A Chuppah is a wedding canopy (also spelled chuppa, huppa, huppah) that a bride and groom stand under during their wedding ceremony. The officiant most often shares this space with the wedding couple, and sometimes the bridal party as well. A chuppah symbolizes the first official home the couple shares as they become united in marriage. It also serves as a decorative focal point and set piece for the wedding ceremony. It is traditionally used in Jewish weddings, has a solid canopy and open sides. There is no requirement to have any writing or symbols adorning the canopy or structure, but occasionally family heirlooms are used to further personalize the design.