Weddings - Adventure Rabbi

Weddings

Congratulations! Mazel tov!

You found the love of your life, the person you want to marry. That was the hard part.

The rest is cake. (And flowers, seating arrangements, choosing a band…Egads!!)

We have four rabbis on our team ready to help you create an unforgettable wedding that is fun, celebratory and most importantly, you! We will try to make the wedding process as low stress as we can; you have enough on your plate right now.

Rabbi Jamie Korngold (Boulder CO), Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith (Broomfield CO), Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein (Boulder CO), and Rabbi Evon Yakar (Lake Tahoe CA) comprise the Adventure Rabbi wedding team.

Before your wedding, the Rabbi will meet with you twice to plan your wedding. Rabbi Alan also offers prematiral counseling, 4 sessions each lasting 60 to 90 minutes.

Through these discussions, we will help you shape a wedding that reflects your personalities. When your wedding day arrives, we will have gotten to know you both and will be able to share with your guests what marriage and commitment mean to you. Your wedding day will be a unique reflection of your relationship and commitment to each other.

Rabbi Alan: Evan and I just wanted to reach out and express our gratitude! You did an absolutely amazing job officiating our wedding, it was exactly what we were looking for! We only heard wonderful things about you from our family and friends as well! We just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts- Annie and Evan
Rabbi Jamie: We feel so lucky to have found you! No one else could have pulled off such a ceremony that really ``got`` us. You so smoothly and beautifully integrated tradition and culture with the meaning we derive from your lives together.- Lauren and Jason
Rabbi Goldsmith: I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate everything you did for us. Ray & I both had a great feeling about you during our phone conversations, and can't tell you enough how much we appreciate the fact that you really took note in every detail we spoke of on the phone and during breakfast, and you did an absolutely wonderful job incorporating them into the ceremony. As we watch the ceremony on our wedding video, we especially realize how eloquent you spoke, and how beautiful and personalized the ceremony was. We think the world of you as a rabbi and as a person.- Carolyn & Ray
Rabbi Alan was fantastic at incorporating Hindu elements into our Jewish blended wedding in a way that flowed together seamlessly. Both our Jewish and non-Jewish guests were able to follow along and thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony. While I never want to plan a wedding again, if I had to I would go with Adventure Judaism all over again!- Melissa & Anish
Rabbi Alan stood by us as we planned and replanned our wedding four times throughout the pandemic. He was flexible with so many date changes and always helpful as we tried to navigate the trials and tribulations of the pandemic. He is hilarious and bridges the gap between Judaism and individuals that come from other religious backgrounds very well. He explained every aspect of our ceremony in layman's terms so the audience (our wedding guests) could understand the meaning of every aspect of the ceremony, regardless of their backgrounds.- Elisha & Ryan
Q: Do you work with interfaith couples?

A: Yes, we all work with interfaith couples who wish to have a Jewish ceremony. Rabbi Alan will also co-officiate with non-Jewish clergy and create an interfaith-wedding ceremony that represents your dual heritages.

Q: Do you work with non-heterosexual or non-binary couples?

A: Yes! We used to have a separate section devoted to LBGTQ+ couples, but when we were given this feedback: “By making a different section, you are saying that we are different, that we are a ‘special case.’ In the eye of the law, we are just as married as anyone else. If you feel that way too then,  you should delete the separate section.” We did so immediately.

Q: How will we get to know the rabbi?

A: The Rabbi meets with you for two sessions before your wedding ceremony.

Q: What if we live out of town or don’t have time for meetings?

A: Many of our clients live out of town and even overseas. We are accustomed to video conferencing!

You might choose to fly in one extended meeting, or do the work by phone. Sometimes the Rabbi and the couple meet in person for the first time at the wedding, although it always feels like we have known each other for ages. The most important work can be done over the phone or online, in two sessions.

Q: Do the Rabbis co-officiate with non-Jewish clergy?

A: Yes, Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein has extensive experience combining religions and heritages and working with other clergy.

Q: Will the rabbis perform ceremonies on Shabbat?

A: We will perform a ceremony on Shabbat at 5 pm or later. (Depending on the situation, Rabbi Korngold and Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein have a bit of flexibility on this!)

Q: How do I pick which Rabbi to hire?

A.  Rabbi Korngold, the founder of Adventure Judaism, will respond to your email or phone call. She will then select the Rabbi she thinks is a best fit and has availability on the date of your choosing.

Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith and Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein are our wedding specialist and does most of our ceremonies. Rabbi Korngold is in the highest demand and tries to make herself available for those who specially request her services. Rabbi Yakar is based in South Lake Tahoe and will only do weddings in that area.

