As to ashkenazim not facing the ahron kodesh during a chupa in a shul, I have heard in the name of Harav Yitzchok Hutner, that by the goyim the bride and groom face the altar and the galach faces the crowd. The reason? Because the galach is performing the marriage ceremony and he is marrying the couple. By us, the chosson is making the kinyan and he is performing the ceremony so we want the chosson and kallah to face the crowd even in a shul.
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