When couples picture a Jewish wedding, they sometimes imagine hundreds of guests, a huge ballroom, elaborate Jewish Wedding Decorations, a packed dance floor, and an enormous Jewish Wedding Reception. That can be wonderful. But it is certainly not the only way to have a meaningful Jewish wedding. One of the questions I increasingly hear from couples is: “Can we have a small Jewish wedding with only the people closest to us?” Absolutely. In fact, some of the most emotional Jew

One of the questions I hear from engaged Jewish couples in Toronto is surprisingly simple: “We do not belong to a synagogue. Can we still have a Jewish wedding?” Yes. Not belonging to a synagogue does not mean that your wedding has to lose its Jewish identity, traditions, beauty, or meaning. In fact, many of the couples I marry are Jewish and feel deeply connected to their heritage, families, and traditions, but they simply are not members of a synagogue. For me, that is not

One of the most practical questions couples ask me during Jewish Wedding Planning is: How long does a Jewish Wedding Ceremony actually take? My answer surprises some couples. For the weddings I officiate, the ceremony itself is usually about 25 minutes. That does not include the processional, when the wedding party and couple walk down the aisle. Depending on how many people are participating and the Jewish Wedding Music you choose, the complete experience may be closer to 30

You just got engaged. You are excited. Your families are excited. Suddenly everyone is asking the same questions. When is the wedding? Where will it be? Have you booked the venue? But there is another question couples should be asking almost immediately: Who is going to marry us? If you are planning a Jewish Wedding Toronto celebration and hoping to have me officiate, my advice is simple. Reach out to me as soon as possible after you get engaged. Ideally, contact me before yo

One of the most common questions I hear from engaged couples is: “Can a Cantor marry us, or do we have to have a Rabbi?” The short answer is yes. A Cantor absolutely can officiate a Jewish Wedding Ceremony. In fact, from a Jewish perspective, a wedding officiated by a qualified Cantor is every bit as meaningful and authentic as one officiated by a Rabbi. Here in Ontario, I am also licensed by the Province of Ontario to legally register your marriage, so your Jewish ceremony a

Wedding planning should bring a couple closer together. Yet for many engaged couples, it can suddenly feel as though they are planning a wedding for everyone except themselves. A new mother in law may have strong opinions about the Jewish Wedding Venue, guest list, menu, music, ceremony, invitations, traditions, and even the time the Jewish Wedding Reception should end. That raises an important question. How much do you have to make your new mother in law happy during the wed

“I have vertigo. Do I really have to circle my husband seven times during our Jewish Wedding Ceremony?” The answer is no. At the weddings I officiate, a bride may choose to circle seven times, three times, or not at all. Your health, comfort, and safety matter more than following a custom simply because you think it is expected. As a Jewish Wedding Cantor, I believe Jewish Wedding Traditions should bring meaning into your ceremony, not fear or physical discomfort. If circling

One of the most common questions I receive from engaged couples is, “We found the perfect date. Why can’t we get married during the Three Weeks?” It is a great question. For many couples planning a Jewish Wedding Toronto celebration, the calendar is filled with excitement. You are searching for the perfect Jewish Wedding Venue, meeting photographers, tasting menus, choosing music, and imagining the moment you will stand together beneath the chuppah. Then someone mentions, “Yo

One of the questions I hear most often from engaged couples is, “Why does the bride circle the groom during the ceremony?” Closely followed by, “Do I have to do it?” The short answer is no. At every wedding I officiate, I explain that this beautiful Jewish tradition is completely optional. Some brides choose to circle the groom seven times. Some prefer three times. Some decide not to circle at all. There is no right or wrong choice. The most important thing is that every part

Few wedding planning decisions are as emotional as this one. A couple sits across from me and quietly asks, “My grandmother is very ill.” “My grandfather’s health is declining.” “We don’t know how much time we have.” “Should we move our wedding date so they can be there?” There is no universal answer. Every family is different. Every medical situation is different. Every relationship is different. But after officiating many Jewish weddings over the years, I can tell you one t

