A grandmother's wedding dress sits in a dust covered bag or a duct-taped box. Filled with memories, it hasn’t spoken in ages, it hasn’t seen the sun or light for years. There was so much energy around obtaining it. Some were hand sewn, others purchased after car trip after car trip to boutiques and stores while others were passed down from their mothers or grandmothers. The many afternoons of fittings. The months and days and moments of anticipation it drive for the Day, that REALLY BIG  DAY. The day it would be shown off and then, in a matter  of moments, a short few hours after its debut, it’s tucked away. Back in the box and off to the attic or another dark corner.
 

    Until about thirteen years ago, this was the fate of all such gowns. This
 was the fate of such gowns until Renee Khan of Arkay Chuppah came up
 with the way to bring them back once again. Thirteen years ago, Renee
 designed her first chuppah at the insistence of a friend who asked if she
 could create something something special for a wedding. Renee hit upon
 the idea of using parts of the wedding dress to create the chuppah for the
 wedding.

    One of the oldest and most important traditions of a Jewish wedding
 ceremony is the chuppah, or wedding canopy. The word chuppah literally
 means “covering” and has been interpreted tp symbolize everything from
 the tents of the Hebrews wandering through the desert to the new home
 that the couple will make together.  It is said that the chuppah invites not
 only the presence of  God, but also the spirits of beloved ancestors to
 witness the marriage ceremony of their descendants.

    The requirements regarding the structure of the chuppah are very
 simple: it must have a canopy top made of cloth, be held up by four poles,
 and have all four sides open. A chuppah can be either free- standing or
 hand-held. A chuppah can be as simple as a family wants it to be or as
 elaborate as creativity and the imagination will allow. Renee starts her
 design by dismantling the entire wedding gown. Once that is
 accomplished, she uses every inch of it she can,  including the buttons,
 lace, beading petticoat and even the veil. She uses as much of the dress
 and skirt as possible, while using the additional items for decoration.

    Arkay Chuppah offers free a free consultation within a 50 mile radius
 of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. They offer both custom chuppas and also semi-
custom rental chuppas with a selection of tops and legs available for
 customization. Typical time frames are 3-6 months for  a custom made
 design. Arkay Chuppas will design and ship out of state, however any
 chuppas for out-of state delivery are available  as hand-held only. From
 that simple request thirteen years ago, Renee has grown her business
 significantly. She offers a unique way of making all those old memories
 and moments part of a new beginning and a new future.

   For more information, including pictures and examples of her work or to
 make an appointment for a free consultation, please go
 to www.arkaychuppah.com