Yes. A rabbi can officiate your wedding online — and it can be just as meaningful, just as beautiful, and just as legal as a wedding under a chuppah in a banquet hall.
It can also be all of those things if the rabbi flies out to meet you. Rabbi Steven Blane at Sim Shalom does both. Here is what to know.
When Online Officiation Makes Sense
Couples choose an online wedding ceremony — or a hybrid ceremony where the rabbi appears by video while guests gather in person — for a lot of reasons.
A grandparent who cannot travel needs to be there. A couple is marrying across continents. The local rabbis declined because the couple is interfaith. The family is scattered. The pandemic happened, and the comfort of a small, intimate ceremony stuck. The budget for a traditional venue is not there, but the desire for a real rabbi is.
All of these are good reasons. None of them mean the wedding is somehow less of a wedding.
What an Online Jewish Wedding Looks Like
A Sim Shalom online wedding includes everything a traditional Jewish wedding includes, adapted thoughtfully for the medium.
A real ketubah. The marriage contract is prepared in advance and signed by the couple and witnesses, often before the ceremony begins.
The seven blessings (sheva brachot). Recited by the rabbi or, beautifully, distributed among family members who join from different cities.
The breaking of the glass. Yes, even on Zoom. Wrap a glass in a cloth, place it on the floor, and step. The sound carries.
Personal vows. Written by the couple, spoken to each other, witnessed by everyone who matters.
Music. Rabbi Blane is a singer and musician. He often plays during the ceremony.
The whole thing usually runs 25 to 35 minutes. It is photographed, recorded, and shared with family who could not attend live.
What About Legal Validity?
Marriage law varies by state and country. In most U.S. states, the officiant must be physically present in the same jurisdiction as the couple, or the couple must obtain a marriage license from a state that recognizes remote officiation (such as Utah).
In practice, the way most couples handle this:
- The couple obtains a marriage license from a jurisdiction that allows remote officiation.
- The rabbi officiates the ceremony online and signs the paperwork.
- The marriage is fully legal.
Sim Shalom guides couples through this process. We have done it many times. It is not complicated once someone explains it to you.
What About Interfaith Couples?
Sim Shalom welcomes interfaith couples without hesitation, qualification, or fine print. Rabbi Blane officiates interfaith weddings as a Jewish Universalist rabbi — meaning the ceremony honors Jewish tradition while welcoming the non-Jewish partner and their family fully into the moment.
Many couples come to us because their family rabbi said no. We say yes. This is part of why Sim Shalom exists.
What If We Want a Rabbi in Person?
Rabbi Blane officiates weddings in person across the New York metro area — Central Park is a specialty — and travels for destination weddings when the schedule permits.
For couples who want a hybrid ceremony (rabbi in person at one location, remote family joining live), this works beautifully and is increasingly the norm.
How to Get Started
- Reach out. Tell us your date, location, and whether you want online, in person, or hybrid.
- Meet the rabbi. A short video conversation. No commitment.
- Plan the ceremony. We send you a planning guide and work with you to design the service you actually want.
- Sign the ketubah, break the glass, kiss. Mazel tov.
We are not a wedding factory. Rabbi Blane meets every couple personally and writes every ceremony to fit them. There is a reason couples drive hours, fly across the country, or open a laptop to be married by him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you officiate a same-sex Jewish wedding?
Yes. Without qualification.
Can you officiate if neither of us is Jewish?
We can discuss it. Sim Shalom is a Jewish Universalist community, and Rabbi Blane officiates ceremonies for couples of many backgrounds.
Do you require conversion?
No.
Do you require synagogue membership?
No.
How much does it cost?
Fees depend on the format (online, local in-person, destination) and the scope of planning. Reach out and we will quote you honestly.
Ready to plan your wedding? Contact Sim Shalom →