Dating back to more than a century ago, origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The word ‘origami’ is the combination of two words: ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. Origami structures are so simple, children make it. Yet, they look sophisticated enough that many are used as decor in high society parties. The art has passed down from generation to generation, and has recently crept into pop culture.

In pop culture

The first time I heard about it was from the TV show Prison Break where the lead character Michael Scofield constantly folds origami swans leaving them here and there in prison. They made an appearance again on the House of Cards when Claire gets an origami bird in return for cash to a homeless man, prompting her to make origami animals and giving them to Peter Russo’s children.

The wish of a thousand origami cranes

Origami animals have been whirled up in Japanese legends. A popular one is the legend of a thousand origami cranes which states that anyone who makes a thousand origami cranes held together by a single string will be granted a wish by the Gods. This inspired  Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was 24 months old when she was exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II, developing leukaemia as a result. She heard of the legend and began making the cranes but according to a popular version of the story she only made 644 before she died. Today a memorial of her holding an origami crane stands at Hiroshima.

Orgiami Ketubahs

The latest addition to our gallery is the origami ketubah collection. Each featuring origami paper cranes dangling in the air above the text of the ketubah by string. The Paper Crane Ketubah below features eighteen birds, instead of a thousand, the classic Jewish number that also means “chai”, or “life”. It is available in more colors and designs.

We have a very large collection of ketubahs in all shapes and sizes – we should know, because we ‘re the ones who have to manage them! Having so many options to choose from should make it easier for couples searching for the perfect fit, yet many have a hard time picking.

If you’re overwhelmed by all the great designs, don’t worry. Follow our tips on narrowing down your ketubah search to find the right one.

Start with a color scheme

One of the easiest ways to narrow down your choices is by color. It doesn’t necessarily have to be you and your partner’s favourite colour, but colours which will blend in well with your home environment. Dark colours, light colours, warm colours, cold colours, solid colours, and mixed colours are just some ways to filter your search. Some people prefer eye-catching bold colors, while others like something subtle.

Whether you decide to have your ketubah displayed or not, the color scheme is important. You don’t want to settle down on a ketubah you can’t bear to look at 5 years down the road.

Details that carry meaning

Ketubahs are meaningful. Not just because they are a signed document sealing your marriage, but because they are a mark of your love and commitment to spend the rest of your lives together. We encourage customers to choose ketubahs that hold meaning to them. Whether its a bridge over a river that describes their relationship, or a Ketubah featuring New York City – the place you met and fell in love. Create the big picture with details that hold meaning to the both of you.

Trust your instinct

Ketubahs are a life-long document so if you don’t love the design, leave it. Move on to the next one. Just like that Harry Potter moment when he first holds his wand and sparks fly in the air, you’ll have a similar experience – minus the wind blowing through your hair. The perfect ketubah is the one that gives you the feeling that this was made just for you!

One of nature’s biggest inspirations is mountains. The large formidable masses of rock and mud have fascinated man for thousands and thousands of years, and continue to challenge them. Just yesterday, Snapchat did a live story on the summit of Mount Everest. Not only did it take the mountaineers a very long time to reach the top, it took their breath away – literally! In every snap, they all were breathing heavily, and some seasoned pros actually had to turn back because of the severe wind and cold.

Mountains have always been a symbol of strength, endurance and power. Only the strongest of men have been able to conquer them and plant their flag of victory on top. From a distance, climbing a mountain seems impossible but once you get started you reach the top through strong will and perseverance without looking down once. Building relationships are just as challenging psychologically, but once you complete the trek, your relationship solidifies and becomes unbreakable.

Couples who have built a strong relationship before marriage will like our collection of mountain ketubahs. Each featuring the large structures as backdrops to poetic sceneries. Northern lights, sunsets, night skies, lakes and a scene right out of a Dr. Suess book make up our diverse range of ketubahs featuring mountains.

A popular choice among couples is The Aurora Borealis Ketubah, containing a fish-eye view of the Northern lights above the silhouette of almost symmetrical mountains, bordering a lake reflecting the spectrum of colours in the Aurora Borealis. The inspirational yet sublime style is a powerful metaphor for a great relationship: inspiring and moving each other, full of energy.

Just remember:

“A relationship is like climbing a mountain. When you’re climbing, it’s hard and difficult to keep going, but when you’re at the top of the mountain, the view is all worthwhile, and absolutely and utterly incredible.”

While almost everyone knows how to read these days, not many take out the time to spend hours every day curled up to a book. With Netflix and Facebook, most people prefer to spend their free time in front of a screen. But some prefer a book instead.

Book lovers relish lazy afternoons and rainy days to snuggle up to a good book. For them reading is a major part of their life. With so much technology surrounding us, readers appear to be few and far between. Those few who do read regularly, do so with a passion they are proud of and wear their love for books on their sleeves. That’s why it’s not unusual to find book lovers with illustrations of a book, pages or calligraphic text as the decorum to their ketubah.

