Wedding traditions of Jerusalem
A city of three faiths, whose weddings may take place beneath the Old City walls or at the Western Wall plaza.
Jerusalem holds the sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and each community weds under its own rites. There is no civil marriage in Israel, so couples marry through a religious authority, or abroad. Wedding days in the city can be seen across the Old City and the hills around it.
A wedding here
In a Jewish wedding the couple stands under the chuppah, the ketubah is signed, seven blessings are recited and a glass is broken. Christian couples marry in churches such as those in the Armenian and Greek Orthodox quarters. Muslim couples hold the katb al-kitab at home or in a mosque.
Law and change
Israel recognises marriages performed by the recognised religious authorities and civil marriages contracted abroad. As of 2026 same-sex marriages cannot be performed in Israel, but ones performed abroad are registered. Proposals for civil marriage continue to be debated.
Wedding customs of Jerusalem
ChuppahThe Jewish wedding canopy.
KetubahThe Jewish marriage contract.
Sheva BrachotThe seven blessings.Also part of it, and being written: Nikah (The Muslim marriage contract.).
Communities and their weddings in Jerusalem
- Jewish families Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi traditions.
- Palestinian Muslim families A contract, henna night and a family dinner.
- Armenian and Greek Orthodox families The crowning rite.
A wedding trail idea for Jerusalem
- Western Wall A site where couples come to pray.
- Mount of Olives A hilltop used for photographs.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre A church where Christian rites are held.
- Mamilla and Jaffa Road Shopping streets for dresses and rings.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Ketubah: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Jewish wedding: Jozef Israรซls, Public domain, source
- Sheva Brachot: ืื ืื ืืืกืืคืื, CC0, source
- Chuppah: me, Public domain, source