Help! My Fiancé and I Have Fallen Down (From Exhaustion) Trying to Choose a Ketubah Text

My fiancé and I recently visited the MP Artworks web-site to select a ketubah design and a text for our upcoming wedding. The design selection was a piece of cake. However, the text selection was a different story. OMG! They had thirty-six (yes 36!) different kinds of texts. However, after speaking to the Company’s text expert, we easily came up with a text we both love.

In order to help future couples, we have summarized our new found knowledge of MP Artworks texts below:

General:

- Any design can have any text including custom text
- Any text (English/Hebrew/Aramaic) can be altered
- Custom text may be forwarded to info@mpartworks.com after on-line or phone order submission
- Personalized text only files may be purchased
- They can create a ketubah with a foreign language(s) (the foreign text can be forwarded to them or they can translate the text for you)

Orthodox Text:

- It is available in Aramaic and their English, Aramaic and Custom English or Aramaic only
- The English is not a translation of the Aramaic
- It does not contain the Lieberman Clause (explained later under the Conservative section)

Conservative Text:

- It is available in Aramaic and their English, Aramaic and Custom English or Aramaic only
- The English is not a translation of the Aramaic
- It does contain the Lieberman Clause (This clause requires the husband to give his wife a Jewish divorce if a civil divorce has been granted so both may remarry as per Jewish law)

Reform/Interfaith/Commitment/Secular/Anniversary Texts:

- It is available in Hebrew and their English, Hebrew and Custom English, English only or Hebrew only
- The English Is a translation of the Hebrew
- It does not contain the Lieberman Clause

Barbara and Jeffrey, Happily Married on 10/31/09 in Livingston, New Jersey

Sample of the Worlds

This could be your scenario. The situation is grim. You just got done narrowing down your ketubah selection from the 15 possibles and have decided on the “One” (Neo). However, you bought your monitor off of Craig’s List five years ago so you are not sure that the colors will be right. You are also wondering what type of paper is used in the production of our ketubot. You can enter: The Sample Zone.

Ever see an Austin Powers movie? Remember Mini-Me? Well, that is what of our samples are like – an 8 1/2 x 11 inch version of the real McCoy. Same paper; same colors. The only thing that may be different is that we use random text.

The cost is $20 ($10 for each additional sample). However, if you order any ketubah from us, we will deduct $20 from your order.

We employ the same procedure for ketubot on canvas (the only difference is the sample will not have the protective coating) and we provide sample swatches (featuring a small section of the design) for chuppot.

A Ketubah for a Non-Jewish Couple?

With This Ring Revisited Ketubah

That’s right. Rodney and Kathryn of Ohio got the idea when a Jewish couple who are friends were discussing their wedding.  Although it will not technically be a “ketubah,” they very much appreciate having a written record of their wedding in the form of a beautiful piece of art that constantly reminds them of our loving commitment to each other. Quoting the couple: “We looked at many hundreds of Ketubah designs online and in person. The rings design is the reason we chose MP Artworks (your great customer service and excellent prices were a bonus).  We both like the symbols of the interlocking rings and appreciate the vintage feel of the intricate details.”

The couple chose a custom text based upon the style of several traditional and interfaith Ketubah texts. They then modified the text to reflect their own personal vows and beliefs. Their September wedding was an interfaith ceremony influenced by protestant, catholic, jewish and native American wedding traditions.

Wedding In MP Artworks Backyard

A couple of weeks ago, Cliff and Somkid walked into our office and ordered the Summer Evening ketubah for their October 25th ceremony.  The couple met a year ago in L.A. and decided to have their wedding at his mom’s condo (sweet) in nearby Longboat Key (double sweet). Wedding attire rules include no shoes, no sport coats, and no suits. The newlyweds will spend their honeymoon in the Big Apple. Cliff tells us that our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail (not sweet).

Summer Evening Ketubah

Now That’s Some Nice Art!

As co-founders of MP Artworks, Micah and I really enjoy this business. We meet the nicest people at what is usually an incredibly happy time in their lives! And we get to experience them enjoying our art. What could be better?

Well, I’ll tell you. No matter how involved we get with the couples we work with, unless they are local friends we never get to see the ketubah signed, framed, and on the wall. (In fact, some of our local friends have not framed their ketubahs! Grrr! But that’s another story ) But Micah and I are moving to another city soon so we were there doing some house shopping. One of the homes we walked into with our realtor was beautifully appointed, with a very high-end style including incredible art all over the walls. The owners weren’t home, of course, but clearly they are either decorators/designers or have a wonderful eye.