When couples begin planning their Jewish wedding, one of the first questions they often ask is, “Should we have a Cantor or someone else officiate our wedding?” The answer may surprise you. From a Jewish perspective, a Jewish Wedding Cantor is fully qualified to officiate a Jewish Wedding Ceremony. The ceremony is every bit as meaningful, authentic, and Jewish. As a Cantor, I am also licensed by the Province of Ontario to legally solemnize marriages and file all of the requir

One of the questions I am asked most often by couples planning a summer wedding is this. “We would love a Saturday wedding, but Shabbat ends so late in the summer. Can we still have a beautiful Jewish Wedding Ceremony that evening?” The answer is absolutely yes. In fact, some of the most memorable weddings I have ever officiated have taken place on Saturday evenings after Shabbat has concluded. There is a simple way to make the timing work beautifully. Many couples choose to

The flowers eventually fade. The music comes to an end. The last dance is over. The photographs are beautifully edited. The thank you cards are sent. Then something extraordinary happens. Real life begins. As a Jewish Wedding Officiant, one of the things I often tell couples is that while the wedding day is unforgettable, it is actually the shortest part of marriage. The ceremony lasts about thirty minutes. The marriage, God willing, lasts a lifetime. That is why I believe th

If you have ever attended a Jewish Wedding Ceremony, you have probably noticed something beautiful. At some point during the ceremony, emotions take over. The bride begins to cry. The groom wipes away tears. Parents quietly reach for tissues. Grandparents smile through watery eyes. Even guests who barely know the couple often become emotional. Why does this happen? It is certainly not because people are sad. It is because a meaningful Jewish Wedding Ceremony has the remarkabl

One of the biggest fears many engaged couples have is not about the flowers. It is not about the seating chart. It is not even about the weather. It is this. “We do not want our wedding to feel like everyone else’s.” That concern comes up in almost every initial conversation I have with couples. They want a Jewish Wedding Ceremony that feels authentic. Personal. Warm. Meaningful. They want guests to walk away saying, “That ceremony could only have been about those two people.

How Do You Handle Family Estrangement During a Jewish Wedding Ceremony There are few moments in life more joyful than planning your wedding. There are also few moments that can bring unresolved family relationships to the surface more quickly. One of the most difficult conversations I have with couples sometimes begins with a quiet sentence. “Cantor Ben, I am not speaking to my mother.” Sometimes it is the bride. Sometimes it is the groom. Sometimes the distance has existed f

One of the most emotional questions I hear from couples planning their wedding is this: “Can our grandparents participate in our Jewish wedding ceremony?” My answer is almost always the same. Absolutely. In fact, some of the most meaningful moments I have ever witnessed as a Jewish Wedding Officiant involved grandparents. Years after guests forget the flowers. Years after they forget the menu. Years after they forget the table settings. They still remember seeing a grandparen

When couples begin planning their wedding, they often focus on the obvious details. The flowers. The menu. The seating chart. The décor. The venue. The timeline. All of those things matter. But after officiating many weddings over the years, I have noticed something fascinating. Years later, guests rarely remember the centerpieces. They rarely remember the exact entrée. They rarely remember the color of the napkins. What they do remember are the moments. The emotional moments

Wedding planning is supposed to be exciting. Yet for many couples, it becomes one of the most stressful seasons of their relationship. Suddenly there are decisions everywhere. Guest lists. Budgets. Family opinions. The Jewish Wedding Venue. The Jewish Wedding Photographer. The Jewish Wedding Music. The Jewish Wedding Decorations. The Jewish Wedding Invitations. The Jewish Wedding Attire. The Jewish Wedding Reception. And before long, two people who love each other can find th

One of the most common questions I hear from couples today is surprisingly honest. “We already live together.” “We share bills.” “We have a home.” “We already know what it is like to build a life together.” “So does a wedding still matter?” It is a fair question. Many modern couples spend years building a relationship before they get married. They travel together. They buy homes together. They support one another through career changes and life challenges. By the time the wed