Rev. Jude Smith - Interfaith Minister
Reviews for Rev. Jude Smith - Interfaith Minister
GUEST
What can I say about Rev. Jude? This woman is amazing! She spent so much time with us to make our ceremony personalized to us. Nothing was prescriptive or forced but rather a lovely dialog and exchange of ideas. She really loves each couples story and spends time with them to hear ecerything about their love - so much time by the end she feels like part of the family and she is someone you want to share your most cherished day with.
GUEST
If you are looking for a loving, warm, caring, intimate wedding ceremony look no further than Reverend Jude Smith
Rev Jude was so flexible with ceremony, basing it on how we wanted it not societal standards. our ceremony was tailored to us making it so much more meaningful. She asked the right questions in order to get our story. Changes were even made the day of the ceremony because of changes in participation by some of our family. Jude went with the flow and incorporated all and then some.I would HIGHLY recommend her if you are looking for a ceremony that you will cherish for a lifetime
GUEST
Jude did an excellent job with our ceremony, making it custom to how we wanted and how our families (of various religious backgrounds) requested. She found the perfect median and we received many compliments from our family after the ceremony. Jude was very warm and welcoming, and she was also able to educate us on the process. She sat down with us for multiple meetings and assured that we were both comfortable with the ceremony. I would definitely recommend Jude Smith as a wedding officiant.
Rev. Jude is a classmate of mine at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. We spent two wonderful years learning about world religions, practicing rituals from each and enriching our spiritual(inner) life along the way. She is a mentor to me, and I value her extraordinary capabilities in so many areas.
I have been on a retreat that she facilitated in Rhinebeck, NY. She can captivate a group in a few minutes, with her charismatic approach.
Enjoy your wedding ceremony by Rev. Jude Smith. It will be warm, personal and delivered with love.
I am sure when you meet her, you will feel the warmth she has for each couple she meets.
What an honor it has been to work side by side with Rev. Jude Smith! From the moment I met her, I knew that she was going to be a great fit. She's incredibly passionate, caring, spiritual and professional.
It was our pleasure to work with Rev. Jude Smith recently. The service was unique and beautiful. Jude was able to go with the flow and seamlessly adapt to a few unexpected changes and we all meshed together to create a memorable ceremony. Jude was a pleasure to work with, very professional but also easy going and just plain nice. We hope to work together again soon.
About Rev. Jude Smith - Interfaith Minister
Congratulations! You have chosen to embark on one of life’s greatest adventures – the committed partnership between two people, each devoted to unconditionally loving the other, and to working together in common purpose and shared
harmony.
And just as you have chosen to formally sanctify the depth of your relationship, you are also about to choose the style of ceremony and the officiant that best reflects your personal, spiritual and emotional preferences.
As a non-denominational interfaith minister, I hold the perspective that there is an essential and common spirituality underlying all of the world's faith traditions. It is a spirituality that speaks to the universal truths that resonate
within our hearts, serving to authentically connect people on an intuitive level. I bring that authentic expression of spirituality to the ceremonies I jointly create with couples in such a way that the experience is sacred, elegant, meaningful, and
transformative.
As a contemporary non-denominational wedding officiant, I enjoy working with people of all faiths, preferences, and spiritual paths, especially those who feel spiritual but not necessarily religious. I believe that our hearts choose our
partners, and I celebrate marriage equality for all. I offer warm and distinctive ceremonies that support your beliefs, values and traditions.
I am sensitive to the fact that many people are not certain of the style of ceremony that will best represent them. I delight in working with couples to assist them in gaining that clarity, so that together we can custom design a ceremony that is
a unique reflection of you.
I officiate at weddings, commitment ceremonies, civil unions, and the remaking of vows. I also officiate at all of life's transitions, including baby naming and blessing ceremonies. I practice throughout the Hudson Valley of New
York, including the Catskill Mountain region, and cover the counties of Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, Putnam, Westchester, Orange, Albany, and Greene. I am also available to officiate at weddings in the Berkshire Mountains of southwestern
Massachusetts, as well as the western portions of Connecticut. Should you be traveling to the Hudson Valley as a destination wedding, I am very comfortable working remotely, and am able to coordinate all of the details of your special day in a way
that will allow it to be a stress-free success.