We were admiring the art when all of a sudden Micah said “Wow!” and when I turned into the living room, I saw one of Micah’s ketubah designs mounted in a most gorgeous, ornate gold wood frame hanging on the wall alongside their other art. It actually took our breath away. And we were so happy to see that someone had so loved their ketubah both for what it represents and as a true piece of fine art that they would allow it to occupy such an important place in their home. Of course, we always encourage people to do so, but to see it with our own eyes in a home where we never met the owners was an amazing experience.

We did not buy the house, but we thank the owners, whomever they are, for sharing their beautiful art with us. Here’s a picture of the ketubah (yes, we just HAD to take a picture of it with our phone):

With This Gold Ring Ketubah, framed and hung

A GORGEOUS Ketubah in a GORGEOUS Location with GLOWING Brides

Vicki and Linda will marry in late October in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains. With the October leaves turning colors, it will be stunning location (Linda tells us our invitation is in the mail – yeah sure, and I have a bridge for sale in the Big Apple). They met when Vicki took one of Linda’s classes on the “art of manifestation” (a class on using spiritual principles to achieve your goals).  Vicki was looking to “manifest” her mate.  Word has it that that Vicki aced the course .

Linda’s long wedding gown will be slightly altered since she will be three months pregnant. The couple always wanted children and after a year of exhaustive testing, Linda became pregnant. She tells us she is one of the very few brides you’ll meet who was praying to walk down the aisle pregnant!

They chose the design, And My Beloved is Mine Revisited, because they loved the poetic phrase (“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine”), they thought the color was gorgeous and the symbolism of two intertwining circles really spoke to them. They also thought that a black wood frame with a dark blue matte really made for a beautiful framed ketubah. We couldn’t agree more. Good luck to you both!

... and My Beloved Is Mine Revisited Ketubah, framed

Featured Ketubah Artist, Ruth Karp

Ruth Karp’s body of artwork encompasses a variety of media including watercolor and acrylic paintings, drawings and pastels. A frequent guest in art classes ranging from elementary to graduate schools, her work has won many “Best in Show” awards, is held in private collections and has been featured in fine art publications including American Artist magazine for her first place awards and Rockport Publishers’ “Best of Watercolor: Painting Light and Shadow” (1997) and “A Gallery of Marine Art” (1998). She is a “signature member” of the Florida Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Miami Watercolor Society, Gold Coast Watecolor Society, and the National Association of Women Artists. She serves on the boards of the American Artist Professional League (president), Gold Coast Watercolor Society, Miami Watercolor Society (president) and the Royal Poinciana Art Festival (director).

Although she was born in Jamaica, New York, she has lived in South Florida since 1950 and incorporates the energy and colors of the region into her pieces. When Ruth is not painting, she enjoys spending time with her husband Irving, her daughter, son and daughter-in-law, and her four grandchildren. She is also an active supporter of the University of Miami who also enjoys playing the piano, watching sports and playing tennis.

She will be doing a one woman show in January at the Glass Gallery in Pembroke Pines, Florida, showing in excess of 100 pieces. Meanwhile, you can view Ruth’s ketubahs here,  visit her website here, and shown below is her first place winner in American Artist and a figurative painting that won Best in Show.

We’re honored to be able to showcase her work!

The Same But Better (A ketubah reprinted 9 years later!)

Lou & Melanie's Original Ketubah

During June, 2000, MP Artworks produced a ketubah for Lou and Melanie residing in Mississippi. Everything went well at their wedding in Meridan, MS and Lou and Melanie remain happily married today.

However, one thorn always bothered Lou – his late father was not included in the text.  (His father had died in a tragic accident when Lou was a teenager.) Finally, he decided to rectify the omission.

Lou sent the original ketubah back to us and we re-printed the ketubah some nine (9) years later with the designation: son of Hubert and Floret Newman. He will have the original signatories re-sign the re-printed ‘You Complete Me’ ketubah.

So, if you have a ketubah that has been damaged, lost, stolen, shot, non-personalized, and/or needs to be changed, please contact us and we can get you a re-print of your original ketubah in a matter of days. The cost is $50.00 which includes ground shipping.

Meet the Ketubah Makers – And Finally, KC (aka “Captain Chat”)

KC, doing what he does best (talk on the phone!)

Interview with KC, by Jackie Gill

KC, client service specialist, has been with MP Artworks for 5 years. He handles the clients’ orders, questions and concerns. His experience and people skills are a valuable advantage to the MP Artworks team.
I interviewed KC to share more about his related interests, and personal connection to MP Artworks.

