An Intimate Interfaith Jewish Wedding in Greenwich, Connecticut

In an intimate and simple ceremony, Peter & Greer got married in a museum gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut, with 15 people in the room: immediate family, a few close friends, and the people who knew them best and had watched this relationship grow from the beginning. Greer is Jewish, and Peter is not, and together they wanted a ceremony that honored her tradition while feeling welcoming and meaningful to everyone present.

Creating the Mood

Because the ceremony was small and unplugged, I brought my guitar, which isn't something that works for every wedding. There's something about acoustic music in a cozy space that changes the atmosphere in a way that a sound system can't replicate. It makes everything feel closer and more personal, and sets exactly the right tone for the kind of ceremony Peter and Greer were envisioning.

Before the ceremony began, two of the couple’s college roommates signed the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract. Then, family members stepped forward to sign the marriage license, one aunt from each side. The people signing weren't just witnesses—they were people who had been part of the story all along, and having them play that role gave the moment a weight that felt entirely wholesome and just right.

The Vows

Peter and Greer recited standard vows in English, which is something about half of the couples I work with choose to do. At the same time, though, Peter had a “trick” up his sleeve :)

He had spent the months leading up to the wedding learning to read Hebrew on his own, and when it was his turn, he recited his vows in Hebrew as well. Greer had no idea it was coming, and neither did most of the people in the room. For someone who hadn't grown up with the language, the effort he had put in was remarkable. What made the moment so moving wasn't just the gesture itself, but what it said about who Peter is and how seriously he takes this commitment. He wanted to make his promises in the language of the tradition he was marrying into, and he had put in the work behind the scenes before showing up and doing it in front of their closest support network. Greer cried, of course, and everyone cheered for him after he was done!

Blessings from the Room

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the Sheva Brachot, or Seven Blessings, are typically recited by the officiant or by guests who the couple choose to honor. With only 15 people gathered, we did something a little different: instead of the formal recitation, I invited everyone present to offer a word of blessing from their seats, either prepared or extemporaneous, directed at the couple.

What followed was a very special moment. People said things they might not have said in a larger room, in front of a bigger crowd, and the intimacy of the gathering made that kind of authenticity possible. The couple stood under the chuppah and took in every word of it with big smiles on their faces!

This adapted ritual was a reminder that there is no single right way to “do” a Jewish wedding. The tradition is rich and flexible enough to make room for 15 people in a museum gallery, a guitar, a surprise set of Hebrew vows, and blessings spoken from folding chairs. All of it is valid, and all of it is real…and beautiful & meaningful!

Planning Your Wedding

If you're planning a Jewish or interfaith wedding, whether it's an intimate gathering or a larger celebration, I'd love to help you shape a ceremony that feels true to who you are as a couple. I officiate Jewish and interfaith weddings throughout New York City, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Get in touch here and we can start the conversation to see if we’d be the right fit!