I've been looking for something that describes the Jewish Wedding
Ceremony and traditions around it.  That is, a guide for people who
know nothing about Jewish Weddings: How to behave, whether or not we
have to purchase or wear a skullcap, etc.

All I can find are obscure references to small parts of the ceremony. 
Can you please help?

Hello

This link below is the site you want.

The jewish wedding ceremony: An Overview by Rabbi Mordechai Becher 
http://www.ohr.org.il/judaism/articles/wedding.htm

Here's a quick run down that I've abstracted from the site - you'll
find the full thing, and an explanation of the symbolism of each part
of the ceremony, at the link above

There are several parts to the Jewish Wedding Ceremony

shidduch
The very first stage of a traditional Jewish marriage, is the
shidduch, or matchmaking, but this takes place long before the
ceremony, so you wont have to worry about it :)

vort
When the families have met, and the young couple have decided to
marry, the families usually announce the occasion with a small
reception, known as a vort or engagement. Some families sign a
contract, the tenaim, meaning "conditions," that delineates the
obligations of each side regarding the wedding and a final date for
the wedding. Others do this at the wedding reception an hour or so
before the marriage. One week before the wedding the bride and groom,
the chosson and kallah, stop seeing each other.

ketuvah
At the reception itself, the first thing usually done is the
completion, signing and witnessing of the ketuvah, or marriage
contract. The document is signed by the groom and witnessed by two
people, and has the standing of a legally binding agreement, that in
many countries is enforceable by secular law.

Bedekin
After the signing of the ketuvah, which is usually accompanied by some
light snacks and some hard liquor for the traditional lechaims (the
Jewish salute when drinking, which means, "to life!"), the groom does
the bedekin, or "veiling." The groom, together with his father and
future father-in-law, is accompanied by musicians and the male guests
to the room where the bride is receiving her guests. She sits, like a
queen, on a throne-like chair surrounded by her family and friends.
The groom, who has not seen her for a week, covers her face with her
veil.

Chuppah
The next stage is known as the chuppah, or "canopy." The chuppah is a
decorated piece of cloth held aloft as a symbolic home for the new
couple. The groom is accompanied to the chuppah by his parents, and
usually wears a white robe, known as a kittel. While the bride comes
to the chuppah with her parents, a cantor sings a selection from the
Song of Songs, and the groom prays that his unmarried friends find
their true partners in life. When the bride arrives at the chuppah she
circles the groom seven times with her mother and future
mother-in-law, while the groom continues to pray. Under the chuppah,
an honored Rabbi or family member then recites a blessing over wine,
and a blessing that praises and thanks God for giving us laws of
sanctity and morality to preserve the sanctity of family life and of
the Jewish people.

Kiddushin
The groom, now takes a plain gold ring and places it on the finger of
the bride, and recites in the presence of two witnesses, "Behold you
are sanctified (betrothed) to me with this ring, according to the Law
of Moses and Israel.". The ketuvah is now read aloud, usually by
another honoree, after which it is given to the bride.

sheva brachos
After this, the sheva brachos, or seven blessings, are recited, either
by one Rabbi, or at many weddings a different blessing is given to
various people the families wish to honor. The blessings are also
recited over a full cup of wine. At this point the couple again share
in drinking the cup of wine, and the groom breaks a glass by stamping
on it. The verse, "If I forget thee O' Jerusalem, let my right hand
forget its cunning: If I do not raise thee over my own joy, let my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth", is sometimes recited at this
point. With the breaking of the glass the band plays, and the guests
usually break out into dancing and cries of "Mazaltov! Mazaltov!"

cheder yichud
Now that the couple are married they are accompanied by dancing guests
to the cheder yichud, "the room of privacy." They may now be alone in
a closed room together, an intimacy reserved only for a married
couple. While the bride and groom are alone together (usually eating,
after having fasted all day) the guests sit down to eat a festive
meal. The meal is preceded by ritual washing of the hands, and the
blessing over bread. At some point, the band announces the arrival
"for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. _____!!!" and everyone joins in
dancing around the bride and groom. The dancing, in accordance with
Jewish law requires a separation between men and women for reasons of
modesty, and hence there is a mechitzah, or partition between the men
and women. The main focus of the dancing is to entertain and enhance
the joy of the newlyweds, hence large circles are formed around the
"king and queen," and different guests often perform in front of the
seated couple.