What do you like most about your job at MP Artworks?
I really enjoy the interaction with the clients (via e-mail and phone). I can change a nervous bride or groom’s disposition (I get this a lot: “My wedding is this Saturday, can I still get a ketubah, and oh yeah, I want it personalized”) from anxiety to relief in one phone call. I am very proud that we have never been late with a ketubah and can produce one in one hour. I also enjoy my Company Blog write-ups – it gives me a chance to stretch my writing skills.

What are your interests and hobbies you enjoy during your free time?
I play tennis four times a week. I have been and am a Senior Friendship Center volunteer. My current assignment is visiting Pauline – a ninety-one year old gal who beats me at cards every Friday night. I enjoy playing chess, all types of sports, and playing with our family dog, Oblio (see this older post for a pic of the young lad). Although my two children have grown up and have married, they have refused my request for parental retirement (how rude). So suffice it to say they keep me hopping as well as my wife of thirty-two years.

What types of art, music and movies do you like?
Being a old Dick Clark (an SU grad like me) fan, I like any music that has a beat to it. I have seen every science fiction movie that has ever been created. Although I am not an artist (a fact that my co-workers keep reminding me of), I really appreciate the beauty of the ketubot and chuppot that we produce here. The photo ketubot that we have been creating have been breathtaking.

“50 Years and Still Going Strong”

“50 Years and Still Going Strong.”

Those are the words of Richard from Ohio whose parents (Jim and Roberta) just celebrated 50 years marriage.

A ‘Your Photo’ Ketubah was created which incorporated the picture that Richard’s parents had selected for the cover of their anniversary party invitation. Notice that Richard’s uncle, Robert, who is in the background of the photo, was a 15 year old best man at the time.

Here is Richard describing his parents’ marriage: “My parents have made their marriage work for 50 years and are still going strong. They are each other’s best friends and respect each other immensely. They also communicate with each other quite well and they have a rule that they have lived by, which is to never go to bed angry with the other. I believe it has served them extraordinarily well.” Sound advice for any marriage.

Here is Richard’s comments after receiving his parents’ anniversary ketubah:

“Hi K.C.,
I wanted to let you know that we received the anniversary photo ketubah in plenty of time for my parents’ anniversary party and it looked fantastic. What a beautiful job your company did on this!!! We presented it to my parents during their anniversary party and they absolutely loved it! Everybody was raving about it and they thought the idea was wonderfully original. Thank you so much again for such professional work and for meeting our ridiculous timeline. I really appreciate it.”

Thank you Richard for the very kind words.

The celebration occurred over the August 21 – 23 weekend and included a full weekend celebration – a Friday night cookout, a Saturday night party at a local restaurant, and a Sunday brunch at Richard’s parents’ house.

Meet the Ketubah Makers – Up Next, Esta, our GM

Esta

Interview with Esta, by Jackie Gill

Esta has been with MP Artworks as General Manager and Sales Manager for  7 years. (We like to refer to her here as the “Queen Quarterback!”) She oversees the everyday business operations overall. Before working at MP Artworks, Esta owned her own company for 25 years.

I interviewed Esta to find out more about her personal related interests, and connection to MP Artworks.

What do you like most about your job at MP Artworks?

I love that my position here is so varied and wide-ranging–there is always something interesting to do. And because I can draw upon many of my skills and experiences, the work here is meaningful to me, both on a professional and personal level. I love sales, working with numbers, writing, and language.  I get to do it all at MP Artworks!  Having worked as an advertising copywriter, I can use my writing skills when creating marketing bulletins for our Dealers and Officiants. As a French language major in college, my working with Hebrew (which I also studied both as a child and in college), is a real plus. My business in New York was as an independent outside sales rep, so I am very comfortable showing MP Artworks’ products to dealers. I have gone ‘on the road’ to visit stores in Florida and New York City, and I love selling our company and its services. Plus, being a math nut, I adore working in QuickBooks, which is a big part of my job. I know most people probably think bookkeeping is boring, but I seem to have a knack for it and I honestly love it.

What are your interests and hobbies you enjoy during your free time?

Baking and cooking have been my passions since I was a young teenager and I do a lot of both when I can.  I often spend days creating a meal, or even one dish. Language is another love. I speak French, can dabble in Italian, know some Hebrew and am trying to learn Spanish. I enjoy traveling (provided the hotel room comes equipped with a hair dryer!), and am now looking forward to a trip to Spain in October 2009. I love reading! Spending a day by myself just cooking and reading is my idea of fun.

What types of sports, art, music and movies do you enjoy?