I look forward to having you contact me so that we can explore our synergy and the way in which we can complement one another while crafting a ceremony that is uniquely you.
FAQ for Rev. Jude Smith - Interfaith Minister
What happens at the first meeting?
Our first meeting will begin the creative process of crafting a ceremony that honors that which is uniquely you. I will be asking you to share with me the story of your love, your hopes, dreams, and visions for your future, and the rituals, traditions, and practices that are important to you. I will provide you with tools to assist you in co-creating your ceremony with me, including:
§ A customizable ceremony outline.
§ A written survey form that asks thought-provoking questions and reflections. These reflections will provide the framework for the crafting of your ceremony.
§ An anthology of poetry, prayers, and readings representing a wide diversity of backgrounds and practices. You may wish to include some of these selections in your ceremony, or you may wish to provide your own meaningful choices.
§ A collection of sample vows, which can be used as written, or mixed and matched, or used as an inspiration to write personal vows that are an expression of your love and commitment.
What happens at the second meeting?
Once you’ve had time to reflect upon and respond to the information I’ve provided, we will schedule our second meeting. During this meeting we will begin to create your actual ceremony, bringing it to life with the participants, rituals, readings, and vows you have chosen.
This is the fun part! It is the time when I use my experience to guide you in the creative process of crafting a ceremony that reflects your personalities, your traditions, and your love.
What happens at the third meeting?
Our third meeting will be used to review the first draft of your ceremony, and to confirm that your ceremony is exactly as you have envisioned it to be. This is a work in progress. Should any changes need to be made, I will happily work with you to edit the work to your satisfaction.
After our meeting I will create the actual script of the ceremony. This becomes an important document. It represents weeks of reflection and conversation, and it will provide the words that will be used to sanctify and solemnize your life together.
I provide each couple with a beautifully bound copy of the ceremony, with the intention that it become a sacred reminder of the vows you have made. I suggest that you may wish to regularly revisit your ceremony. Many couples use the original ceremony as part of a yearly anniversary ritual, as a way of reaffirming and strengthening their commitment to one another.
Are you available to coordinate a rehearsal?
Whether as a formal rehearsal involving the coordination of your entire wedding party, or as an informal run-through of the ceremony, I will meet with you at least one more time prior to your wedding day. At this time we will review the details of the ceremony and the roles and placement of each participant.
What can we expect from you on our wedding day?
On the day of your ceremony you can expect me to arrive approximately one hour before the ceremony is scheduled to begin. You will have access to me before that time should there be a need for any last minute changes.
When I arrive, I coordinate with the venue staff, the photography staff, and the musicians so that everyone involved is aware of the details and logistics of your ceremony, and the ways in which those details will affect their roles.
And then the moment you have been waiting a lifetime for begins! As your ceremony starts to unfold, you will have complete confidence that it is a ceremony that has been thoughtfully crafted to reflect the essential nature of the transformational event that is about to occur.
My commitment to you is that I will gently guide you and your participants throughout the ceremony process. All you will need to be concerned with is fully immersing yourselves in the magic that is meant to be yours.
How will we know if you'll be the right match for us?
If the words you have just read touch something deep within you,
If you see the ceremony you are about to co-create with me as being the most important part of your wedding day,
If you welcome the opportunity to take time to reflect upon this next chapter of your lives and your vision for the future,
If you’re excited by the prospect of creating a ceremony that is meant to be a foundation for the creation of your future,
then I know that we are right for each other, and that our hearts, and the hearts of your guests, will be permanently touched.
I bring to each ceremony a great love for each individual, a great reverence for the sacredness of what is being born, and a great joy at being asked to facilitate the profound transformation that occurs when two hearts are spiritually united as one.
If that is what you envision for yourselves, then I would be most pleased if you would contact me so that we can begin the process of creating the magic of your wedding day.
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