One of the questions couples sometimes ask me is: “Cantor Ben, can our wedding ceremony actually be funny?” My answer is absolutely yes. In fact, I think the right humour can make a Jewish Wedding Ceremony feel even more meaningful. That may sound surprising. Some couples assume the ceremony is supposed to be entirely serious until the Jewish Wedding Reception begins. But real relationships are not like that. Real relationships include laughter. Inside jokes. Funny habits. Moments when one...

One of the questions couples sometimes ask me during Jewish Wedding Planning is: “Cantor Ben, do we actually need a bridal party?” My answer is simple. No. You can absolutely have a beautiful, meaningful, complete Jewish Wedding Ceremony without bridesmaids, groomsmen, attendants, or a large group standing beside you. That was important when I got to know Sandra and Brad, a wonderful Jewish couple from Toronto whose wedding I had the privilege of officiating. They wanted their ceremony to...

If you are planning a Saturday Night Jewish Wedding Toronto celebration, there is one timing question you should answer before finalizing your schedule: What time can the actual Jewish wedding begin? Many couples assume the answer is simply sunset. That is not how I schedule the weddings I officiate. I go by Havdalah time, which is approximately 50 minutes after sunset and varies according to the date. That distinction matters. It determines when I can sit down with the couple to complete the...