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Wedding Officiant -Debbi Ballard

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Home » Interfaith wedding

Allie and Ben and Their Beautiful Wedding at The Addison – Meet my Interfaith Couple

February 15, 2018 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

Meet Ben and Allie – a recent favorite Interfaith Couple

Have you ever met someone and just fallen in love — I did, and it’s probably not the story you’re expecting to hear.  For me, it was Allie — and then Ben, and what led to an amazing relationship with this Interfaith Couple, as their wedding officiant.  Let me share their story.

Ben and Allie’s love story

About a year ago I was contacted by a young woman looking for someone to officiate her Jewish-Interfaith wedding.  She was originally from South Florida, and her parents live here now, and they were planning their wedding at the beautiful Addison in Boca Raton, Florida.

Ben and Allie had met in Grenada, while at Medical School.  Ben helped Allie up the stairs with her luggage, and over the next 3.5 years, they would fall in love and share the most romantic love story. While studying in Medical School became their #1 priority, they fell in love over the simple things in life, and couldn’t wait to begin their lives together, post Medical School.

A logistics challenge…

But here was the problem.  When I met Ben & Allie, they were in the process of matching. What if they didn’t match to the same schools?  Could their love endure being in different places during such a challenging time in their lives?

As we sat together, somehow, we all knew – that everything was going to work out fine, and they would land exactly where destiny was going to take them.

Here we come, Arkansas!

Holy moly!  How excited was I when I found out they both matched in Arkansas, and got a puppy??  Everything worked out so well for them – and even though we might think – HUH?  ARKANSAS?  I just love how Allie and Ben looked at this as such a miracle, and that life was taking all the right turns at just the right time.

The Jewish-Interfaith Wedding

I loved marrying Ben and Allie.  Even though it rained and we had to go indoors, The Addison is a beautiful place to be, no matter where you have the wedding ceremony.  But what really shined through was the love Allie and Ben shared, and the excitement for finally starting their lives together – IN THE SAME PLACE!

How adorable is this Interfaith couple? I couldn’t be happier to be their wedding officiant on this very special day!

Cantor and Wedding Officiant Debbi officiates the wedding for a Jewish Interfaith couple at The Addison in Boca Raton, Florida
Jewish Interfaith couple at The Addison in Boca Raton
an Interfaith couple is exchanging Jewish Interfaith Wedding Vows at the Addison in Boca Raton, Florida
Wedding giggles during vows

Where will their love take them next?

I can’t wait to find out where Ben and Allie’s next stop on their journey will take them!  I sure hope they stay in touch – and don’t wait too long till we get to welcome an adorable baby – but wish them all the best in their medical profession journeys.  Love you guys!

Thanks for the memories!

Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

PS: And don’t forget to stop by our sample ceremonies page to see what your ceremony might look like!

Filed Under: Jewish, Interfaith, LGBTQ Weddings, Weddings Tagged With: Interfaith wedding, Jewish

The Most Personal of Interfaith Wedding Ceremonies

November 27, 2017 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony with couple and Co-Wedding Officiant
Jewish Interfaith Wedding Ceremony with Co-Officiant

Officiating an interfaith wedding ceremony requires a particular mindset, one that encompasses respect for multiple faiths, attention to important traditions and a true belief in the ability of a couple to move forward together despite what may have been vastly different upbringings.  For years I have officiated Jewish interfaith ceremonies.   I do so because I believe that faith, regardless of religion, unites people.

Meet My Couple – Dave and Tori

Dave and Tori are two fabulous individuals.   Together they make one super-fabulous couple!  Dynamic and fun loving, this couple actually met because a photo of Dave’s dog Karl, on a dating site, caught Tori’s attention.  Talk about giving new meaning to the term “man’s best friend”!  When Dave and Tori contacted me to discuss their upcoming interfaith wedding, I had no idea how uniquely special it would be.  First, Dave was raised in a Jewish home, Tori in a non-denominational Christian family.  Nothing new there.  I have performed many interfaith wedding ceremonies, some by myself and others in conjunction with another member of the clergy, for couples with similar religious backgrounds as Dave and Tori.  This is where the expected ended…..

