A backwards timeline from the chuppah: when to choose your text, order, approve the proof, frame and sign, plus what to do if your wedding is only weeks away.
The short answer
Order your Ketubah about three months before the wedding. That leaves calm room for your rabbi, proofs, printing and framing.
A custom Love Letters Ketubah takes 3–6 weeks on average from order to your door, including shipping.
Settle three things first: your text, everyone’s Hebrew names and the exact Hebrew date.
Book a framer for the weeks after delivery. Most people forget this step.
Under six weeks to go? Message us about a rush order.
Nobody gets engaged thinking about the Ketubah. It sits quietly at the bottom of the list, behind the venue, the dress and the seating chart, until someone asks, “Wait, have we ordered the Ketubah?”
Good news. It’s one of the easier wedding tasks, as long as you start it at the right time. Here’s the timeline, counted backwards from your chuppah.
When should you order your Ketubah?
Order your Ketubah around three months before your wedding. That’s enough time for your rabbi to approve the text, for a proof and any revisions, for printing and shipping, and for framing, with a buffer left over.
Could you do it faster? Yes. A Love Letters Ketubah takes 3–6 weeks on average, from order to delivery, including shipping. But the Ketubah isn’t the only thing on the clock. Your rabbi needs time to reply. Someone has to track down Grandma’s Hebrew name. And the framer has their own queue.
Three months means none of that becomes stressful.
What does a Ketubah timeline look like, counted back from the wedding?
The easiest way to plan is backwards from the day you stand under the chuppah. Here’s the timeline we recommend to couples:
When | What to do |
|---|---|
4–6 months before | Browse designs and talk to your rabbi or officiant about which text they need |
About 3 months before | Choose your design and text, collect Hebrew names and confirm the Hebrew date, then place your order |
1–5 days after ordering | Receive your digital proof and share it with your rabbi |
The next week or two | Revise until it’s right (revisions are unlimited) and approve the final proof |
3–6 weeks after ordering | Your printed Ketubah arrives, shipped free worldwide |
2–4 weeks before the wedding | Frame it, or prepare a signing board if you’ll frame it afterwards |
Wedding day | Witnesses sign, usually about 30 minutes before the ceremony |
The step people skip is framing. Custom framing can take a week or more on its own, longer in busy months. If you want the Ketubah framed and on an easel at the reception, build that into the plan.
How far in advance do other Ketubah studios ask you to order?
Most Ketubah makers ask for somewhere between two weeks and three months, depending on the season and how custom the piece is. Kolbo Fine Judaica says standard Ketubahs take 4–8 weeks and advises ordering 2–3 months before the wedding (Kolbo).
Season matters too. Ketubah.com quotes 2–3 weeks for personalized Ketubahs from September to January, and up to 5 weeks from February to August (Ketubah.com). Spring and summer are wedding season, so everyone’s queue gets longer.
Our advice: whatever a studio quotes, add a month for your rabbi, names and framing.
What do you need to decide before you order?
You need to decide three things before ordering: your text, the names, and the date. Each can take longer than you expect, so start them early.
Your text. Traditional, Conservative with the Lieberman clause, Reform, interfaith, secular, same sex or genderless. Ask your rabbi which versions they accept. Our Ketubah text examples compare them side by side, and you can read the full wording on our Ketubah texts page.
Everyone’s names. Most texts include Hebrew names for both partners and often their parents. If someone doesn’t know theirs, it can take a few phone calls to find out.
The Hebrew date. If your ceremony starts after sunset, the Hebrew date moves to the next day. Our guide to the Hebrew date of your wedding walks through it with real examples.
Your wedding date also shapes the plan. Many couples avoid Shabbat, major holidays and the period of the Omer between Passover and Shavuot, with Lag BaOmer as the popular exception (Reform Judaism).
Why does your rabbi affect the timeline?
Your rabbi affects the timeline because they usually need to approve the text, the names and the date before anything is printed. Chabad advises couples to check the text with their rabbi before buying, since some decorative Ketubahs aren’t valid for a traditional ceremony (Chabad).
Rabbis are busy, especially in wedding season. A reply can take a week.
We make this part easier by working with your rabbi or officiant directly. We send them the proof, answer their questions and make their changes, so you’re not stuck forwarding emails. Read more in does your rabbi need to approve your Ketubah?
What if your wedding is less than six weeks away?
If your wedding is less than six weeks away, you can still get a custom Ketubah, but tell us your date before you order. Message us and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible for your date and your location.
To make a rush order work:
Have your text, names and Hebrew date ready on day one.
Ask your rabbi to review the proof the day it arrives.
Skip custom framing for now. Sign on a hard board, then frame after the honeymoon.
That last tip takes a lot of pressure off. The Ketubah needs to be signed on the day. It doesn’t need to be framed on the day.
Is it too late to order a Ketubah after the wedding?
It’s never too late. Some couples sign a simple Ketubah provided by their rabbi on the day, then order a designed one afterwards to hang at home. Others get married quickly or privately and add the Ketubah later, sometimes for an anniversary.
If you’re doing this, ask your rabbi how they’d like it handled. Some will re-sign with witnesses, others treat it as a keepsake copy.
When is the best time to order for a stress-free wedding?
The most stress-free moment to order is right after your venue, date and officiant are booked. By then you know the date, you know who your rabbi is, and you still have months in hand.
In real terms, that’s often 4–6 months out. You don’t need to rush the design choice. But browsing early means that when you’re three months out, you already know which one you love.
Start by browsing our Ketubahs. Our bestsellers, The Promise and Bold & Beloved, are a good place to begin. When you’re ready, design yours. And for everything else on the day, download our free ceremony guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a custom Ketubah take?
A custom Love Letters Ketubah takes 3–6 weeks on average from order to delivery, including shipping. You’ll get a digital proof within 1–5 days, and you can revise it as many times as you need. The biggest variable is usually how quickly the text and names are approved by your rabbi.
Can I order a Ketubah two weeks before my wedding?
Sometimes, but get in touch before you order. Tell us your wedding date and where you live, and we’ll let you know honestly whether we can make it. Having your text, names and Hebrew date ready, and a rabbi who can review the proof quickly, makes a short timeline much more realistic.
Should the Ketubah be framed before the wedding?
It doesn’t have to be. Witnesses need to sign it on the day, and many couples find signing easier on an unframed print laid on a firm board. You can frame it afterwards. If you want it framed and displayed at the reception, book the framer 2–4 weeks before the wedding.
Do I need my Hebrew name to order a Ketubah?
Most Ketubah texts include the couple’s Hebrew names and often their parents’ names too. If you don’t know yours, ask family, check a bar or bat mitzvah certificate, or ask your rabbi. Converts often use a traditional form such as “daughter of Abraham and Sarah.” Your rabbi will confirm what to use.
What is the busiest time of year for Ketubah orders?
Spring and summer are the busiest, because that’s peak wedding season. Many studios quote longer turnaround times between February and August. If your wedding falls in those months, ordering around three months ahead gives you a comfortable margin, even if every step takes a little longer than planned.
Is shipping included with a Love Letters Ketubah?
Yes. Shipping is free worldwide on every Ketubah order. The 3–6 week average turnaround already includes shipping time, so you can plan around it. If you’re close to your date or shipping somewhere far away, message us before you order and we’ll help you plan.
