Jewish wedding Archives - My Personal Cantor

Your Brother is not a Wedding Officiant…Why You Should Always Hire a Professional

April 8, 2017 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

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I received an email from someone in Philadelphia this morning who was considering using her brother as a wedding officiant.

“My daughter is getting married on July 22 (her fiancee is not Jewish). She and her fiancee have asked my brother to marry them. My brother is going to get certified on line, but we want to be sure the marriage is legal. Could you recommend a cantor in the Philadelphia area, that would be willing to come to our venue, before the wedding ceremony, to sign the marriage license (and maybe Ketubah) so the marriage would be legal?” [Read more…]

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.

My Lovely Litt Ladies!

January 9, 2010 by Debbi Ballard 1 Comment

Yes, this blog entry is long overdue, and although it is really about ONE very special and lovely Litt lady, it really is about all of them, because it wouldn’t have been what it was without the 3 Litt ladies, Barri, Tracy, and Jamie. True – as I sit and type this, just writing their names brings tears to my eyes, because I am so in love with these girls.

My Barri story is truly amazing. In 2004, back in another lifetime, when my days were spent recruiting CPA’s and college students (blech), I was knee deep in fall recruitment on a tour of Florida’s top campuses, namely, the #1 Accounting school in the state, UF. (Go Gators!)

The day was a parade of one Accounting student after another, and halfway through the day, this tall, beautiful, amazing young woman walks up to me and we start to chat, and the rest, we shall say, was history. Barri came by to discuss her future career, caught between the top echilon pressure of whether to go Big 4 or choose quality of life, for her first step into career world. I know we stood there and talked for hours, but remember little else. The world went away, and Barri and I knew we had just established a friendship that would take us years into the future, we just didn’t know how.

When I recruited her (heavily) for an internship for my firm (which she so politely turned down – to hit the big city lights of Big 4 world), she asked me if her sister, Tracy, could come along for the interview. (I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone else’s sister on an interview). Enter – Tracy. Tracy had a little girl named Taylor, and we all stood out there on the sidewalk, even Taylor!

As time went on, Barri of course went to work for Big 4, and her career path was on its way, and who knew – that a few years later, I would be a Cantor! It didn’t seem we had much opportunity for mentoring with the way our lives were going – till Barri found Dan.

She called me one day – just to tell me she met a boy, and she was in love, and when he asked her to marry him – she emailed me right away. Our lives were going to cross paths again, in the most wonderful way!

Several years ago, Barri lost her Mom. Her sister, Tracy and I were both in the same fields, and Tracy and Jamie are older than Barri. The last thing Barri needed was a mother-figure, she already had 2 older, doting sisters, but I loved Barri – and Tracy, in a way that was so much more than friends. I still to this day can’t describe it – but I feel like one of my jobs in life, was to be in the Litt ladies’ lives – and so here I am – to stay.

November 21, 2009, Barri walked down the aisle at the Embassy Suites Oceanfront pavilion, in one of the most beautiful wedding ceremonies I’ve ever seen. Everything this was perfect. Especially Dan. If you told me to go out into the world, and pick the absolutely BEST man for Barri, I couldn’t have done a better job. They are one body, one soul. I fell in love with Dan, watching him love Barri. I adore the both of them, and I know she is in the best hands, ever.

The wedding party was incredible – not your every day wedding reception, Tracy and Jamie both sang a song for Barri, that was so beautiful, and then ALL the Litt girls and Barri’s girls got up and rocked with the band. The funniest was when Dan and his boys got up, and gave it a go. It was quite a battle of the boy – and girl bands!

But words cannot describe my pride and joy for being asked to stand in my very special spot – as the person responsible for joining Dan and Barri in marriage, nor will I ever forget the moment that Barri – my favorite little Litt lady – became…

…..Mrs. Barri White!

Dan, Barri, Tracy, and Jamie – I love you!

Deb

PS: 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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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Your Brother is not a Wedding Officiant…Why You Should Always Hire a Professional

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

Planning their Jewish Christian Wedding

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

My Lovely Litt Ladies!

A Marriott Kind of Interfaith Wedding Weekend!

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

Beach Wedding at the Juno Beach Park

Small Intimate Wedding at the Viceroy Hotel in Downtown Miami

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