Sports—well, I am a swimmer and love the beach, which is great since I live in Sarasota—home of one of the best rated beaches in the world (Siesta Key Beach). I’m also a certified SCUBA diver, which I learned when I lived in LA. I work out a lot at the gym. I love ice skating, which I haven’t done in years. I took horseback riding lessons in New York City (Yes! People do ride there), and have gone on riding trips in four of the five boroughs of NYC, as well as in upstate NY and the Caribbean. I enjoy watching individual (versus team) sports, such as skiing, skating, gymnastics.

I’m an art lover since forever. (And that makes working at MP Artworks even nicer, since art is our focus.) Growing up in NYC, surrounded by dozens of world class museums and galleries, I got to see so much of really great art from childhood. Also, visiting museums is the thing I do most when I’m in another country. Although I can’t draw or paint to save my life, everyone’s a critic, as they say, so I do know what I like and what I don’t like. I love Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism and Pointillism the most. My favorite artist is Van Gogh and I was lucky enough to see many of his works both in NY and Amsterdam.

As for music, The Rolling Stones are my life now.   I was a fan in the 60’s and still am. I was lucky enough to attend their Bigger Bang concert when it came to Tampa. Keith is my personal favorite. I studied piano for five years and flute for two years, so I am well versed in a lot of classical music. Chopin and Bach are my favorites. I just love piano music.

I adore movies!  I really love comedies and good thrillers. The remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3” is excellent. If you haven’t seen it, rent it when it comes out on dvd. My all time favorite movie is, of course, “Casablanca.” Is there any movie that has more quotable lines? (Well, maybe “The Godfather”.)

Anything else you may want to add about yourself that most people do not know?

I love reading spy novels and wanted to be a spy (fortunately for everyone, the NSA rejected me). Eric Ambler and Graham Greene are two of my go-to reads year after year. It’s always about some poor innocent person who wants to do the right thing and gets embroiled in multi-layered situations way over his/her head. Lately I’ve been hooked on the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich—hilarious easy reading.

I studied Latin for several years, love ancient Greek drama, am a ‘wanna-be’ dancer, having done ballet, toe, tap, belly and folk dancing over the years.

It’s also nice, at this time of my life, to still be in contact with so many of my oldest friends and family via email. We’re spread all over the world, but we are in touch. There are people I grew up with 60 years ago in the Bronx, friends from college and work, cousins and second cousins—we are all able to still connect and talk about ‘the good old days.’

Awesome Photo!

Chicago 'Your Photo' Ketubah

Wow! The photo for this ‘Your Photo’ Ketubah was taken at Olive Park in Chicago, Illinois. Our bride and groom, Beata and Joshua, had a professional photographer shoot the photo (without any difficulties) around dusk in late July. The couple had first looked at hundreds of traditional designs and none spoke to them. They wanted something unique that represented themselves and their style. We think they hit it. The marriage will take place on Navy Pier in Chicago on August 22. It will be a secular ceremony that they wrote from scratch. There will be a combination of Jewish and Polish traditions to represent both of their families.

Imagine what you could do with your camera . . . Learn more about our ‘Your Photo’ ketubah here.

Ketubah on a Plane: Traveling With Your Ketubah

Airline Travel

There are a lot more things to add to your wedding ‘To Do List’ if the location of your wedding site involves traveling long distance from home. Along with trying to remember everything else in preparation for your destination wedding, transporting your ketubah safely on your flight, without incident, can cause additional stress. It doesn’t have to if you plan ahead.

Customers have asked our advice on this subject, so after doing some extra research, we found that the best answer we have is the one we have already been giving. First, when you initially receive your ketubah open it up to be sure it is exactly as you ordered it. But before heading to the plane, re-roll it back in the tissue it came in and slide it inside its tube safel

Next, it appears there is no set guideline for this across airlines, so check with your specific airline beforehand to find out what their policies are. Each airline has different procedures that are continually being changed and updated. If possible, you probably want to hand carry it on the plane. In that case, however, it may be counted as a carry-on, and it will have to fit in the overhead compartment. But this is still your best option to protect it, since you can lay it on the top of other luggage and be sure that it doesn’t get crushed or otherwise handled too much.

If you are checking in your ketubah, you may be able to check it by itself but it may be counted as one of your pieces of luggage (I can hear the cash register ringing already, with the airlines’ new baggage fees!). Rather than checking it alone, if you have room in a suitcase, pack it securely within your clothing, inside your luggage, for better protection.

Once you arrive at your destination, your ketubah will need to be unrolled (do a gentle, reverse roll, and keep it flat until the ceremony – you can put it in the archival envelope during this time for the best protection). It will take some time to flatten because of the paper’s “memory,” but when you get it framed, the remaining curl will be removed.

If anything happens, please remember to contact us for a reprint ($50 including ground shipping) and we’ll be happy to help out!

