Unfortunately, Orthodox Judaism does not condone this type of marriage so having the ceremony in an Orthodox Synagogue or Temple will be out of the question. This is not problematic though as many Reform Synagogues will accommodate the couple and even help with a conversion if need be. There are many venues that one can choose from, an outdoor arrangement or even getting away from it all and travelling to some exotic location.
Partners entering into a marriage such as this that are not Jewish may find the laws somewhat strange and unfamiliar. This is needless to say but some investigating and research never hurt especially when guests that will be coming do expect for one, food to be kosher. The laws are manifold here but the important thing to remember and taken as a general rule, is that milk should not be eaten with meat products.
It must be a tame animal so eating giraffe for example is not on the menu and strictly speaking, goats, sheep and cattle are the norm for consumption. But there is a whole lot more to it. Meat stemming from these animals have to be slaughtered in a particular way using a knife that has no kinks in it.
It takes time to become a fully fledged Jew or Jewess if this is the road one will want to travel. Apart from this should this be a possibility, one should also be aware that kosher laws are many and that only certain people are allowed to slaughter animals for consumption. This person is called a Shochet or ritual slaughterer and has studied intensively to carry out this function.
This stems from the fact that it is believed that the soul is directly connected to the blood of an animal which may not be consumed. The Shochet must also be Shomrei Shabbos and keep all the laws involving this day. This basically means that he guard the Sabbath day and keep all its commandments.
He also has to keep all the commandments as laid out in the Torah or Bible and must also pray and don tefillin everyday except the Sabbath. One does not need to know all this when getting married but it is helpful to learn a bit about this Religion. A Rabbi designated to perform the ceremony is a mountain of knowledge and it is best to tap into this for all unanswered questions.
It is a time that will live on in the life of a couple. So it is best to be as prepared as possible and enjoy a day long in the making. If in doubt, it is best to research online or if need be, to ask a qualified Rabbi.
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