A wedding in the Jewish community has great symbolism and is one of the cornerstones of the Jewish life cycle – as it with most other religions of course, including the Christian faith. It’s therefore a great cause for celebration.
Although there are many laws and traditions associated with the Jewish wedding itself, other rituals take place in the weeks leading up to the big day. As mentioned, many other aspects of the wedding celebrations are similar to those in other religions – there’s a best man, bridegroom and father of the bride, all of whom will give speeches.
Israeli dance music
As in the Christian faith, presents will often be given to members of the wedding party, including mothers of the bride and groom and the bridesmaids, with live music provided by either a DJ or, more commonly, a band rehearsed in performing great Israeli dance music, particularly Simcha.
Both DJ and band will be expected to play at least an element of Jewish music – Jewish dancing to traditional songs, known as a the Hora, is a big part of the wedding party. More Orthodox Jews will play strictly Jewish music and Jewish-themed music, while others in the faith will opt for a mixture of different sounds including Jewish music.
The two main ethnic camps
The Jewish faith falls into two main ethnic camps – Ashkenazi, Jews of European origin, and Sephardi, Jews of Middle Eastern and Spanish and Portuguese derivation – and the traditions of their backgrounds will often influence the style of their wedding. This can range from the catering requirements to the music played at the Jewish wedding. Ashkenazi Jews often serve common staple foods such as roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables, as the main course, while Sephardis may have lamb or some spicy chicken with couscous or rice. Whichever, all very mouth-watering for the guests – just as the music should be!
Band for Simcha
Selecting a band for Simcha can be confusing and time consuming, but setting aside a few hours well in advance of the Jewish wedding celebrations for thorough research into potential live bands will produce huge dividends. You will be very happy you did. The caterer, photographer and florist are all very important parts of a Simcha, but a band can make or break it. There are two main things to consider when looking for the right Jewish wedding band – quality and price. The statement “you only get what you pay for” is usually true but not always. A more expensive band does not necessarily mean its better – in fact smaller ensembles for a Simcha often create lively but more intimate and friendlier atmosphere.
Musical knowledge of the Jewish wedding
Four solid pointers in helping to choose the right band for Simcha at a Jewish wedding follow – these certainly being true of London’s SensationBand. They are:
- You need excellent musicians with a fair knowledge of traditional and modern songs and dances as apply to a Jewish wedding.
- These musicians have to have to work well together in performance, in perfect chemistry with each other and play as a team.
- The band members should be rehearsing and work together on a very regular basis.
- Remember, a band is only as good as its main man. He has to know what songs to introduce at the right times, lead the band smoothly from one song to the next and be able to listen to the appropriate people at the Simcha. Technically, he needs to be capable of running a good PA system.
Before you book any Jewish wedding live band you should check out at least three different ones and get references from past clients for the bands that you are considering. See the bands performing live if you can. By that means, and securing a good middle-priced deal, you can rest assured that all will go well at the Simcha.