Ketubah question

[Book Lover]

I do calligraphy and scribing on the side, and have been asked to scribe a ketubah for a September wedding. I have scribed wedding contracts for Jewish couples before, but previously have been told either that what I was doing was *not* a ketubah, or the word "contract" only was used in our conversations. I have searched for information online, and the most info I have gotten is that it should be beautiful and represent my best efforts. Anything else I need to know to make sure I do this correctly? Many thanks in advance!

[question everything]

1. Will this help?

Form of Ketubah.

"On . . . , the . . . day of the month . . . in the year . . . since the creation of the world, the era according to which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of . . . how . . . son of . . . said to this virgin . . . daughter of . . . 'Be thou my wife according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor, support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set aside for thee 200 zuz, in lieu of thy virginity, which belong to thee (according to the law of Moses), and thy food, clothing, and necessaries, and live with thee in conjugal relations according to universal custom.' And . . . this virgin consented and became his wife. The dowry that she brought from her father's house, in silver, gold, valuables, dresses, and bedclothes, amounts to . . . <100 silver pieces>, and . . . the bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum of . . . <100 silver pieces>, making in all . . . <200 silver pieces>. And thus said . . . the bridegroom, 'I take upon myself and my heirs after me the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the dowry, and of the additional sum, so that all this shall be paid from the best part of my property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall be mortgaged for the security of this contract and of the dowry and of the addition made thereto.' . . . the bridegroom has taken upon himself the responsibility for all the obligations of this ketubah, as is customary with other ketubot made for the daughters of Israel in accordance with the institution of our sages—may their memory be for a blessing! It is not to be regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere form of document. We have followed the legal formality of symbolical delivery <"ḳinyan"> between . . . son of. . . , the bridegroom, and . . . daughter of . . . , this virgin, and have employed an instrument legally fit for the purpose to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid and established.

..............Bridegroom.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=187&letter=K&search=Ketubah

[Book Lover]

2. *Many* thanks!

The snippet of sample text the couple gave me pretty much corresponds to this text. And many thanks for the link - for some reason, this site did not come up when I googled "ketubah."