it's the wedding day equivalent of purchasing a term paper online or stealing the test from the professor's office, so maybe it's not the best idea, especially since the people who wrote those programs will be among the guests at our wedding.
As a writer who is protective of his own work, I am joking about stealing someone else's. But the joke is really on me as once I've finished writing the programs guess who'll have to make the trip to the copy shop to get them printed? Now I know why L was so excited that I volunteered.
Posted by The Groom at May 12, 2004 10:06 AMMy fiance and I bought this book and I read it. we both liked it and thought it was helpful since we had a lot of questions. worth buying.
Posted by: steve at May 12, 2004 11:57 PMI can't say much for how that book is in terms of writing a program, but damn am I in love with it as a general reference book. We were really torn on whether or not to even do a Jewish ceremony, and then we met with a rabbi who suggested that book and now we're really hoping we can find a rabbi who will be willing to perform our wedding. Good good stuff.
Posted by: Rebecca at May 13, 2004 07:22 PM