The Surprise

You see, Dave and Tori were confident they wanted two wedding officiants, me and Vicki.   But there was a catch:  Vicki was Tori’s mother!   She recently graduated from a minister ordination program;  this was going to be her first wedding.  I have to admit, it caught me a little off guard.  The Mother of the Bride marrying the couple?  The mother of the bride who traditionally has so much emotionally invested in a wedding?  I was a bit concerned at first.  I kept thinking, “Will this work?”

Planning the Interfaith Wedding Ceremony – This Will Work!

After speaking with Vicki, I KNEW this partnership would not only work; but it would result in a magical experience.  After all, this woman made a life choice based on her faith and desire affect others (a decision with which I can easily identify).  Her commitment to her beliefs and her desire to share it through actively participating in her daughter’s interfaith wedding was inspiring.  What a beautiful gift she was going to be able to give them.

Dave and Tori (and Vicki and I) discussed their wedding ceremony.  We learned what was important to them, both traditionally and spiritually.    Understanding the meaning and symbolism behind Jewish wedding traditions is important.  This is a conversation I have regularly with brides and grooms; melding different religions to create a meaningful ceremony is at the heart of what I do.  However, this time the mother of the bride was the minister. Her perspective was not only religious, but also personal.  As it turns out, her input and participation made for one of the most heartwarming interfaith wedding ceremonies in which I have participated.

The Wedding

Dave and Tori, along with their family and friends, gathered in Long Boat Key for a beautiful outdoor interfaith wedding ceremony.  At the start, Vicki welcomed everyone, which was so appropriate; they were her family and friends too.  Because of Dave and Tori’s love and mutual respect for each other’s background,s and as a result of Vicki’s and my mutual respect for each other’s beliefs, a truly special ceremony evolved.  The couple married under a Chupa, the traditional Jewish wedding canopy, I wrapped them in Dave’s tallit and recited the seven blessings.  Vicki led the couple in reciting their vows and read a verse from the New Testament (Corinthians).  We each individually shared our thoughts about David and Tori.  Dave broke the glass  and I pronounced them husband and wife. What a special day.

What I Learned

Early in my career I made it a point to take time after each experience, each ceremony, each meeting, each lesson, to stop and think.  What went right? What can I improve for next time? And, perhaps most importantly, what did I learn? Honestly,  I learn something every single time.

Ultimately, Dave and Tori’s interfaith wedding was no exception.  I learned the value of taking a moment to make sure I am actively listening.  In this case I did.  I may have had initial concerns regarding sharing the officiating duties with the mother of the bride; but I did not make a rash decision.  I took a moment, waited and listened. I approached it with a positive end in mind. In this situation, it served me well.  Honestly, in most situations it does.  My choices are inherently better when I don’t rush to a decision. Perhaps that’s advice we can all heed.  Especially in this day and age.  Stop, ask questions and listen.  Approach solutions with a goal for positive outcomes!  I’m so glad I did.

Officiating with Vicki was eye opening.  It was a truly moving experience.  One which I will always remember.  Thank you Dave and Tori, for inviting me to share this special day with you.  And thank you Vicki, for your acceptance of me, your open and mind and your willingness to share your family and this very special day.

Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

 

Cantor Debbi Ballard is  a spiritual leader leader in  South Florida , well-known for her commitment and dedicated to the unaffiliated Jewish community.  She officiates at all life cycle events and looks forward to welcoming new families.  Learn more about Cantor Debbi at www.mypersonalcantor.com.

Filed Under: Jewish, Interfaith, LGBTQ Weddings, Weddings Tagged With: co-officiant, Interfaith wedding, jewish interfaith ceremonies, officiant, south florida

Jewish Christian Wedding in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Jewish-Interfaith Destination Weddings – A beautiful blend of both…

April 25, 2010 by Debbi Ballard 3 Comments

Planning their Jewish Christian Wedding

Kathy emailed me a year ago, as she and her fiancee, Drew, and their Moms were coming to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and were looking for someone to co-officiate their Jewish Christian wedding in a church in Fort Lauderdale.  As of yet, they didn’t have a venue, but both Kathy and Drew, an Interfaith couple, each had very different “must-have’s” in their Jewish Interfaith wedding, and finding the perfect location, and people to make it happen seemed like a monumental task.

