DEAR ABBY: I'm responding to the letter from "Stacey in St. Petersburg," the Jewish woman who wants to include the breaking of the glass in her nontraditional wedding ceremony, but whose mother feels it wouldn't be appropriate.
I am Catholic; my husband is Jewish. For our interfaith wedding, we took traditions from each faith and incorporated them into the ceremony. Both a priest and a cantor officiated, and our vows were made under the chuppah.
My husband said his vows in Hebrew, and I said mine in English. At the end, my husband broke the glass. The cantor chose not to attribute a religious meaning to the tradition. He said, "May your marriage and love last as long as it takes to put all the pieces of the glass back together." Both mothers lit the unity candle.
It was a beautiful ceremony, and three years later, we still receive compliments from guests of both faiths.
"Stacey" should include any tradition she wants in their ceremony. Her mother should not stand on propriety, but instead be pleased that her daughter wants to incorporate the breaking of the glass in the ceremony. -- HAPPY INTERFAITH COUPLE IN ARIZONA
DEAR HAPPY COUPLE: As long as there is no objection by the clergy performing the ceremony, I see no reason why the bride shouldn't include any tradition that's meaningful to her.
P.S. The cantor at your wedding was sensitive and wise.