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Exchange of vows

In Jewish tradition, the Ketubah is the vows statement a couple is agreeing to at their wedding.  To have another vows formula, with "Do you Promise to…" language, is not necessary in Jewish tradition.  In most Christian weddings that language, created by tradition or by the couple, is necessary to make the wedding complete. 

In Jewish tradition, when 2 witnesses sign the Ketubah, the marriage is in effect.  In Christian weddings, the vows must be heard by at least 2 people for the marriage to take effect.

In interfaith weddings, there is often a combination of these traditions so that both parties to the wedding and their family and guests will understand this wedding as ritually complete and legal.  Some interfaith weddings will have a Ketubah signing, either before or during the wedding, and will have a recitation of vows as well.  If there are 2 officiants, the rabbi or cantor will often preside over the Ketubah signing and the minister or priest will handle the vows portion of the ceremony.  In this way, families often feel a balance of ritual at the moment in the wedding that often matters most to them.  The moment a couple commits to one another, publically, is the essence of a wedding.

With all wedding rituals with a single officiant or multiple officiants, these details are best discussed with the officiants well in advance of the ceremony to create the best fit for all parties involved.  It is also important for a couple to give themselves ample time to think about the vows formula they would choose, each tradition often has variations available, as well as time to draft their own vows should that be the direction they choose.

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The person who leads a Jewish congregation in chanting and singing prayer. ("Hazzan" in Hebrew.) Jewish marriage contract. Spiritual leader and teacher. Typically, but not always, leads a congregation.