If you have been invited to a Jewish wedding and you are not Jewish, you might be wondering what to expect. Will you understand what is happening Will it feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable Will there be traditions that are confusing These are very normal questions. The truth is, a Jewish Wedding Ceremony is one of the most meaningful, welcoming, and emotionally engaging experiences you can be part of. And one of the most powerful parts of that experience is something many gues

This is one of the most common and surprisingly emotional questions couples ask during Jewish Wedding Planning. “Do I have to circle seven times? Can I do three? Can we both circle each other? Can we do something that feels more equal?” The short answer is yes. You have options. And more importantly, those options can still honor Jewish Wedding Traditions while reflecting your values and your relationship. Let me share the story of Ava and Sam from Toronto. Ava and Sam’s Ques

This is one of the most emotionally charged situations couples face during Jewish Wedding Planning. “My fiancé wants one thing. My mom wants something completely different. I feel stuck in the middle. I do not want to hurt anyone, but I also do not want this process to become stressful.” If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Weddings bring together love, family, tradition, expectations, and emotions. When those elements collide, even the most joyful process can feel ove

One of the most emotional questions couples ask me during Jewish Wedding Planning is this. “Can both of our parents walk us down the aisle at our Jewish wedding?” It is such a beautiful question because it reflects something deeper than logistics. It reflects love, gratitude, and a desire to honor the people who helped shape your life. The answer is yes. Not only is it possible, but it can be one of the most meaningful and powerful moments in your entire Jewish Wedding Ceremo

One of the most thoughtful questions couples ask during Jewish wedding planning is about hospitality. “We are having a non-kosher wedding, but some of our relatives keep kosher. How can we make them feel comfortable and respected?” This is a beautiful question because it reflects one of the most important Jewish values: kavod. Respect for others. A Jewish wedding ceremony celebrates love, family, and community. When guests with different levels of observance come together, s

Many couples begin Jewish wedding planning with excitement. But sometimes that excitement is accompanied by a quiet worry. What if we cannot afford a large wedding? What if our parents are not able to contribute financially? Can we still have a meaningful and beautiful Jewish wedding ceremony? The answer is yes. Absolutely yes. A Jewish wedding is not defined by its budget. It is defined by its meaning, its traditions, and the love between two people who are building a new li

When couples begin Jewish Wedding Planning, one of the first questions they ask is simple and important. Can a Cantor legally and spiritually marry us the same way a Rabbi can? The short answer is yes. But the deeper answer is even more meaningful. Let me tell you about Lara and Jason from Toronto. Lara and Jason’s Question When Lara and Jason reached out to me about their Jewish Wedding Toronto celebration, they were excited and a little overwhelmed. They had found a beautif

Wedding planning is often described as joyful, exciting, and full of anticipation. And it is. But for many couples, it also carries layers of family complexity that are rarely discussed openly. One of the most sensitive situations I encounter as a Jewish wedding officiant is this question: “How do we plan our wedding when my fiancé’s father is estranged from him?” Lara and Jason from Toronto faced exactly this challenge. Their love was strong. Their commitment was clear. But

When Jeremy and Brit first reached out to me about their Jewish wedding in Toronto, their question was direct and honest. “We’re paying for this ourselves. We don’t have financial help from our parents. Can we still have something meaningful and beautiful?” There was vulnerability in that question. In today’s world, weddings can feel expensive and overwhelming. Social media shows elaborate Jewish wedding celebrations, large ballrooms, extravagant Jewish wedding decorations, a

When Lindsey and Jax first sat down with me to plan their Jewish wedding in Toronto, they asked a question I love hearing. “We know we want a Jewish wedding ceremony,” Lindsey said, “but can you help us understand what all the customs actually mean?” It was not just about having a beautiful event. It was about understanding the history behind Jewish wedding traditions and why they still matter today. As a Jewish wedding cantor and Jewish wedding officiant, this is one of my

