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 invite their...

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 the most important...

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 remarkable ability to...