If you’ve decided to include a ketubah as part of your wedding, you have several options. Here is a brief guide of things to consider as you select the one that’s right for you and your partner.

Ketubah Text

The most important part of any ketubah is what it says. After all, you and your partner will be signing this document and affirming that what it reads is true, so the first thing you’ll want to do is find a ketubah with text that reflects the values you and the person you’re marrying share.

You also may want to strike the right balance for yourself between traditional and progressive options. Until the 20th century, almost all ketubot contained the same basic text in Aramaic and were signed only by the groom and two male witnesses. The document was essentially the groom’s marriage proposal to the bride and his pledge to “honor, support, and provide for her”. While many traditionally observant Jews continue to adhere to the original text and customs - or to keep them, but add to the ketubah a prenuptial agreement that promises a get, or Jewish divorce decree, if requested - a wide variety of alternatives are now available.

Some offer language inclusive of same-sex couples or that reflects a more egalitarian view of the couple’s relationship. Others are specifically tailored for interfaith couples. If you don’t know which text to select, read several and consider which ones reflect your values.

You also will need to decide in which language or languages you’d like your ketubah to be. Many ketubot are in Hebrew or Aramaic, with side-by-side translation. 

If you choose to start from scratch and write your own text, it’s a good idea to consult with a rabbi or scholar of Jewish law. 

Ketubah Design and Price

Once the text has been decided on, the next choices you’ll have to make are about style and presentation. For some couples, buying a ketubah is an investment in a piece of art. Yussel's Place has affordable ketubahs from the top designers in the world, which you can see here. 

Whether your ketubah is an artist’s finest masterpiece or something simple and beautiful that you found in your local Judaica store or something you wrote and crafted with your own hands, it should be a document that you want to look at for the rest of your lives.