What do ketubahs, wedding dresses, and husbands all have in common? Once you find the right one, you just know!
Shopping for a ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract from ancient tradition, is a very subjective and personal process. The possibilities are virtually limitless, so we set out to help guide you through the process. We asked 3D ketubah & Judaica artist Gabrielle Mizrachi-Mallin from 3D Ketubahs and Ashra Designs 3D Judaic Art to provide her insight into finding the perfect ketubah that speaks to you as a couple, without getting overwhelmed.
5 Steps to Finding the Perfect Ketubah:
Step 1 - About 3-6 months before the wedding, you should begin looking for your ketubah. This will give you time to consider all of the design, text, and font options. This also allows for any personalization or custom work, for example if you personalize your ketubah text or commission an artist to create a special custom ketubah design.
For 3D ketubahs, Gabrielle asks couples to give her about 6 weeks to create and ship their ketubah. This also includes working with their Rabbi to ensure that the text is perfect. If the couple decides on a flat print instead of a 3D ketubah, the turn around time is much shorter and can range from 1 to 3 weeks.
Step 2 – Start with the internet. You can browse mazelmoments.com for ketubah artists, or even search Pinterest for ketubah photo inspiration. Once you start looking, you will begin to get a sense of the style of ketubah that appeals the most, whether it be a traditional, modern, illustrated, photographed, papercut, graphic, simple, etc. Once you have a style you like, the process will begin to feel more focused.
If you find a particular ketubah artist’s work that you love, but don’t see the exact ketubah that’s right for you, you can contact the artist about creating a custom ketubah. While this is the most expensive option, it is perfect for couples who want a unique ketubah design that is theirs alone. This is where having extra time can be helpful in keeping the process stress-free.
Step 3 – Visit your local Judaica shop. It’s beneficial to see the ketubah designs in person, and will also give you a better idea of the size and scale of the ketubahs. A Judaica gallery that displays ketubahs that are already framed can also provide ideas for framing. You can also visit a framing shop to get a visual image of what the complete ketubah will look like.
Step 4 – Order your ketubah. If you’re ordering from an online store be aware that the ketubah may actually be a “picture” of the ketubah print. You can get the original print by ordering the ketubah directly from the artist’s website, or from a website that sells prints from the artist. These ketubahs are signed and numbered by the artist.
Step 5 – Triple check your ketubah proof. Have your family verify the information is correct, including English and Hebrew names. It is ALWAYS a good idea for the Hebrew text to be proofed by the Rabbi officiating the wedding to ensure that there are no typos or errors.
Mazel Tov on your upcoming wedding!