Tel Aviv and the center offer almost every kind of wedding: a rooftop with a city view, a beach, an event garden or a restaurant closed for one evening. Rabbi David Mordecai marries couples all over Israel, and here, as in every region, he comes to the venue you picked and builds a Jewish ceremony that fits you.
Every couple has a place under the chuppah
Couples of every kind marry in the center of the country, and the rabbi happily marries them all. Same sex couples receive an egalitarian chuppah, with a ketubah and wording that fit both partners. When only one partner is Jewish, he offers a personal ceremony without formal kiddushin. He also marries a kohen and a divorcee, or a kohen and a convert, couples who cannot marry through the Rabbinate. More on this in a Jewish wedding ceremony for LGBTQ couples.
An urban wedding: what to check ahead
At a rooftop wedding or a small city venue, good sound matters more than you think, because street noise or music from a nearby bar can drown out the blessings. On the beach, the sea wind picks up toward evening. Summer in the center is humid and hot, so set the chuppah after sunset and make sure there is airflow. As for guests, parking and transport in the city are part of the planning, so it is worth explaining in the invitation how to get there.
An ordained rabbi, not just an officiant
Many ceremony leaders work in the center, and not all of them are rabbis. Rabbi David Mordecai was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1997, he is a lawyer, and he is a singing rabbi who sings the blessings himself. How do you check whoever you are considering? All the questions worth asking are in how to choose a wedding rabbi.
What about registration? A Reform ceremony is not recognized by the Rabbinate or the state. Every option for couples marrying outside the Rabbinate is explained in a wedding without the Rabbinate.
From Jaffa to Herzliya
The center is more than Tel Aviv. Couples marry in old Jaffa, in Ramat Gan and Givatayim, in Herzliya, in Rishon LeZion and across the Sharon and the Shephelah, and the rabbi travels to all of them. A chuppah can also stand on the Jaffa waterfront or on one of the Tel Aviv beaches. Ask the venue which permits are needed, and pick a time with your photographer when the low sun will not blind your guests or the two of you.
Saturday night weddings in summer
Saturday night weddings are common in the center. In midsummer Shabbat ends after eight in the evening, so the reception starts late and the chuppah later still. In winter Shabbat ends early, which leaves more of the night for dancing. The rabbi officiates on Saturday nights and arrives once Shabbat is out.
Friends from abroad, vows in any language
Tel Aviv weddings often include guests who flew in especially. The rabbi leads the ceremony in Hebrew and English, or both together if you like. The vows you wrote can be said in any language, including the one your family speaks at home, so even guests without Hebrew feel part of the chuppah.
Frequently Asked Questions about weddings in Tel Aviv and central Israel
Does the rabbi marry two grooms or two brides?
Yes. He leads a full chuppah for same sex couples, with blessings, rings and an egalitarian ketubah.
Can we get married on Saturday night?
Yes. He officiates on Saturday night after Shabbat and on Fridays, but not on Shabbat itself.
Can we meet in person before the wedding?
Yes. Preparation meetings can be in person, by video or a mix of both, whatever works for you.
Is a chuppah in Tel Aviv enough to be registered as married?
No. The rabbi’s chuppah is not recognized by the Rabbinate or the state. To register with the Population and Immigration Authority, couples add a civil marriage. All the details are in our guide to civil marriage in Israel.
We are marrying for the second time. Will the ceremony be different?
Mostly it is the same ceremony, and the tone is up to you: some couples want to mark a fresh start, others prefer to keep it simple. If one of you was divorced from a Jewish marriage, mention it to the rabbi early. More in second marriage in Judaism.
Marrying in the center? Reach out to Rabbi David Mordecai or call +972 54 5603603; the intro call is on him. Full information is on Reform rabbi for weddings, and anyone marrying outside the center will find their region on all the regions he covers.
Mazal tov, and may your dance floor stay full until morning!