What are the traditions around the week before a Jewish wedding, including the aufruf and mikveh?

The aufruf, meaning 'call-up', is when the groom is called to read from the Torah in synagogue during the week before the wedding. Family and friends gather to bless him and the couple. It is a chance for the community to offer support and good wishes.

The mikveh is a ritual bath that the bride uses before the wedding. She immerses in the mikveh to purify herself and prepare spiritually for marriage. This usually happens the day before the wedding, and it is a quiet, personal moment.

Some couples also fast on the day before the wedding, and others may have a siyum, a celebration marking the completion of a Talmudic tractate, to break the fast. Practices differ between communities. If you are unsure about any of these traditions, ask your rabbi or the place of worship for guidance. For the legal side of your marriage, check GOV.UK or your register office for the official requirements.