Perhaps it is the existential threat felt by the Jewish People over the centuries that has imbued Jewish weddings with a special communal and joyful feeling.
Chuppah is the name of the canopy under which a Jewish wedding takes place and is used to refer to the entire Jewish wedding ceremony. The canopy itself may take many forms, from a tallit to a specially created cloth. The chuppah is held up by four poles. These can be secured to the ground or held by four specially appointed people.