Your ceremony should be a reflection of who you are 

Planning your wedding ceremony is a process of exploration and discovery, it can be one of the more enjoyable and private aspects of wedding planning as it is time for a couple to concentrate upon each other. I look forward to guiding you in its creation and learning about your personal beliefs and desires. 

I honor all religious and cultural traditions, I have performed over 500 wedding ceremonies and I can guarantee that I will make your day a magical memory for your family and friends.

Sometimes enormous diplomacy is required
to meet the needs of everyone involved

The first step is a meeting for you to discuss your expectations, ideas and backgrounds. We can either meet at my home in Manhattan (East Village) or anywhere that is convenient for you. At this meeting, you will be provided with material to inspire and perhaps fill out a specially designed questionnaire. 

This is your day, I understand diplomacy is required in order that the needs of all can be accommodated. Perhaps your mother wanted you to get married in the church or temple she did. Perhaps there are very important loved ones who are separated by death. Or consider the wedding of an Irishmen to his Japanese bride. It was deemed inappropriate to shake or hug the Mother of the Bride as he would naturally do in his own culture. Instead it was agreed that he would bow at a particular angle to the mother and she to him. It was an incredibly moving moment. 

It's vital that you own your ceremony

It is easy to be caught up in the details of your day, dresses, colors, table settings, etc. However, the most important preparation is the internal journey each of you is taking to merge together on your wedding day. 

Of course, when we think of weddings, we think of traditions like wearing something borrowed or blue, an exchange of rings and a kiss. We can also include rituals unique to your heritage and beliefs. Do you want to jump the broom or break a glass? Let's discuss what is right for you and significant for your families. Your marriage is the union of a couple. It is also the coming together of two families. 

Include rituals unique to your heritage and beliefs

Your Vows

Perhaps you have always dreamed of saying your own vows. With as much overall guidance and structural help from me as you need, I know you can write significant and beautiful vows. Start by sitting down with your partner and talking about your daily lives, how you feel about marriage and what the day will mean to you.

If your future family attending have a limited understanding of English, learn to say your vows in your sweetheart's language. One of the most moving weddings I ever witnessed was where a Bride had taken the extraordinary effort to say her vows in Cantonese. Needless to say it brought the family to tears. 

The Music

We can also discuss music and other aspects of the ceremony. Traditionally, couples choose musical accompaniment for three parts of the ceremony. The prelude, when the guests are seated, the Processional and the Recessional. Maybe you have a friend who is a musician or a singer, or you might have a favorite song. These are all exciting and creative elements at your disposal.

A Reading

A reading is a chance to include honored friends or family in the ceremony, alternatively, many couples choose to read something significant themselves. This is also an opportunity to pay homage to a religious upbringing or the beliefs of your family with a piece of significant religious text. It could also be a translation of a favored writer from your heritage like Pablo Neruda or Haruki Murakami. Whatever you decide, lets try and find a way of letting your guests know why this is significant for you. 

Congratulations on your union and best of luck in the preparation, the day and the rest of your lives. I look forward to assisting you with this ceremony. Most importantly, I am delighted that two people have been lucky enough to find each other.