To stand beneath a chuppah is to stand at the heart of a wedding.

The chuppah is one of the most familiar and beloved elements of a Jewish wedding. With its sheltering canopy and open walls, the chuppah is said to symbolize the home the newly-married couple will make together, always open to welcome family and friends.

A chuppah is not just a symbol. When we step beneath the chuppah we enter a sacred space, created for one special purpose. We bring with us our traditions and memories, our families and friends, our sense of the past and our hopes for the future.

We meet under the chuppah to be joined together in a place that celebrates what we love and value most.

A handmade chuppah from Gray Dove is a beautiful way to personalize your wedding ceremony.

I design chuppahs and make them by hand in my Chicago studio. My clients are couples and families who are seeking a chuppah that's beautiful, unique, and meaningful.

Every chuppah I make is the product of an individual design process. My goal with each design is to create a chuppah that's perfect for this couple and their wedding, that will be memorable and bring them joy.

To make my chuppahs I use traditional techniques such as appliqué and hand-embroidery, along with modern methods like photographs printed on fabric. I particularly specialize in incorporating my clients' own heirloom textiles into the chuppah, using either permanent or reversible methods.

Fabrics I use include silk, linen and wool, with others available upon request. I encourage the selection of sustainable and organic textiles whenever possible.

For examples and descriptions of my work, please see the galleries in Portfolio.

To learn more about having a custom chuppah made for your wedding, please visit Contact.