I officiated at a marriage this past fall in Long Island, which was hastily arranged and fraught with anxiety. The bride came from NYC and was raised in a religious Jewish household. The groom hailed from the end of Long Island and was raised in the Christian tradition. The socioeconomic aspects of the marriage were different as well.
I met with both sets of parents as well as the couple and set about creating a service that would respect both backgrounds. Everyone involved was quite nervous to ensure everything went smoothly and without any issues. I assured them it would.
“Timtervention: Couples Who Beat the Odds”
The night of the wedding, the restaurant selected for the wedding was beautifully set up, and all the friends and family invited showed up excited. I conducted the service and ensured that both faiths were represented, although there was a strong Jewish structure to it. Afterward, we all danced the hora together and gathered around the piano and sang songs. It was an intimate and beautiful affair.
A few months later, I received a call from the assistant to the producer of The Revolution, a new ABC daytime show. There was to be a segment airing on Valentine’s Day that would feature interfaith marriages that ended happily ever after, and I was selected as an interfaith officiant to pick some couples I had worked with to appear on the show. The above couple was eager to appear, and sure enough, the taping went well.
I watched the show a few weeks later and there they were, my couple telling their story on network television. It was incredible. They talked about overcoming their families’ objections and how their love and devotion to one another carried the day. The hosts did a makeover for the bride, and I was thrilled to see the before-and-after. She was given new clothes, makeup, and a new hip image. Her husband was ecstatic and said they were both happy to appear nationwide to tell their story.
I can only wish them, and all my couples, the best of luck for the future in a challenging situation that they have worked hard to make a success.
The Revolution, February 14th 2012 – Timtervention: Couples Who Beat the Odds, Part 1