For Kathy – and her Mom, a Church wedding was their #1 must have.  For Drew, and his Mom, the rich, beautiful Jewish traditions that kept them connected to their Jewish heritage were theirs.  We needed a church, a chuppah, a unity candle, a kiddush cup, a ketubah, and many more aspects of each of our Jewish and Christian faiths to incorporate into their Interfaith wedding ceremony.

The Solution for this Jewish Christian Wedding?  The Church by the Sea in Fort Lauderdale!

So many of Kathy’s plans kept falling through, between scheduling of the Air and Sea Show, and Churches and Pastors not being available, that Kathy and Drew even contemplated making the whole thing a destination wedding!  But – Kathy persevered, because she really wanted the wedding of her dreams – and I think they got just that!

The first time I met Kathy and Drew, and their Moms, Merideth and Susan, we had a love fest, a session filled with “absolutely’s” and “of course’s”!  In the next meeting, at the church, with Kathy and Drew, Susan, Dr. DeBie, and myself, things got a tiny bit tense, as we worked diligently to find just the right mix and blend of each of our “must haves”.  Several months later, we drew up the final wedding ceremony program, and it seemed, we had ourselves the perfect Interfaith wedding.

Last night, Kathy and Drew were married at the Church By the Sea, with Dr. Linden DeBie, and myself co-officiating. First, to walk into that church, and see the beautiful chuppah standing there waiting for us, was so profound.  It meant so much to me, to know that we worked so hard to create a service that was full of faith, and that even though we both thought very differently about our faiths, we were able to put our differences aside, for the beauty of what unites us.

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Chuppah in the church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Jewish Interfaith Wedding Chuppah in the Church

As the processional began, Susan and Merideth arrived at the altar, lit the side candles of the Unity Candle, and were seated.  As Kathy arrived at the altar with her Dad, I welcomed everyone, and Dr. DeBie offered the Declaration of Intent, and asked the Giving of the Bride.  Kathy and Drew then stepped together under the chuppah, and Dr. DeBie performed their vows, and then I performed the traditional Jewish ring exchange.  Kathy and Drew lit their center Unity Candle, as their guitarist played “Here Comes the Sun”.  (beautiful)

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Coofficiants in Fort Lauderdale at Church By The Sea
Cantor Debbi and Dr. DiBie Co-officiants for Jewish Interfaith Wedding

The rest of the Interfaith wedding ceremony was – believe it or not – predominantly Jewish-style.  We signed their ketubah, shared the wine from their 6th generation kiddush cup from Drew’s family, and I sang the Birkat Kohanim (Julie Silver’s version).

 

Afterwards, Dr. DeBie pronounced Kathy and Drew husband and wife, and I concluded the Interfaith wedding ceremony with the breaking of the glass.

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Glass Breaking in Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Glass breaking Jewish Interfaith Wedding in Church

 

Looking back, and hearing everyone’s comments, I know fully why I do what I do.  I may not be able to change the world, or the face of faith, but I can certainly change some family’s lives, by giving them hope to see that love transcends individual beliefs.  That together, when we can sit a table and focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us, that all things are possible.

Today, I look back on Kathy and Drew’s Interfaith wedding last night, with love, fond memories, and even stronger hope for the future, of a world that looks peaceful, and stands in unity.

Amen.

 

 

 

PS: Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

Filed Under: Debbi's Deep Thoughts and Musings, Featured Content, Slider, Weddings Tagged With: Cantor, chuppah, church, Interfaith wedding, Jewish, Jewish wedding, Pastor, Wedding Cantor

A Marriott Kind of Interfaith Wedding Weekend!

December 17, 2009 by Debbi Ballard 2 Comments

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of performing two Interfaith weddings that were very special to me. Bevin and Brian were married at the Marriott Biscayne Bay, and Elaine and Larry were married at the Marriott in Marco Island. It’s funny that they were both at Marriotts, because one of the first things I learned about Larry when I met him, was that he was obsessed with Marriott, and probably holds more points than anyone on earth!

But what also made these Interfaith couples very special was how creative they both were in planning their wedding ceremonies. There were differences that I just loved, and made them so much fun to reflect back on.

