officiating  chaplain  or  clergyperson  is  the  best source  of  information  regarding  the  manner  in which  each  ceremony  will  be  conducted. Roman  Catholic A  Roman  Catholic  wedding  may  include  a wedding or nuptial Mass. The nuptial Mass will lengthen the time required for the ceremony and this  aspect  should  be  considered  when  schedul- ing the chapel. Preparation for the nuptial Mass and  wedding  is  generally  the  same  as  for  any other  Mass  except  that  a‘‘prie  dieu”  or  “double kneeler”  for  the  couple  may  be  used  as  well  as a  sprinkler  for  holy  water.  Other  items  may  be used as the priest directs. When a nuptial Mass is omitted,  a  simple  ceremony  may  be  conducted. Eastern Orthodox An   Eastern   Orthodox   wedding   does   not normally  include  the  celebration  of  the  Divine Liturgy as an integral part of the ceremony. The wedding  ceremony  is  generally  conducted  at  a table  set  near  the  chapel  sanctuary  but  not directly  at  the  altar.  Prior  to  the  wedding,  the bride  and  groom  traditionally  make  confessions and  partake  of  communion.  Wine  may  be  used during  the  ceremony  and  may  be  taken  by  the couple  from  a  common  cup.  Simple  wreaths  of flowers may be used as crowns for the couple for the   wedding   ceremony;   or   more   ornate   silver and gold crowns may be purchased by the couple for  use  in  the  ceremony.  The  Orthodox  chap- lain, however, will provide guidance in planning the  ceremony. Protestant and Other Christian Bodies Within   the   *“Protestant”   group   and   other Christian   groups   not   specifically   mentioned previously,  wedding  ceremonies  vary  widely. *   Protestant—a   nonspecific   term   used   to   denote   a Christian  not  of  a  Roman  Catholic  or  Eastern  Orthodox church.   The   term   “Protestant”   should   not   be   utilized where   a   more   specific   term   (e.g.,   Anglican,   Lutheran, Presbyterian,  Congregationalist)  can  be  used. These  ceremonies  will  vary  from  denominations which  have  very  formal,  prescribed  wedding rites  to  denominations  which  have  very  simple wedding  rites  conducted  in  accordance  with  the conscience  of  the  officiating  chaplain  and  the desires  of  the  couple.  The  officiating  chaplain will determine the manner in which the religious rites  are  to  be  performed  and  will  direct  the RP  in  the  manner  in  which  the  entire  wedding ceremony  will  be  conducted. THE JEWISH RITES Jewish wedding ceremonies, customarily, are not held between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday. Jewish weddings may occur after sun- down  Saturday  or  on  Sunday.  Jewish  weddings do  not  normally  occur  on  Jewish  holy  days, and  on  certain  days  between  Passover  and  the holidays  of  Shavuot.  These  customs  are  gener- ally   observed   by   the   Orthodox,   Conservative, and  Reform  branches  of  Judaism. In  Orthodox  and  Conservative  ceremonies, the   ceremony   is   generally   conducted   under   a canopy   (Chupah)   with   the   rabbi   positioned beside a table on which two glasses of wine are present.  The  language  used  by  the  rabbi  maybe Hebrew.   Yarmulkes   (skullcaps)   are   generally worn  by  males. At Reform Jewish weddings, the service may be  in  English  or  in  Hebrew,  and  the  use  of  the yarmulkes and the canopy is optional. Only one glass  of  wine  is  generally  used  at  the  Reform ceremony. The  Betrothal  Benedictions  open  the  Ortho- dox  ceremony,  followed  by  the  ceremony  of  the ring,  and  the  reading  of  the  marriage  contract (Kesubah).  After  the  blessing  of  the  wine,  the rabbi passes the glass of wine to the groom who sips from it and then passes it to the bride. The ritual  is  completed  in  the  act  of  drinking  the second glass of wine by the bride and groom and the  subsequent  crushing  of  the  glass  under  the groom’s shoe. In Reform Jewish ceremonies, the glass  may  be  left  intact.  The  rabbi,  however, determines how the ceremony will be conducted and guides the RP, as necessary. 4-35