Month: October 2024

life cycle events

Wedding Officiant/Celebrant

Sandra

LGBTQ, Jewish, Interfaith and Secular weddings. Creating a ceremony exactly as you want it.

Weddings of all types whether your guest list is 2 special witnesses or 200 family and friends.

I bring a professional attitude infused with joy and enthusiasm to both your wedding planning and your wedding day. I am an ordained Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess).  I am a mother and grandmother and community leader.

I will facilitate a wedding ceremony that will meet all your expectations whether you are religious or secular, I believe in the inclusion of all. Wherever you choose to celebrate – in a traditional setting or under a waterfall, I will bring just the right amount of reverence to your wedding ceremony.

I am licensed to officiate wedding in the province of Ontario, Canada.

life cycle events

Coming of Age Ceremony – Bar and Bat Mitzvah

Sandra

According to Jewish tradition a child becomes a bar or bat mitzvah automatically at the age of 13.  This means that with or without any kind of party, they become responsible for their own actions.

In my opinion, this is an important milestone for our children. It is an occasion to be honoured and celebrated.  I also encourage a special education leading up to the event and marking the day with a celebration that reflects your family and your values.

Families who are not affiliated with synagogues or Jewish community centres and do not feel called to be are looking for an alternative.  There are many who have felt disenfranchised by the mainstream Jewish community for a variety of reasons.

I am offering an alternative experience for your adolescent.  As a private tutor, I offer a customized training experience for your child.  It is my hope to create a coming of age experience that is tailor made for your family and your values.  I offer Hebrew language lessons, Jewish History, Jewish culture, Jewish holidays and more.

I have been preparing B’nai Mitzvah students since 1995.  I was a teacher at Temple Israel ( a Reform Community) in London, Ontario and more recently at the Winchevsky Centre ( a secular community).

I promise an eclectic and exciting education for your child.

life cycle events

Funeral, Memorial and Celebration of Life

Sandra

It is so important to take time to remember those we loved in a way that is both respectful and healing to those who are left behind.

As your funeral / memorial celebrant and an experienced spiritual leader, I will offer you respect, sensitivity and professionalism.  I will work with you to create a beautiful experience using all my knowledge and resources. I will create a ceremony specific to your needs whether it is interfaith, secular or Jewish.

I will meet with you to offer guidance and consulting while planning a personalized and meaningful funeral or memorial service. I have a wide library of resources for readings, music and other special ceremonies to help us design a service that honours the life of your loved one.

Testimonials

Noah and Hindurika

Sandra

Sandra was a great choice to officiate our small wedding! She delivered an enthusiastic and graceful ceremony that incorporated elements from both our cultures seamlessly. We felt at ease with her leading us through the ceremony. It’s hard to think of our wedding without her involvement. We’d happily recommend her to anyone looking for an officiant! November 27, 2021

Testimonials

Naomi and Ethan

Sandra
beautiful ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) designed and created by the bride

We had the most positive, wonderful experience with Sandra. She was professional, attentive to our preferences, available for us, accommodated an interfaith marriage with creativity, and the service itself was a dream. It was exactly what we wanted, and she was a great officiant. I’m really happy I can look back on the experience with Sandra steering the ship. Highly recommended! September 6, 2022

Testimonials

Mirra and Justin

Sandra
wedding officiant SandraLaya Ruch stands beside bride with short brown hair wearing a traditional wedding dress and groom stands beside her in a black suit, bowtie and a white boutineer.

We had the most positive, wonderful experience with Sandra. She was professional, attentive to our preferences, available for us, accommodated an interfaith marriage with creativity, and the service itself was a dream. It was exactly what we wanted, and she was a great officiant. I’m really happy I can look back on the experience with Sandra steering the ship. Highly recommended! September 6, 2022

Testimonials

Sarah and James

Sandra

We had a wonderful experience having Sandra as our officiant for our intimate wedding. We were able to meet remotely twice – once to get to know her and once before the wedding to ask any final questions. She guided us through creating our ceremony by providing several options and “create your own” sections for each key moment of the ceremony. It was so helpful to have this as a guide to help us shape a ceremony that was reflective of our relationship. The ceremony itself was magical and conveyed the happiness, uniqueness and ease that we wanted to share with our friends and family. We received so many compliments on the ceremony itself, and credit goes to Sandra for being our guide. If you’re looking for a warm, calming, joyous and professional officiant – Sandra is the best choice!

Testimonials

Rene and Rachel

Sandra
newly married couple points at each other with wedding officiant SandraLaya Ruch in between them.

Finding an officiant was fairly straightforward. We were able to search by the date of our wedding and it made it all that much easier. Sandra Ruch was incredible in officiating. Her allowance to customize our wedding allowed our day to be exactly as we wanted it. It felt very personal, as any wedding should. Jun 2023

Testimonials

Alicia and Ian

Sandra
Sandra Ruch, wedding officiant, marrying bride and groom with child present in backyard setting
Alicia and Ian

We knew Sandra would be our officiant long before we had picked a date. After having 2 children we finally decided that we wanted to get married this summer with only three short months to plan. Sandra was the first person we called. She guided us through different options for our ceremony, allowing us to create something that was truly unique to us.
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, Sandra’s voice and her energy shaped this day into the best day of our lives. We are so thankful that she could be part of this day we will never forget. Alicia and Ian, summer 2023