First, Bevin and Brian are diehard Canes fans, so it was no surprise when they chose to include the sand ceremony, and had individual bottles of sand with their initials on them, filled with orange and green sand!

Personalized Sand Ceremony

Sand Ceremony - Canes Colors!

But what made Bevin’s Interfaith wedding so unique was that Brian’s mom hand made the bride’s bouquet, as well as the bridesmaid’s, and the groomsmen’s boutonnieres out of beaded jewels and fibers. They were stunning!

Elaine and Larry’s Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony was completely unique – they did an amazing job of planning, but incorporated some really fun, lighthearted aspects into the night. The scary part was, they put their wedding rings in a treasure chest, and buried them in the sand right near the chuppa. I lost sleep over this for days, and even though they marked the spot with a wooden “x”, it still gave us a scare when their little ring bearers couldn’t find the chest, even though they were digging frantically with their shovels. WHEW, were we relieved when they found those rings!

My favorite part of a west coast beach wedding, though, is something money can’t buy. The west Florida sunsets are beyond beautiful, and I had so much fun capturing the coastline.

Marco Island Sunset

But, the coolest part of the Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony, was that after they were pronounced, we all lined up with sparklers, and formed 2 lines on either side, and they came running up from the beach, and through the line of sparklers, just as the sun was setting, and it was just so beautiful, lively, and unique!

Sparkler parade Larry and Elaine

My awesome Interfaith couples are now celebrating on their honeymoons, and the certificates are filed, but the love and joy in my heart is still so strong for them both. Thanks for the awesome memories, and the really great Marriott weekend, everyone!

P.S. BIG shout out to Alexina at the Marriott Biscayne Bay, and to Jacey Wood at the Marriott Marco Island. Both operations were first class, and I especially loved how totally in control Alexina was and had every detail covered before I even asked for anything. Great job, ladies! You are true professionals!

Also – I really loved working with Lisette, the photographer for Bevin & Brian’s wedding – she’s a sweetheart, and her work is just so yummy!

Soo – off to Islamorada on Saturday for Cheryl and Prav’s Jewish Hindu wedding ceremony extravaganza!  See you next week!

 

PS: Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

Filed Under: Weddings Tagged With: beach wedding, creative wedding, Interfaith wedding, Jewish wedding, sunset wedding

Double Header Interfaith Wedding Weekend in Juno Beach and Miami – What Fun!

December 7, 2009 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

What a busy Florida wedding weekend it was!

I love a day that starts with an Interfaith wedding, and Saturday was no exception!

Beach Wedding at the Juno Beach Park

Matthew and Valeria were married at the Juno Beach Park, in a private beach wedding ceremony with their closest friends surrounding them. The weather on Saturday was stormy, and I was really concerned, driving to Juno, but it managed to hold off, just long enough for us to have their Interfaith wedding ceremony on the beach … but, no sooner was that ceremony over, the rains re-appeared! We were so thankful for serendipitous timing!

Their Interfaith wedding was simple.

I have a special ceremony that I use for beach weddings, that is much nicer than a “civil” ceremony, but nothing close to the elaborate religious style weddings I so often perform. Their friend read the Apache Wedding Blessing, and it was simple, and fun!

Small Intimate Wedding at the Viceroy Hotel in Downtown Miami

Later that night, I married Ronni and Maude, at the top deck of the Viceroy Hotel, in downtown Miami (Brickell Key). The view was magnificent, and again, it was a small intimate Interfaith wedding – just a few friends, and a beautiful photo location!

Wow, that hotel is amazing!

Ronni, Maude, and Friends at their Interfaith wedding at the Viceroy Hotel, in downtown Miami, Brickell Key, Florida   view from the pool deck at the Viceroy Hotel, in downtown Miami, Brickell Key, Florida

 

I love a weekend that is full of love!

B’Shalom!

PS: Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

Filed Under: Weddings Tagged With: beach wedding, civil wedding, Interfaith wedding, Jewish wedding, private wedding

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Sunrise, FL 33326
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~ Officiating Jewish & Interfaith Weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, Funerals, and any other Jewish Lifecycle Services in Florida, USA – Destination Weddings in North America, Mexico, Caribbean & Worldwide ~

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