When couples begin planning a Jewish wedding, one of the first questions they ask is simple and practical. Who actually leads the ceremony? And more specifically, what does a cantor do during a Jewish wedding? As a Jewish wedding cantor and Jewish wedding officiant in Toronto, I’ve had the privilege of guiding many couples through this beautiful milestone. One of the most memorable was the wedding of Ben and Jamie, a warm and joyful couple whose ceremony perfectly illustrated

Planning a Jewish wedding in Toronto can be a beautiful journey of heritage, harmony, and heartfelt decisions. For couples with diverse cultural backgrounds, the question often arises: Can we blend Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions into one ceremony? The answer is a joyful and resounding yes. I am Cantor Ben, a Toronto-based Jewish wedding officiant , and I had the great honour of officiating the marriage of Brad and Molly, a couple who came to me with this exact question. B

By Cantor Ben Jewish Wedding Officiant | Jewish Wedding Toronto Introduction: The Sound of Tradition, Under the Open Sky When Cindy and Gregg first met with me to plan their Jewish Wedding in Toronto, one of their most heartfelt questions was also one of the most unexpected. They asked, “We’re getting married outside under the sky, not in a synagogue. Can we still smash the glass?” My face lit up. Not only could they, I told them, but that moment — right there, in nature, und

A real story of love, inclusion, and the beauty of Jewish wedding traditions By Cantor Ben When Amy and Tommy first reached out to me about officiating their Jewish wedding in Toronto, one of their biggest questions wasn’t about the chuppah or the ketubah. It was this: Can we invite our non-Jewish friends and will they understand what’s happening? Will it feel meaningful to them too? Their question was deeply sincere. Like many modern Jewish couples in Toronto, Amy and Tommy

A Real Story from Sam and Gary’s Jewish Wedding in Toronto By Cantor Ben “What’s a Tisch, and is it really for us?”That was the exact question Gary asked me when we first sat down to plan his and Sam’s Jewish wedding in Toronto . Like many modern Jewish couples, Sam and Gary wanted a wedding filled with love, family, music, and tradition. But they weren’t sure what all the pre-ceremony customs meant or how they could make them personal. They wanted their big day to be meaning

By Cantor Ben When I first met Marni and Jeff, they were sitting at a cozy café near their home in midtown Toronto, sipping cappuccinos and nervously flipping through their Jewish wedding planning notes. Both had been married before. Both had children from previous relationships. And both were deeply in love. But they were not just planning a wedding. They were creating a new family. Marni looked at me and asked with a mix of hope and vulnerability, “How do we include our chi

By Cantor Ben When I first met Ashley and Brian, they were sitting on their couch in Toronto, excited to plan a meaningful Jewish wedding that would bring together their families, traditions, and personal love story. They had just secured their Jewish wedding venue and were beginning the process of Jewish wedding planning. As we sipped tea and talked through their vision, Ashley hesitated for a moment, then asked a question I have heard more and more over the past few years.

Meet Sam and Jax Sam and Jax are a beautiful couple from Toronto. When we first met to discuss their Jewish Wedding Ceremony , they were excited, curious, and deeply committed to making their day feel meaningful. But during one of our planning conversations, Jax paused and asked something many couples wonder but are afraid to say out loud: “Do we have to do the hora? What if we’re not into being lifted in chairs in front of everyone?” Their question was honest and real. And i

When Jaime and Steve invited me to officiate their Jewish wedding in Toronto, they had a simple but beautiful question: What exactly happens under the chuppah? They were excited about their big day, but didn’t grow up deeply religious. While they both felt deeply connected to Jewish values and wanted to honour their heritage, they weren’t sure what each part of the Jewish wedding ceremony meant or how it would feel in the moment. Their curiosity and care led to one of the mo

When Alexis was planning her Jewish wedding with Brad in Toronto, one of the first questions she asked me was deeply personal and meaningful: “Can I walk down the aisle with both my parents?” Like many couples today, Alexis and Brad wanted their ceremony to reflect not just Jewish wedding traditions, but the reality of their family relationships. Her parents were both tremendously important in shaping who she had become. Her mom had taught her compassion. Her dad had taught h