A ketubah is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride.

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the ketubah is signed by two witnesses and traditionally read out loud under the chuppah. Close family, friends or distant relatives are invited to witness the ketubah, which is considered an honour. The witnesses must be halakhically competent witnesses, and so cannot be a blood relative of the couple. In Orthodox Judaism, women are also not considered to be competent witnesses. The ketubah is handed to the bride for safekeeping. Ketubot are often hung prominently in the home by the married couple as a daily reminder of their vows and responsibilities to each other.

Photo courtesy of Skye Blu Photography www.skyebluphotography.com