You Are As Young As You Feel!

Just ask Barbara and Stephan residing in California. These two “kids” (let’s just say post 70, age-wise) met on jdate.com three years ago. She was working in Mexico and he was living in California. When we asked Barbara the main reason for marrying Stephan she replied: ” When you find a wonderful, loving, caring, and intelligent person — hold on (to him)!!”

After an unsuccessful attempt of being married by the Captain on a cruise ship (sorry, folks, they don’t do that any more), the couple celebrated a pre-wedding honeymoon in Mexico. They purchased “And My Beloved is Mine II” ketubah, shown below, for their July 25, 2009 wedding. They plan on honeymooning for the next thirty years. To quote the couple: ” the best is yet to come”.

Ah, young love

And My Beloved Is Mine II Ketubah, by Micah Parker

Meet Rabbi Adam

Rabbi Adam Watstein

Unlike most rabbis that we know from working with our mutual clients, Rabbi Adam Watstein initially came to us as a client when he and his bride recently tied the knot on May 24. We asked him a few questions concerning his background and philosophy:

Where are you originally from?

“I am originally from Sharon, Massachusetts.”

Are you affiliated with a Temple?

“I am currently a Rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada.” (Do I hear “road trip”?)

Have you married any interesting couples?

“My response to whether I have married any interesting couples is that every couple I marry is an “interesting” couple. Each couple is unique and inspiring in their own way. Whether it is a the couple that has known each other since grade-school, or the couple that met on J-date or the couple that met randomly because botched travel arrangements left them both stranded at the same place; all walk through my office door with a glow of excitement and anticipation. I take all of my responsibilities as a rabbi seriously, but I think I take the most pride in officiating at weddings. Facilitating the first steps of the creation of a Jewish family is an honor difficult to describe. I remember the birth of the first child of the first couple I married, thinking to myself that there is no “vocation” in the world with comparable rewards. Every wedding I do is special to me.”

What has your experience been with MP Artworks?

“With regards to my own wedding, MP Artworks was an invaluable resource. Not only were they easy to work with, but they took considerable time to walk me through the process of picking out the right Ketubah, and ensuring that it would be delivered on time. I was elated at their efficiency.”

If you plan on heading to Vegas for a wedding and you’re looking for a rabbi to officiate (sorry, no Elvis costumes!), please contact Rabbi Adam at RabbiAdam@bethsholomlv.org.

Turns Out The Second Time’s The Charm!

Nan Falk, nee Nan Dangar, got married on May 16, 2009 in Largo, Florida. She had originally ordered an unpersonalized framed ketubah. Here is the rest of her story:

I can not thank the staff at MP Artworks enough for the quality of their product and service.  How in the world they manage to put up with “know it all” types like me, who nicely, but adamantly rebuked every offer they made to fill in my ketubah I will never know.  I was certain that I wanted my Rabbi to fill it in, even being so bold as to say that I would welcome any errors that might occur as they would make it seem more “real and natural”.

HA!  That was before the ketubah arrived.  Although I had thought it quite beautiful online, in person it was an art masterpiece that had been perfectly framed (we chose a cherry hinged frame).  It arrived one week before the wedding.  I took one look at it and decided there was no way that anyone was going to fill in the blanks with ordinary handwriting.

I called MP Artworks expecting them to take an “I told you so attitude” and perhaps even tell me it was too late to remedy the issue.  The staff could not have been more helpful or nicer.  They processed my request (for a very modest fee) and had the ketubah back to me, filled in beautifully and ready to be signed and hung on the wall…..All in time for the wedding.

I hope no one else puts themselves through the last minute stress of making my mistake.  There are enough things to take care of at this very important time in your life.  I now say, let the experts at MP Artworks make this part of your wedding plans easier.  Trust them and their advice.  Sit back and let them work their magic.  You won’t regret it.

In sum, I’m very grateful to all of you for the help you gave me.  You really are a blessing.

Nan Falk

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves! This basic story actually happens fairly frequently. Please consider having us personalize your ketubah, the first time! Learn more about ketubah personalization here.

Our New Mascots!

MP Artworks has officially designated Red (AKA: The Greek God) and Oblio (AKA: The Cute Little Man) as Company mascots. Their primary daily functions are to eat treats and look handsome – the keys to success for any ketubah producing organization. We are currently working on setting up their e-mails; in the meantime if you would like to drop either one of them a line, please send it to: info@mpartworks.com.

Red doing what he does best - relaxin'!

Oblio doing what he does best - looking adorable!

The Ketubah Maker’s Daughter Plans a Florida Wedding . . . from England!

