In Judaism, holy space is not required for a wedding, and a wedding can be had almost anywhere — a backyard, a hotel, a garden, a home, or a museum. Any place you love and want to remember or is just convenient and in the right price range can work.

Synagogues Versus Nontraditional Spaces

In Judaism, unlike many other religions, there is no reason to have your wedding in a prayer space. Even though the wedding ceremony is certainly a religious ritual, a synagogue is by no means required. Some people specifically choose not to have their wedding in a synagogue so that it does not seem reminiscent of a non-Jewish “church wedding.”

Though it need not be held in a synagogue, it is important to remember that it is a sacred ceremony. In fact, the very word for wedding in Hebrew is kiddushin, or sanctity. Thus, the space should be tasteful and not in any way ostentatious or vulgar. If it is a large wedding, there should be a raised platform so all the guests can see the bride and groom.

Under the Stars

There is an ancient tradition of having the ceremony outside, though this is by no means mandatory. In a Jewish wedding, the chuppah is actually the bride and groom's home for the moments of the ceremony, as they enter “under one roof” together. Having it outside makes the chuppah truly a home and a necessary roof. In addition, since the outside is under the stars, we are reminded that in the Bible God promised Abraham that “your children will be like the stars of the sky,” and in this way we recognize that every bride and groom are a link in a long line of the Jewish people. Second marriages are often held indoors since they are seen as a bit more of a private affair.

Some Jewish wedding halls are actually constructed so that although the wedding ceremony is held indoors, the chuppah at the front of the room stands under an open skylight, thus merging the best of both worlds. Your guests can sit in comfort and your chuppah can stand under the stars.

If the venue does not have a kosher caterer and you plan to stick to Jewish dietary laws, don't forget to ask whether the reception space will let you bring in your own caterer. Verify that there are kitchens for warming up food or cooking the meal.

Another option is to have the ceremony in one place and the reception in another. This is a bit more complicated with yichud, which should be done immediately following the wedding ceremony itself. But if your dream has always been to be married on the beach with no room for a reception, it's certainly doable to have your reception somewhere else.