Couples who go into marriage, are like an open book to each other. They’ve shared their pasts, laid bare their secrets, and confided their thoughts and fears into the person they are going to marry. Like reading a book, it takes time to take in everything, but once you’ve reached the end there’s nothing you don’t know about the story. The time before your wedding is like reading a book, and there are some blank pages towards the end which are yet to be filled.

The Library Ketubah captures the quiet composure of a library and the excitement of starting a new book. It is perfect for people who enjoy the silent wisdom permeated in the air of a library. Wisdom they too would like to carry on in their new chapter together.

Another vibrant, yet modest choice is The Book Lovers Ketubah. As the title suggests, this is a great choice for couples who love books. Drawing on a classical look, the vintage books are painted with a modern twist.

“A river cuts through a rock not because of it’s power, but its persistence.” – Jim Watkins

Rivers have symbolized strength and life for centuries abound. Almost all major civilizations have stemmed from settlements by the riverside. The great River Nile is perhaps the biggest example. It is the source of all activity, and feeds people in the deserts of Egypt and Northern Africa. The strong flow of water feeds the land along its way and the people with it. We, humans rely heavily on rivers for nourishment and draw strength from them.

Ketubahs that depict rivers are symbols of persistence, endurance, strength, and new life. Water has long been associated with Judaism. In Hebrew, the world Hebrew (“Ivrit”) comes from an ancient word meaning river. The Jews were literally known as the people who lived by the river!

Just as the water from rivers brings life to the soil and plants in its surroundings, ketubahs with rivers are a mark of new life and fertility. The moisture from rivers brings life to dead soil without which crops, vegetables and fruits would surely wither and die.

The By The Lake Ketubah holds the picture of an idyllic countryside scene bearing a stone bridge over a mighty river. The bridge over the water is a representation of couples who come across different sides of a river to build common ground over the strong current of the river.

Remnant of a fantasy, the Stay in a Dream Ketubah is an illustration of a couple embracing on a riverbank. The scene looks like its right out of a romance, fantasy graphic novel. The river holds as a centre point for this ketubah, reflecting the aura of a full moon. It is great for couples of fantasy books and movies, and is an instant winner among younger couples.

Ketubahs represent a pure and unblemished bond in the eyes of God. They signify peace and understanding and a lasting commitment. Marriage is a beautiful thing and ketubahs are a witness to it. One other thing embodies all those things, and that is the color white.

The color of perfection, white embodies values of purity, innocence, wholeness, completion, and new beginnings. Its usage differs by culture and circumstances, but unanimously touches upon occasions of significance.

In most cultures, white is associated with marriage to mark a pure passage of two souls merging together on a new beginning. In Judaism, “Shesh” (white) without any alterations is the true color of the light and was the symbol of physical and intellectual purity.

White Ketubahs are not devoid of any details of art. They are equally rich and intricate as other colored ketuabhs. Rather the white background and ink, provides depth and substance to the ketubah.

They can be paired well with other white or colored items. Highlighting portions of a white ketubah, such as the signatures, in a bold color makes it stand out and provide contrast. A colored frame can also bring a touch of life to a simple ketubah.

You can find a large collection of white ketubahs on This is Not a Ketubah. 

A Font To Remember Ketubah is embellished with elegant calligraphy against a plain background. The tiny details and style of text radiate an impression of grace, elegance, and sophistication. This Ketubah brings modern art back to basics with the beautifully simple design.

Two entwined rings sit atop a plain white background in The Entwined Rings Ketubah. The minimal design centers focus on the colorful rings and the meaning they hold. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “For those colours which you wish to be beautiful, always first prepare a pure white ground.”

Spring is upon us; the season of rebirth, transformation, beauty and life. After the long and dreary months of winter, spring comes as a welcome change for both man and nature. Leaves and budding flowers once again sprout on barren trees and bushes. Animals come out of hibernation, and the air is buzzing with birds, and little insects busy at work.

With the rise in temperatures, comes a transformation in people as well. It is a time when we shrug off our winter layers and embrace new changes. Changes in the climate from winter to summer, pushes us to also bring changes in ourselves.

Ketubahs inspired by spring, are inspired by feelings of new life, excitement, and positive energy radiated in the season of new beginnings. Trees and flowers in lush colours adorn these bright ketubahs radiating the warmth and love of the happy couple.

The queen of seasons dominates a large collection of ketubahs at This is Not a Ketubah to reflect the values of spring we hold so dear in our marriage contract. One of my favourite spring ketubahs is The Abstract Blooms Ketubah which is inspired by Mark Rothko’s large collection of works.