Rae is the daughter of our Client Service Specialist, KC, and her husband, Rich, is from England. They have now been married for a year and a half, but it wasn’t easy getting married in the first place. Because their story was an interesting one, we asked them if we could share it through an interview.

How did you meet?
(Rae) I was studying abroad in England. We were introduced through a friend at a pub one night. We were drinking wine, and we actually got into an argument about religion. We agreed to meet again after that, and it started from there.

How did it lead to deciding to get married?
(Rae) I didn’t want to get married. I was too young, only 22. But Rich wasn’t American, so when I finished college, we’d either have to break up or marry. We spent 4 months apart when I finished college and went back to the U.S. Then I moved to England and we lived there together over a year. After some time, we decided we didn’t like living in England, so after talking about it, we decided to move to the U.S.

Tell us about planning your wedding. What was your experience getting back to the U.S. for the wedding, and the end result?
(Rae) Planning was insane, because we were getting married in the U.S., so we had to plan everything from England. My mom and dad planned everything because we weren’t here. They picked the venue, etc., and my mom made my dress, so I had to send my measurements. We actually took our honeymoon before the wedding on a European cruise back to the U.S. because the costs were better than the flights at the time. [Ed. note: Rich and Rae combined their “move” to the U.S. with their honeymoon with a one-way cruise from England. Clever, no?]

What was Rich’s experience like coming to the U.S?
(Rich) Crazy. We got here 6 days before the wedding. Literally, the Sunday evening before that Saturday afternoon of the wedding! But it was beautiful. We got married outside under a gazebo, next to the water. It’s taking 2 years to get my citizenship. I’m here on a working/spouse visa right now.

Being an interfaith couple, was your experience any different in planning your wedding? If yes, how?
(Rae) I’m more spiritual than religious, though I’ve always felt connected to my Jewish side. Rich is not Jewish, and has no strong religious ties, but follows his own belief system, so we wanted a less, or non-religious wedding. We had a Christian minister marry us that I knew from college because he was the only person that I knew would marry us the way we wanted.

What was your ketubah experience like, in choosing your interfaith ketubah through MP Artworks?
(Rae) We chose the Reform text. Micah and Mindy wrote that one. (Rich) We actually used portions of the text in the ketubah as our vows too.

Rae, would you have still had a ketubah, had your dad not worked for MP Artworks?
(Rae) I didn’t know what a ketubah was before my dad worked there, so probably not. But if I had known, I would’ve had one even if he had not been working there. I love the whole idea of the ketubah. I’m so glad we have one.

By the way, the wedding was really fantastic, with a very different, medieval theme reflected most beautifully in the wedding party’s attire. Check it out here, in a picture of Rae and Rich (to the right of the ketubah) and the ketubah they chose, Break In The Weather, by Micah Parker

Rae, Rich, and Their Ketubah, Break In The Weather by Micah Parker

MP Artworks Breaks Ketubah TIME RECORD!!

Rings of Light Ketubah by Micah Parker

Our previous record for creating a personalized ketubah was 90 minutes. That record was shattered on June 8th, 2009 with MP Artworks completing the Rings of Light Ketubah, shown above, in one hour.

The beneficiaries of this record setting performance were Milana and Paul from Philadelphia. Since their wedding is taking place in Mexico on June 15th, 2009, the couple needed the ketubah within 24 hours. To quote the bride: “MP Artworks was able to accommodate us at the last minute and deliver our ketubah the day after we ordered it.” Rabbi Bradley Bleefeld, a thirty-four year veteran of conducting marriages (over 2000, oyy!), will be flying from Newark to Cancun to officiate the ceremony. To quote the bride: “He is perfect for us!”. Rabbi Bradley knows about our time-bending abilities: “MP Artworks is a blessing to me – they have never let me down when there is a time crunch.”

The lovely couple met in downtown Philadelphia and discovered they had so much in common, they could not stop talking to each other. The wedding location is Riviera Maya (sweet) – one of the couples’ favorite places to vacation and where they got engaged. Forty people will be attending the wedding with the couple spending their honeymoon there as well.

So, if you are ever in a time crunch (we don’t care about the reason for the rush order), rest assured, MP Artworks can complete your personalized ketubah in record time, literally. Who knows? We may be able to break the one hour threshold in the near future. After all, Rush Orders are Our Speciality.

(Oh, and we don’t charge a rush charge. Ever!)

Meet the Ketubah Makers (Up first . . . Tim, our Production Manager)

Interview with Tim, by Jackie Gill

Tim has been with MP Artworks for 7 years as Production Manager. He handles the layout and design work for ketubot, and oversees the production of all ketubot and chuppot. His interest in graphic art and computer design, as well as his attention to detail, make him a valuable employee, but also a special addition to MP Artworks’ small family. Being my brother as well, it is because of Tim that I have also been a part of this small wonderful family for the past two years.

