What is a ketubah?
A ketubah (also spelled: ketubbah, ketuba, ketubba, katuba; plural is ketubot) is a Jewish marriage contract. It is a traditional part of the Jewish marriage ceremony. In its original form it is a prenuptial agreement, outlining the responsibilities of the groom to his bride, to protect her in case of divorce or widowhood.
You might wonder why this legal document came to be a work of visual art! Judaism has a precept known as hiddur mitzvah (lit: "beautification of the commandment"), which states that if an object is required for ritual purposes, it should be made as beautiful as possible--hence the custom of highly illuminated ketubot. A decorated ketubah, with images, motifs and colors that represent the bride and groom's personal style and symbolizes their relationship, is one of the few parts of the wedding that actually endures beyond the wedding day. Whether it is a unique piece of commissioned fine art, or a print, a ketubah is an instant heirloom.
When the ketubah was first developed around the end of the first century, C.E., it was written in Aramaic, the spoken language of the time, so that all parties would understand the contract. This same Aramaic text is still in use today by traditional Jews. Though a great advance for its time, many couples today prefer a more egalitarian ketubah, expressing their mutual commitments to one another. Ketubahworks offers a range of texts for couples to choose from, from the traditional Aramaic, to modern texts which I wrote myself for egalitarian, interfaith, and same sex couples, plus an anniversary text. Whatever your beliefs and practices, you can choose a ketubah with a design and text combination that fits your needs.
What is a Quaker wedding certificate?
A Quaker wedding certificate (or Quaker marriage certificate) is a beautiful document that states that the wedding couple have committed to marriage, and that everyone at the wedding signs as witnesses. You do not have to be Quakers, or even hold a Quaker ceremony, in order to have one for your wedding, however! Many couples are choosing to use a Quaker wedding certificate instead of a guest book. The artwork will live on your wall forever, as a priceless keepsake of your special day -- one of the few things from your wedding that actually lasts beyond the day itself!
What is a marriage covenant?
A marriage covenant is just one term for a beautiful wedding document! Also called a wedding certificate, or wedding blessing, or wedding vow artwork, a marriage covenant can incorporate whatever wording you want (your wedding vows, a reading from your wedding, or any other wording you wish), along with decoration of any kind. I offer a range of customizable fine art prints, or you can commission me to create a special one-of-a-kind document (time allowing). Or if you would like to create your own marriage covenant, I can print or calligraph a beautiful text that you can then decorate however you wish!
How do I order a ketubah/Quaker wedding certificate/marriage covenant?
You can order your ketubah right online! Just click to the ketubah design you'd like, make the selections you want, and click the buy now button to place your order. You'll be led to a payment page, where you can pay with a credit card or bank payment. If you are ordering your ketubah personalized ("filled in" with your names, wedding date and location), as soon as I receive your order I'll email you a questionnaire to collect your personalization info. Just type in the answers to all questions and email it back to me. Or if you prefer you can call me and place your order over the phone (650-938-3939 or 1-866-KETUBOT). Please allow at least 3-8 weeks for your ketubah to arrive. (If you are placing your order 4 weeks or less before your wedding, and the ketubah is shipping outside the state of California, you will need to pay for 2-day air shipping to ensure timely arrival.)
