Chuppah with Gazebo - Opinions?

I think the chuppah would look better than trying to string fabric from the gazebo to an arch. But if you want a less cluttered look, could you turn the chairs around so the gazebo is at the back, then have the chuppah up front?

The chuppah in front of the gazebo would look odd, especially in photos. I like 2nd Bride's idea. Turn the chairs around and have the chuppah at the other end.

I also like 2d Bride's idea.

2d has a great idea.

Having two structures back to back to each other will just look weird, imo. But if you can somehow come through the gazebo, that'd be cool.

I think 2d is on the right track, though I'm not sure if you'd be able to come from that direction--maybe have the ceremony more in front of the willow tree with the chairs positioned at an angle, so that the gazebo is kind of toward the side of them??

Another option that could work is to have four close friends/family members hold a hand held chuppah for you. . . it is much less bulky, and could easily be used for just part of the ceremony?

Isn't the purpose of the chuppah to represent your future home? Can't the gazebo do that?

I love that hand held chuppah idea! I might steal that

We have a similar problem - there is a structure at our ceremony site... not really a gazebo, but more than an arch and I'm totally blanking on what the word for that is.... I was planning on just wrapping fabric around it to give it a chuppah look.

I kind of feel the same way that Nancy T does. Can't the gazebo serve as a chuppah in a sense?

About 10 feet behind the chairs is the banquet room, so it's really the only spot guests can walk in and get to. I thought about having it at an angle, and if my fiancés grandparents aren't able to come, it could be an option. We partially chose the venue because whether they have walkers or wheelchairs, it'll be easy to get them to their seats with the sidewalk.

I have definitely thought about just using the gazebo, but everything I'm reading says the chuppah must be open on all sides, and the gazebo has the fencing around it. It's supposed to be welcoming of all. I am considering handheld, and it would be cheap to make ourselves since I can tie by bat mitzvah tallit or my dad's tallit to the poles. The woman on Craigslist said to let her know this week if I decide to get it, so hopefully I'll find a section in the book I'm reading that deals with structures as chuppahs specifically.

I just never imagined not getting married under a formal chuppah.

@Jackie ours can lend us an arch, too. If I can find any real loophole about the 4 sides issue, we may just drape fabric and call it a day.

I like 2nd brides idea of flipping the chairs. We had an option for a space with a gazebo for our ceremony, but we chose a different area since we are having a chuppah. We are going the making our own chuppah route as well. FH was insistent that he wanted to build it himself. Plus that way you can make look the exact way you want it to be.

My understanding is that the gazebo doesn't really work as a chuppah because one of the key things about a chuppah is that it's open on all four sides. Chabad's interpretation is that a chuppah must be open on all four sides because having sides makes it technically the groom's home, thus meaning you're technically married as soon as you step under it after the betrothal, rather than only after the ceremony is complete. Which is a bit of a "oops, that was 30 seconds long, I swear this doesn't usually happen to me!" if ritual is important to you.

I have seen pictures of plenty of Jewish weddings where it was only open on 2 sides because of draped fabric, though, and they were gorgeous and I'm pretty sure nobody cared that much.

The idea about putting it more toward the willow tree sounds super picturesque! We're putting our chuppah under our lemon tree.

I wish we were talented enough to make our own! That's what I get for marrying a theoretical physicist instead of my architect ex...

Thank you all for the input/advice. I'm leaning toward not using it at this point and exploring the kinds of branches I can get at Michaels, and tying either my bat mitzvah tallit or my father's tallit to those. I felt bad having the bridal party hold it, but the other is just so wide for the space. I'm not even sure it will fit if we have to have the ceremony indoors. My cousin and I talked going 50/50 on it, so at least I can offer to get it for her on my way home from work if she wants it without me. I can always opt to pay her for half since my wedding is 2 months before hers.

If you're worried about the physical effort of holding the chuppah, they do tend to be fairly lightweight with 4 people holding them, and I've seen plenty of tutorials on how to DIY fairly attractive bases the bearers can just slot the poles into when they get to you. Silver buckets, sections of PVC pipe slightly larger than the poles, quickrete, decorative moss, and then their role is more symbolic than physical.

Also, if it helps, it is an honor to be asked -- it means the couple thinks of you as an essential part of their lives together. Our chuppah bearers are composed of our two closest friends, fiancee's boyfriend of two years (we're poly), and probably fiancee's dad's wife (who was a good friend of hers for years before they married).

You can source a set of 4 8-foot birch poles on Amazon for about $50 with shipping, no need to settle for what's at Michael's!

I did not know that the sides should be open. Thanks for the enlightenment!

Kay, thank you! I don't know why I didn't immediately think Amazon, other than avoiding shipping fees.

There's a set of 5 for $26, ironically from a Christmas Tree store! Luckily everyone standing under the chuppah will be under 5'9, so the 6 feet should be fine if they hold them low enough on the branch.

http://www.amazon.com/Vickerman-Christmas-Trees-T11055-Natural/dp/B007EGAHOM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430776792&sr=8-3&keywords=birch+poles

You can use the gazebo as a chuppa as long as you have a talis underneath. I am Jewish and that is what I'm doing.