For those interested in the people behind the fabulous ketubot at MP Artworks, I conducted some interviews of our staff for our blog. I interviewed Tim to find out more about his related interests, and personal connection to MP Artworks.

What do you like most about your job at MP Artworks?
All the customers we deal with are going through a really happy and important part of their lives. We get to share a small part of that with them.

Also, I love getting paid to be creative, which for me, is not work.

Not being Jewish, it also opened up an entirely new world for me since I started working here. It’s interesting and exciting to become a part of this culture – something that was not part of my life before.

What kind of art do you like?
[My] personal art influence before working here is comic book art. I like the idea of telling stories with pictures, using the art to help tell the story, and not just written words. Art is always subjective, and comic art has meaning intricate to the story, but can still be artistic enough to transcend it as well.

I appreciate all kinds of styles, and get to be involved in all styles of art while working, through editing and layout.

What types of movies do you like?
Sci-Fi movies are my number one. Comedies are most satisfying. But I also like a good drama, well acted, and with human emotion, especially that I can relate to.

A Same-Sex, Interfaith Wedding (Esta’s Followup)

We couldn’t let our last post sit without an explanation of Sharon & Judy’s chuppah “issue” and a comment from Esta about this wonderful couple. Here’s Esta, in her own words:

“The ‘problem’ with the chuppah was that this design was not printing at all well. It was muddied, it was banding, it was just not happening. Sharon was heartbroken, but understood sometimes things don’t work out. However, Micah said, ok, one more try. And as fate would have it, the last print was perfect! When it was sewn together, with the ribbon border and ties, it looked absolutely gorgeous. Sharon said she had tears in her eyes when she opened the box and first looked at it.”

“They also bought our note cards, which has the same design as their chuppah and ketubah (Twilight in the Clouds). They were overjoyed to have them.”

“As to exactly why we became so friendly, it was just one of those situations where we simply ‘clicked.’ I guess you can say it felt as if we’d known each other forever–it was very comfortable and real. I truly adore Sharon (and of course, Judy, too, although my contact with her was limited to one or two emails).”

“I didn’t feel they, or their order, presented any challenges, but maybe they felt they were being indecisive at some point. So perhaps just talking to someone who knew our products and processes (in this case, me) was helpful to them. We exchange a lot of personal emails too, so it really feels like a firm friendship to me!”

Ah, we just love this business!

To give you an idea, here are the various products that Sharon and Judy bought, all in the same design:

Twilight in the Clouds Ketubah

Twilight in the Clouds Notecards

Twilight in the Clouds Chuppah

A Same-Sex, Interfaith Wedding

Our clients, Sharon and Judy, are a wonderful same-sex married couple, who also happen to be past customers of MP Artworks. Because their story is a different and interesting one, we asked if we could interview them for MP Artworks’ blog, and possibly for an article as well. These are the questions I asked them.

1. How did you meet? Tell us your “story” and how it led to getting married.
(Sharon) Judy and I first met at the wedding of a friend’s daughter. We soon realized that she had just moved into the apartment building where I lived in NYC. Like any other couple, we began to date, and eventually realized we wanted to be together all of the time.

2. Tell us about your experience planning your wedding.
We had been a couple for 25 years by the summer of 2008, when in the state of Massachusetts the last barrier fell prohibiting same-sex marriages for out-of-state residents. Judy called me from work on that day and said, “Shall we?” I replied, “Why not?…Looks like it might last!” So, on August 22, 2008 we were legally married in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in a civil ceremony on the Town Green. While that experience was quite lovely, and was attended by a best friend and a brother…we wanted to “share and declare” in a religious ceremony. We weren’t certain that that desire could be realized. Not only is ours a same-sex relationship, it is interfaith as well.

3. Any difficulties of having a commitment ceremony?
As I began to surf the net looking for appropriate websites, I was amazed at the number of websites available and supportive of weddings/marriages such as ours. Locally, we were greeted with good will and acceptance as we planned our ceremony in a lovely wooded mountaintop in Northwestern Connecticut. Only occasionally, were we met with hesitation and long stares…but we were used to that! (LOL) Amazingly no one declined to work or plan with us. We even found a rabbi in Boston to marry us! But the greatest discovery was finding MP Artworks online. We were able to find and order everything we needed or wanted for the ceremony. It was wonderful.

