The Jan.-Feb. issue of AARP magazine states that some couples — for financial reasons — are choosing to be married at a funeral home. This is a "win-win" situation for the funeral home. Now they can hold birthday parties, graduation parties, and weddings in addition to funerals. What does Jewish law say about holding a wedding at a funeral home?
I see three aspects to this question: Jewish law, ethics and community custom.
This calls to mind what King Solomon wrote “it is better to go to a house of mourning than to a wedding”. A person should contemplate his important purpose in his mortal life in this world, and the solemnity of a mourner’s home is more fit for this “soul-searching” than a joyous feast.
I assume the place would be decorated to appear festive and there will be a band and dancing and food as in any Jewish wedding. If the bride and groom are not opposed to the idea, I would say in an ethical sense it could be a positive venue for their wedding based on the thought expressed by King Solomon. In fact, there already exist widespread customs that are part of a Jewish wedding ceremony to remind the people at the height of happiness of their this-worldly mortality. The groom has ashes placed on his forehead before the ceremony to recall the “return to dust”. He also wears a white garment called a kittel that is also a shroud. And the cup is broken to dampen the overwhelming happiness.
I am not aware of any legal prohibition involved but the rabbi conducting the wedding should be consulted to make sure this practice does not run contrary to any Jewish law, community customs or sensitivities.
I doubt if this alternative will become a popular practice, but it may bring down the prices of wedding halls!
