A New Jersey couple from different corners of the world met in a restaurant five years ago, and it completely changed their lives. He was originally from Jersey, on track for a legal career, following in his father’s footsteps. While living in Washington, D.C., to gain experience before law school, he started working in a restaurant to earn extra money. He found he loved it and returned to Jersey to begin a career in hospitality.
The woman was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where, as long as she can remember, she felt a burning desire to come to America. She struck out on her own, made it to the States, and ended up working at the restaurant where the groom worked. The rest is history, as they say.
The venue they chose, pictured above, was in Montclair, called “The High lawn,“ and was set high in the hills with a view of NYC. General George Washington actually used it as a lookout point during the Revolutionary War. I created an interfaith service for them, and it was truly magical to witness the participation of her friends and family, who came from Peru for the event. The ceremony had a wonderful South American feel. Her grandfather was from a remote town in the mountains of Peru, where they still ride donkeys and horses, while here, she is on track to a teaching career in our 21st-century world of technology.
It was truly a privilege to officiate at this Jewish interfaith wedding. It was a union of two very diverse cultures. What a great moment it was! After he broke the glass, Mazel Tov and Te Feliciato’s was shouted out by all!