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During the wedding, a process takes place in which the groom leaves his parents’ home, joins his bride, and clings to her. As it says, “Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It is customary to escort the bride and groom from place to place, as if they were a king and queen. These companions are referred to as shushbinim and are usually the parents. The wedding guests sing and dance around the bride and groom.
Immediately before the ceremony, there is an Ashkenazic custom called the Badeken (literally “covering”). It begins with the groom being escorted to the bride, who is sitting in a special chair reminiscent of a throne. The groom picks up her veil and covers her face with it. This expresses his willingness to assume the responsibility of taking care of her and making her happy. Then the groom is escorted to the ĥuppa. After his arrival, the bride is escorted there as well. In some Sephardic communities, the veiling is done a little later, during the ceremony. The groom walks out from under the ĥuppa to greet the bride. He then covers her face with the veil, and the two enter the ĥuppa together.
Following Ashkenazic custom, the bride (escorted by her mother and new mother-in-law) circles the groom seven times under the ĥuppa. This custom has deep kabbalistic significance, hinting at the high spiritual status of women, who are connected to the divine enveloping light.
Then we reach the kiddushin. The officiating Rabbi makes the blessing over the wine and the kiddushin, the groom and bride sip the wine and the groom sanctifies (mekadesh) the bride with a ring. To enable them to complete their union through marriage (nissuin), the groom presents the bride with her ketuba.