The meal ends with the Birchas Hamazon, Grace After Meals, and again
the seven blessings are recited over wine, shared afterwards by the
bride and groom.

For Gentiles, there is little to do except follow everybody elses
lead, relax, be happy and enjoy yourself.

And you don't have to wear a skull cap (unless you would like to as a
mark of respect)

Hope that clears it up for you. A look at the Google searches below
will give you a lot more information.

And if you do get to go to one, I can guarantee you'll have a good
time, having been to a few myself.

Willie


There are several online stores selling Jewish wedding gifts and
associated wedding items if you should need them

The biggest is probably this one
Jewish Wedding Find it!
http://www.jewishweddingfindit.com/

And here's another
Wedding Simch party planner
http://www.jewishglobe.com/Services/Weddings.html

Google search strategy
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Jewish+wedding%22
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Jewish+wedding%22+decorum

Thanks for the thorough answer!

The answer given is correct if the wedding is a traditional Orthodox
wedding only.  There are three main divisions of Judaism - Reform,
Conservative, and Orthodox.
As far as your concern about the yarmukel (skull cap), if these are
required or appropriate in the synagogue where the ceremony is being
held, then they will be provided for you, often in a box or container
in the lobby.  Non Jews usually wear these when appropriate as a sign
of respect inside the sanctuary.

Hi vigilare,

As research_help noted, the answer will vary depending upon the sect
of Judaism.  Typically, though, in Conservative and Reform wedding
ceremonies, you will see some elements of what is described above, but
with lesser adherence to strict observation of Jewish law.  In other
words, Conservative and (especially) Reform wedding ceremonies are
usually more relaxed.  For non-Jews, many synogauges often offer a
small booklet or card with instructions on how to observe traditions
properly, which you will probably find in the lobby or near the
entrance to the chapel.

Scott
scottso-ga

If you are asking about getting a gift, and you can't decide what gift
to get, a check is always fine, the sums traditional given are as
follows: $18 = Chai (Life), or $36 (2x Chai)and so on.- $26, $72 = the
names of G-D
then any of these numbers multiplied by 10 example $180, $260, $720.

Hello vigilare:  You have been given enough websites above.   Here's a
book: "The Jewish Book of Why", by Rabbi Alfred Kolatch.  This book
deals with all aspects of Jewish life, and is written for the layman. 
It is easily understandable by anyone since it is written in Q&A
format.  It has a 20 page chapter on marriage.  If you are attending
the wedding: here are 3 suggestions:  (1) be respectful, (2) have a
good time and (3) arrive hungry because the food will be great !!!!

Between the ketuvah and bedekin, there is also another tradition
called the "tisch." The bride and groom are still separate, as are all
the men and women, in different areas.

At a recent "Orthodox/Jewish Renewal" wedding I attended, the tisch
was very special. The men were upstairs and while the groom attempted
to do a short teaching of Torah, he was joyfully interrupted with song
and consumption of schnapps. The women were downstairs working
together on an art project together -  a bracelet or necklace that
symbolized unity and chevruta (friendship).

While I wasn't the one getting married, it was an incredibly joyful
affair that far surpassed any other wedding I had been to previously.

there are no "sects" in Judaism.

there is Judaism which is 3000 years old.  Then there are those who
did not like the responsibity and obligations of being a Jew, so they
decided to pick and choose a pleasant boquet of beliefs from G-d given
Judaism, bundle together whatever felt good, and call themselves
reformers.  This is not Judaism (though its practitioners are
certainly Jews).  The Jews who felt that Judaism was being threatened
by the "reformers" tried to compromise and accept certain aberrations
in order to provide an alternative to the reformers so that they
should practice Judaism again. Hence "conservative"

In todays morally decadent climate where there is no G-d given and
absolute morality, only: lets deicide what is right and wrong based on
our inherently moral human perception based on what is the current
politically correct fad, then I suppose there are three sects of
Judaism.