On Nocturnal Nuptials
May a marriage ceremony take place at night? Early halachic authorities such as Rabbeinu Yeshayah (13th century) and Mahari Minz (15th century) question whether kiddushin (the betrothal ceremony) may be performed at night. Their position is based on the fact that the Gemara draws a parallel between a get (bill of divorce) and kiddushin. They posit that since a get should not be given at night (according to some opinions), neither should a kiddushin be performed at night. The Knesses Hagedolah (Rabbi Chaim Beneviste, 17th century) relates that when he assumed a rabbinical position in Tira, Turkey, and found that they performed marriages at night, he was mevatel (stopped) the practice immediately.
However, later poskim state that a nighttime chuppah is not a halachic issue. They quote the Rambam and the Smag (12th and 13th century respectively) as discussing kiddushin performed at night. (Although there is also a basis in the Gemara for kiddushin to be performed at night, some poskim posit that at least some of these sources use “night” in only illustrative terms to mean a time or place where it is hard to see, such as late in the day or in a dark location).
These later poskim argue that the point of concern for those authorities who opposed kiddushin at night must have been the shtar (contract with which kiddushin was performed), which was reminiscent of a get. The prevalent manner of betrothal these days is with kesef (money—i.e., a ring), so similarities no longer exist.
Another reason to allow kiddushin at night—despite sharing a parallel with a get, say some poskim—is that a a get is restricted at night due to it being similar to din Torah which must be performed during daytime hours. However, the halachah is that if both parties are amenable to a nighttime din Torah, it is permitted—and that should certainly be the case when it comes to a chuppah.
The candles used at a chuppah negate some of the nighttime issues—creating an atmosphere similar to daytime. In fact, a strong argument can be made that a nighttime chuppah is actually preferable: there are segulos (good omens) associated with a moonlit setting for a chuppah—alluding to the brachah of plentiful progeny represented by the vast span of twinkling stars in the moonlit sky.
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