There are many different preparations that the bride and groom go through before their wedding.
Ufruf
The bride and groom do not see each other the week before the wedding. On the Shabbat before the wedding, the groom is called up to the torah. This is done to symbolize the Torah as the center of the marriage. "After his aliyah, the congregation showers the groom with raisins and nuts, symbolic of their wishes for a sweet and fruitful marriage blessed with many children"1. Meanwhile, the bride's family and friends arrange a party (forshpiel) for her, giving the same love and wishes to her as were given to the groom.
Fasting
Marriage is seen as a start to a new life for the bride and the groom. Their souls will finally be whole and united. Therefore, the bride and groom traditionally fast the day before the wedding. Similar to Yom Kippur, on one's wedding day, G-d forgives the bride and groom of all their previous transgressions. "It is seen as a private Yom Kippur for the couple"1. They fast all day, recite the Book of Psalms, and add the Vidui, Yom Kippur prayers. In addition, the bride immerses herself into the mikvah before the wedding. This symbolizes the change in her life that is about to take place while also cleansing herself for her husband.
Kabbalat Panim
The bride and groom hold two separate pre chuppah receptions. Both receptions are filled with friends and family. Traditionally, a more elaborate selection of food is served at the bride's reception. The bride sits on a throne like chair while people wish her mazal tov. At the groom's reception, songs are sung and words of the Torah are said.2
The bride and groom do not see each other the week before the wedding. On the Shabbat before the wedding, the groom is called up to the torah. This is done to symbolize the Torah as the center of the marriage. "After his aliyah, the congregation showers the groom with raisins and nuts, symbolic of their wishes for a sweet and fruitful marriage blessed with many children"1. Meanwhile, the bride's family and friends arrange a party (forshpiel) for her, giving the same love and wishes to her as were given to the groom.
Fasting
Marriage is seen as a start to a new life for the bride and the groom. Their souls will finally be whole and united. Therefore, the bride and groom traditionally fast the day before the wedding. Similar to Yom Kippur, on one's wedding day, G-d forgives the bride and groom of all their previous transgressions. "It is seen as a private Yom Kippur for the couple"1. They fast all day, recite the Book of Psalms, and add the Vidui, Yom Kippur prayers. In addition, the bride immerses herself into the mikvah before the wedding. This symbolizes the change in her life that is about to take place while also cleansing herself for her husband.
Kabbalat Panim
The bride and groom hold two separate pre chuppah receptions. Both receptions are filled with friends and family. Traditionally, a more elaborate selection of food is served at the bride's reception. The bride sits on a throne like chair while people wish her mazal tov. At the groom's reception, songs are sung and words of the Torah are said.2
Tenaim
The tenaim are the conditions of marriage for the families of the bride and groom. These conditions include paying for the wedding ceremony and the new household startup costs. This document is signed at the kabbalat panim and then read aloud by someone who speaks fluent Aramaic. After the reading, the mothers of the bride and the groom break a plate. The irreversible act of breaking this plate is symbolic of the finality of the just read tenaim.
The tenaim are the conditions of marriage for the families of the bride and groom. These conditions include paying for the wedding ceremony and the new household startup costs. This document is signed at the kabbalat panim and then read aloud by someone who speaks fluent Aramaic. After the reading, the mothers of the bride and the groom break a plate. The irreversible act of breaking this plate is symbolic of the finality of the just read tenaim.
Maamar Lecha Dodi
It is customary in Chabad Chassidim for the groom to recite the Maamar Lecha Dodi. This is a Chassidic discourse on the significance of marriage according to Kabbalism. The recitation speaks about the elevation which the groom and bride attain through their bond in marriage. This Chassidic discourse was originally delivered by the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn.1
Bedacken
The bedacken, or the veiling of the bride, is done before the chuppah ceremony. The groom's father and father in law, lead the groom to the bridal room. Chabad Chassidims sing a melody composed by the founder of Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), known as 'The Alter Rebbe's Niggun of Four Stanzas' during the procession.1 Other groups of Chassids sing other niggunim. Once they have reached the bridal room, the groom brings down the dek tichel, the veil, over the bride's face. This reminds us of Rebecca covering her face when she married Isaac. According to Kabbalah, the veil symbolizes that the groom is not only interested in the bride's external beauty, but rather in her internal beauty.3 The veil also signifies the bride's commitment to keep her beauty only for her husband. As a married woman, she is now totally unapproachable to other men. After the bedacken, the parents and the grandparents customarily bless the bride. There is an opinion from Rabbinic authorities which states that it is the badeken, not the ceremony under the chuppah canopy, that constitutes a legal marriage of the couple.4
It is customary in Chabad Chassidim for the groom to recite the Maamar Lecha Dodi. This is a Chassidic discourse on the significance of marriage according to Kabbalism. The recitation speaks about the elevation which the groom and bride attain through their bond in marriage. This Chassidic discourse was originally delivered by the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn.1
Bedacken
The bedacken, or the veiling of the bride, is done before the chuppah ceremony. The groom's father and father in law, lead the groom to the bridal room. Chabad Chassidims sing a melody composed by the founder of Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), known as 'The Alter Rebbe's Niggun of Four Stanzas' during the procession.1 Other groups of Chassids sing other niggunim. Once they have reached the bridal room, the groom brings down the dek tichel, the veil, over the bride's face. This reminds us of Rebecca covering her face when she married Isaac. According to Kabbalah, the veil symbolizes that the groom is not only interested in the bride's external beauty, but rather in her internal beauty.3 The veil also signifies the bride's commitment to keep her beauty only for her husband. As a married woman, she is now totally unapproachable to other men. After the bedacken, the parents and the grandparents customarily bless the bride. There is an opinion from Rabbinic authorities which states that it is the badeken, not the ceremony under the chuppah canopy, that constitutes a legal marriage of the couple.4
1. http://www.jewish-history.com/minhag.htm
2. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477332/jewish/Kabbalat-Panim-Pre-Chupah-Reception.htm
3. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477333/jewish/Badeken-Veiling.htm
4. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/313719/jewish/The-Veiling-Ceremony-Bedeken.htm
2. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477332/jewish/Kabbalat-Panim-Pre-Chupah-Reception.htm
3. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477333/jewish/Badeken-Veiling.htm
4. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/313719/jewish/The-Veiling-Ceremony-Bedeken.htm