Hilary and Jeremy were married at the Westin Hotel in Copley Square, Boston.  They came to the east coast for an extended weekend in September to meet and select vendors and find their officiant.  Their main concern was locating someone they connected with and would be comfortable co-creating their ceremony while they were on the West Coast.  I was so happy when we met because  there was a natural connection between us that was warm and familiar.  In our first and only face-to-face meeting, we discussed many elements that would effect their ceremony; their hopes, dreams, how they met, what marriage meant for them, possibilities of incorporating both Slovakian and Jewish wedding traditions, aspects of their relationship that they wished to honor and celebrate, and who would be actively involved in the ceremony.

Over the next few months, with the use of e-mail, and phones, we continued to get to know each other while creating a ceremony that was intimate, personal and unique to them.  While ultimately we decided against using a Slovakian Wreath Crowning Ceremony, it was fun to play with it as a possibility.  Hilary & Jeremy's wedding ceremony took place under a lovely Chuppah and we incorporated the reading and signing of an Interfaith Ketubah.  The readings that were selected focused on the nature of friendship & love and the mystical heart.    Their ceremony was marked with laughter and tears of joy.  Today, their friends and family are still speaking about how wonderful and meaningful it was.   

While it may be nice to meet in person, it is indeed possible to create a meaningful and personalized ceremony working bi-coastally!
(photo courtesy of Maureen Edwards Photography)