Choosing Your Ketubah: A Complete Guide

The ketubah is one of the oldest legal documents in existence — a Jewish marriage contract that has been signed at weddings for over 2,000 years. Today, it is also one of the most beautiful pieces of art in your home. Here is how to choose the right one.

What Is a Ketubah?

The ketubah is a legal document outlining the husband's obligations to his wife — including providing food, clothing and conjugal rights, and specifying what the wife is entitled to in the event of divorce or the husband's death. It is signed before the wedding ceremony and read aloud under the chuppah.

Traditional vs. Egalitarian Text

Traditional (Orthodox) Ketubah

Uses the standard Aramaic text that has been used for millennia. The obligations flow from husband to wife. Required for Orthodox weddings and accepted across all Jewish communities.

Conservative Ketubah

Often includes an additional clause (the Lieberman Clause) that helps protect the wife's ability to obtain a get (religious divorce).

Egalitarian Ketubah

Used in Reform, Reconstructionist and liberal Conservative ceremonies. The obligations are mutual between both partners. Many include contemporary language about love, partnership and shared life.

Choosing the Artwork

Ketubah art ranges from simple calligraphy to elaborate illustrated masterpieces. Popular styles include:

• Illuminated manuscripts — inspired by medieval Jewish art
• Jerusalem scenes — featuring the Old City, Western Wall or Israeli landscapes
• Nature-inspired — birds, flowers, olive trees and vines
• Abstract and modern — geometric patterns and contemporary design
• Minimalist — clean typography on beautiful paper

Ordering Your Ketubah

Order your ketubah at least 6-8 weeks before your wedding. You will need to provide both partners' Hebrew names, the wedding date in Hebrew, and the city of the wedding. Review the text carefully with your rabbi before ordering — mistakes cannot be corrected after it is printed.

Displaying Your Ketubah

After the wedding, the ketubah belongs to the wife and is typically displayed in the home. Choose a size that works for your wall space. Most standard ketubot are 11x14 or 16x20 inches. Consider framing it with UV-protective glass to prevent fading.

A ketubah is not just a legal document — it is the first piece of art you will hang in your home together. Choose something you will love looking at for decades.