Description
The examples of Jewish marriage contracts in this gallery are guides I use to design your custom ketubah. After a detailed consultation (either by phone or email), I’ll create a black and white sketch of a ketubah that reflects your ideas, your preferences and your tastes, and email it to you along with a price.
The next tab has some things to think about to get you started on a wedding vow design that will be meaningful and unique to you.
This contract outlines the next steps in the process.
Fill out the form on the page of any ketubah you like, and we’ll use your selected ketubahs as a starting place for our discussion. Let’s talk about designing a perfect one-of-a-kind handmade ketubah for you!
Motif
You can begin by thinking of symbols you might want in your ketubah. Some commonly used symbols are: Jewish ceremonial objects, the couple under the chuppah, clasped hands, Jerusalem, etc. Many couples include symbols of cities important in their lives, places they have traveled, their pets and their hobbies. Don’t feel limited to what you see in the ketubah examples. Ketubah designs can be based on anything: historical examples, patterns from china, rugs, lace, etc. Anything (within reason) can be a motif for a ketubah.
Style
In the Ketubah Gallery, I’ve divided the ketubbot into categories: Trees and Flowers, Modern/Abstract, Stained Glass Style, Same Sex, Personal Landscapes, and Dogs and other Animals. Within those categories, there are many styles: realistic, stylized, folk art etc. Think about what kind of art you are drawn to. It might not be represented in these examples, but don’t rule it out– I love designing a ketubah that goes in a new direction.
Color
What are your favorite colors? Least favorite? You might think in terms of temperature: cool colors (purples, blues, greens) or warm colors, (oranges, yellows, reds). Consider value–a light, pastel ketubah, or a darker, shaded ketubah. Do you like bright colors or do you want a more subtle effect in your marriage contract? You might start by picking out paint chips of colors you like.
Calligraphy
There are several fonts available to you for your custom ketubah text. Click on the words below to see examples of Hebrew and English fonts. If you have another style of calligraphy you would like me to use for your ketubah, please ask.
Hebrew 1
Hebrew 2
Stam
Italics
Uncial
Orientation and Size
Do you want a horizontal, vertical, or circular ketubah? Or an irregular shape?
A standard piece of watercolor paper is 30″ x 22″. Unless you specifically request otherwise, I always leave a border around the design for framing so that a typical image size is about 18″ x 26″. Depending on text length and complexity of the design, I can work down to about 1/2 the size of the paper.
Price
Because each custom designed ketubah is a unique work of art there is a wide range of prices from $1000-$3000. Please ask me for the current price range of specific ketubah designs. Factors in pricing include:
-Complexity of the ketubah design
-Degree of realism in the ketubah design
-Affinity to existing ketubah designs
-Ketubah text length and whether the text is both Hebrew and English
-Calligraphy font used for the ketubah text
-Complexity of the ketubah’s text layout
-Timeliness: I do rush orders at a 20% surcharge if all the necessary information is given to me less than 30 days before the wedding.
Ready to Order?
Please fill out the form on this page and any other Ketubah page you are interested in and tell me your ideas.
Here’s a guide for choosing a text for your wedding. Besides Hebrew/Aramaic and English texts, I’ve also done them in Spanish, French, Japanese, and Yiddish. Ask me about translation services.
The price of a ketubah print includes one of my text combinations. You can decide to leave the fill-ins (names, date of wedding, etc.) blank for your officiant to complete, or have me personalize the texts. If you provide a different text there is an additional fee.
If you are having a hand-made ketubah, the cost includes your choice of any texts.
TRADITIONAL ORTHODOX
The Traditional Orthodox ketubah text, written in Aramaic, is a legal formula stating the terms of the marriage and giving the bride property rights. Because there can be slight variations in spelling depending on your rabbi, it’s very important that the text be approved by your officiant.
Some Orthodox rabbis allow an English text, others don’t. Some allow for the use of the mother’s Hebrew name, others not. There is a special section on the order form for these details. The English texts are not translations of the Aramaic.
Traditional Orthodox Aramaic
Orthodox Aramaic with Love & Integrity English
Orthodox Aramaic with Wisdom & Reverence English
CONSERVATIVE
The Conservative text, written in Aramaic, is similar to the Orthodox. There is some egalitarian language and the inclusion of the Lieberman Clause stating that in the case of divorce, the husband must grant his wife a get (Jewish divorce decree) so she can be remarried in a Jewish ceremony. You can usually have any English text you want in combination with the Aramaic. The English is not a translation of the Aramaic. Here are some combinations.
Conservative Aramaic with Equal Partners English
Conservative Aramaic with Love & Integrity English
Conservative Aramaic with Wisdom & Reverence English
Conservative Aramaic with Apache Wedding Blessing
REFORM/RECONSTRUCTIONIST
For a Reform/Reconstructionist wedding ceremony, you may choose to have your vows in Hebrew and English, or just English. The English of these texts is a direct translation of the Hebrew.
Equal Partners Hebrew & English
Apache Wedding Blessing Hebrew & English
Love and Integrity Hebrew & English
Wisdom & Reverence Hebrew & English
INTERFAITH
The Interfaith text is written specifically for Interfaith couples, and it’s possible to modify other texts, such as Equal Partners, to make them appropriate. For an Interfaith wedding, the text can be both in English and Hebrew or just English.
Interfaith Hebrew & English
Apache Wedding Blessing Hebrew & English
SAME SEX
I have several texts specifically written for same-sex marriages. Blessing for Two Women is used by permission of Rabbi Leila Berner. Other texts can be modified as well. Please ask!
Blessing for Two Women Hebrew & English
Equal Partners 2 Women
Equal Partners 2 Men
Wisdom and Reverence 2 Women
Wisdom and Reverence 2 Men
Lesbian 1 Hebrew & English
Lesbian 2 Hebrew & English
Gay 1 Hebrew & English
Gay 2 Hebrew & English
Apache Blessing Lesbian
Apache Blessing 2 Men
ANNIVERSARY
Here are two versions of anniversary texts. Other texts can be modified as appropriate.
Anniversary 1 Hebrew & English
Anniversary 2 Hebrew & English
NON-DENOMINATIONAL/OTHER RELIGIONS
I can work with any text that you provide as well as modify existing texts.