4. What was your experience like in choosing your commitment ketubah through MP Artworks? This was, without a doubt, the greatest, most thrilling and fun-filled chapter of our entire planning phase! We searched all the beautiful ketubah texts on the MP Artworks website, and finally chose the one that suited us best…the Secular-Humanistic II, with the same-sex “adjustments”. It described perfectly what our relationship has been for 25 years: our ideals, our sharing, our blending, respect, learning, and compassion. It was perfect. Then the next most perfect thing happened… I met Esta [MP Artworks' General Manager]! She was so terrific. She was tremendously helpful and understanding. She wanted to help us find what we wanted, and she was genuine. She really did care, just like a family member. With Esta’s guidance we put together a beautiful matching combination of ketubah and chuppah, using our most favorite design, “Twilight in the Clouds”. It was exquisite. I could not have been happier with the quality of the workmanship and artistry of the pieces. And we could certainly not have been more comfortable with Esta and her experienced hands as she guided us through the process. My experience? Delightful!

5. Through your experience, what have you learned, and would you do anything differently? What have I learned? Oy, is that a list! Let me just say this- if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t flounder all over the web trying to piece things together. It’s exhausting, and there is no continuity of personnel, craftsmanship, or commitment! I would immediately go to the MP Artworks website, contact Esta and crew, and shop ‘til I drop! You can’t go wrong. It’s obvious that these folks are dedicated to their craft, to their art, and it’s a joy to be a recipient of all that love and commitment.

6. Any advice for other couples planning a commitment ceremony?
It’s overwhelming- why should I lie to you? That is why it is important to find honest, competent people to help you through it. I was so impressed with the professionalism, and the genuine caring of the entire group at MP Artworks. If something wasn’t right the first time, they would re-do it until it was! This is our true story: It happened with our chuppah. Because of the design, there was an issue with the ink. Those good people worked on our chuppah for weeks until it was right! It wasn’t just “right”; it was gorgeous! That story tells you what you need to know. They won’t stop until it’s right. Esta and the crew- call them- you deserve the best!

Thanks so very much, Sharon & Judy, for sharing your experience with us (and allowing us to post it on our blog, no less!) Below is the design that Sharon & Judy fell in love with, Twilight in the Clouds, by Micah Parker.

Twilight in the Clouds, by Micah Parker

That Special Place Captured Forever in “Your Photo” Ketubah

Kudos to the bride’s mom who took this gorgeous picture of a Nantucket, Massachusetts dramatic sunset. Adam and Vail are the benefactors of the “Your Photo” ketubah and have planned a September, 2009 wedding in Nantucket. They met seven years ago through Vail’s cousin (who says lightning doesn’t strike twice – this is how Vail’s parents met – through a cousin).

To quote Vail: “Using my mother’s photo of a place special to Adam and myself for a ketubah was meaningful and symbolic of how we mean to integrate our lives.”

Check it out and let us know what you think – we think it’s an amazing photo and ketubah!

Nantucket Sunset "Your Photo" Ketubah

Couple Will Save $10K By Marrying on Friday!

It’s true. Just ask Samantha and Brian of Carver, Massachusetts. The Red Lion Inn in Cohasset, Massachusetts was having a promotion whereby Friday night weddings can be booked at half-price. The only problem was that the couple wants to get married on Saturday – August 8, 2009 – the anniversary of the magical date that they “officially” started dating. Bummer? No, the solution was very clever. They will have a typical ceremony on August 7, 2009 involving saying “I will’s” in front of 200 guests followed by a reception. Here’s the good part: A few minutes after midnight, the couple will exchange “I do’s,” sign the ketubah, and throw the bouquet and garter thereby making their anniversary date officially August 8, 2009. So the $20K reception bill will be trimmed to $10K since the “ceremony” occurred on a Friday. Who says you can’t have your wedding cake and eat it too?

The couple have been together seven years (wow), bought a home (the beautiful pond shown in their photo ketubah is within their development) in Carver, and have terrific jobs. I am sure it will be a night to remember!!

A Picture Says 1,000 Words . . .

At least this one will. This is another example of a “photo ketubah.” Here, Samantha and Brian sent us a few pictures that just happen to be drop dead gorgeous – both people and background!

They asked us to make it into a ketubah for them, so we incorporated the interfaith ketubah text for them that they chose, personalized the ketubah text, then printed it out. All of our ketubahs are fine-art prints on 100% acid-free cotton paper, so the final product looks amazing.

Brian and Samantha's Photo Ketubah (framed)

What could you do with your photos?

(p.s. After we showed the couple the blog posts about them, here’s what Samantha had to say: “KC this is amazing thank you so much! The ketubah is beautiful. We love it! I had it displayed at my bridal shower and everyone was impressed!”