Voices of a Bride and Bridegroom

Again there shall be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem… a voice of joy, a voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride, the voice of them who say: Praise the L-rd of hosts; for the L-rd is good; for His mercy endures forever! Jeremiah 33:11
I was recently visiting friends in Hebron, the Horowitz family who had invited me into their Succah last year at Succot. This time when I left their home, I couldn’t resist going by the Machpeleh (Tomb of the Patriarchs) and found myself in the middle of preparations for a wedding on the grounds. Although I was entirely in the wrong attire for a wedding, this ‘camera-packin’ mama’ wasn’t about to leave without shooting a few photos of the bride and groom under their Huppa.
I waited among the guests in anticipation for the bride to arrive. When she finally pulled up in her limo her bridesmaids whisked her off to a secluded spot where her throne awaited, because every Jewish bride becomes Queen for a day. She greeted and blessed each and every guest, while her entourage sang and danced before her and she intermittently joined in the glee.
Then came another sound of rejoicing beyond the trees. The sound of the bridegroom coming for his bride, surrounded by the groomsmen dancing as they approached the bride sitting veiled upon her throne. The candles had been let so that her face glowed as he lifted the veil to confirm that she was his choice for a bride, a tradition among religious Jews in remembrance of Yaakov who was hoodwinked by Rachel who exchanged her position as bride with her sister Leah. This tradition of lifting the veil and taking a peek at the bride along with other witnesses ensures the groom will not be deceived.
After the groom recognized his bride and confirmed her as his wife to-be, there were shouts of joy and the men escorted the groom to his place under the Huppa as the women escorted the bride to stand beside him. She began with the Sheva Brachot, sealing the covenant between a man and a woman, followed by blessings including the wine, the reading of the Ketuba, and smashing a glass, a symbol of Jerusalem never being forgotten.
The bride and groom disappear for a short time while the guests indulge in wine and food, ending with dancing the night away when the bride and groom reappear.
Every bride is aglow from within on her wedding day. She has fasted and prayed for an entire day, and the fast is only broken after the Huppa ceremony.
I left with a deep satisfaction having witnessed another indication that Hashem is enthroned on the praises of His people! Each marriage between a man and a woman is another reminder of His covenant with His bride, His beloved Israel!