All of our rabbis are wedding pros and are able to focus deeply on each couple with whom they work. We are known for creating wedding ceremonies that meet the couples needs, rather than intruding with our own menu of what “should” happen. Each of our rabbis will work with you to create a personalized and unique wedding.

Q: What are the Fees?

A: Our wedding ceremony fees represent the time and attention we give to each wedding couple. The Rabbis spend approximately ten hours preparing for each wedding. This includes meetings with the couples, writing a personalized ceremony and officiating at the ceremony. You can see our fee schedule here>>>

Q: Will the Rabbis travel out of State or to other Countries?

Rabbi Korngold, Rabbi Goldsmith and Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein are willing to travel to perform weddings, although the fee does increase to account for the additional time away from the office required for travel.

Q: Do you provide per-marital counseling?

A: Yes! Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein provide premarital counseling using the Prepare/Enrich program.  Read more below or sign up here>>

Q: How does the payment process work?

A:  We accept all major credit cards. Dates are not held until the payment is received. You may opt to use ACH and avoid the credit card fees.  Check out our fees or hold your date with a Contract>>

Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith, Adventure Rabbi

Wedding Logistics

Q: Where Do We Start?

A: Check out our fee schedule and see if we are within your budget. Our fees are on the higher side, but so is our quality! We know you work hard for your dollars and you will find that we work hard for you.

If you have already chosen a date, email and see which Rabbi is available on the date you have chosen.

Arrange a complimentary meeting by phone to see if working with us is a good fit for you. You need to really “click” with your officiate.

Once you have decided you would like to work with the Rabbi, let us know. Click on the link for the contract, submit it with payment, and the date and time will be held for you. At this point, you’ll schedule your additional meetings, or phone conversations.

Enjoy the process!

About Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein, Wedding Specialist & Educator, Boulder CO

Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein recently moved to Longmont, and is excited by the hiking, biking and mountain air. He is a teacher who strives to make learning accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds and an officiant who works to build meaningful, authentic ceremonies.

He lived most recently in St Paul, MN, where he was founding director of By The Rivers: A Multi-Faith Learning and Lifecycle Center; was a staff member at Hineni: A Center for Adult Jewish Learning and Contemplative Practices, and a member of the Interfaith Family Network.

For two years, he was rabbi of the Tri-City Jewish Center, in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. He was then the rabbi at Temple of Aaron, St. Paul, MN from 2002 to 2014.

Rabbi Alan currently works helping manage the Genius team  at the Apple Store in the Twenty Ninth Street mall, repairing relationships, iPhones and computers.

He and his wife Rebecca are blessed with three children, Noa, Naveh and Naomi.

 

 

About Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith, Wedding Specialist, Boulder CO

Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith moved to Colorado from Alabama. She is thrilled to be in Colorado. Recently retired from ten years service as a pulpit rabbi, there were some aspects of the rabbinate she wanted to continue. One of those is working with couples as they prepare their wedding. “What a joy,” she explains, “To partner with couples beginning a lifetime together to create a meaningful wedding celebration.”

Rabbi Goldsmith served Temple Emanu-el in Dothan, AL as solo rabbi from her ordination at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati in June of 2007 until her retirement in June of 2017. Lynne believes passionately in Jewish education for all ages. She was also active in the community, especially in inter-faith relations. She served on the boards of the local women’s shelter, the board of Catholic social services, and on the Ecumenical Council, a multi-faith organization dedicated to erasing poverty in the Dothan area.

Rabbi Goldsmith is married to Rob Goldsmith, and they live in Broomfield, CO. She is looking forward to getting involved in the Boulder Jewish community and spending time with her granddaughter and son and daughter in law who also live in Colorado.

Premarital Counseling:

Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein offers premarital counseling using the Prepare/Enrich program. All couples are welcome: multi-faith, GLBTQ, agnostic, second or already married. You can contact us to set up a free meeting to discuss this program, no matter what stage of a relationship you are in.

Sessions are offering either in person or online.

What is Prepare/Enrich?

This extensive series of questions is a customized couple assessment. Completed online, it identifies a couple’s strength and growth areas. It is one of the most widely used programs for premarital counseling and premarital education. (It is also used for marriage counseling, marriage enrichment, and dating couples considering engagement.)

Based on your personalized assessment results, we will meet with you 4-5 times where we will discuss and understand your results, work on relationship skills, and review the values that support a strong and lasting relationship.

How much does it cost?

$850 for 4 sessions, each lasting 60 min. This includes printed copies of all results, worksheets, and materials. The online evaluation cost of $35 is paid directly by the couple.

What are the major goals of the Prepare/Enrich Program?

  • There are several goals of the Prepare/Enrich Program. In order to achieve these goals, there are exercises designed to help couples improve their relationship skills. The program helps couples:
  • Explore strength and growth areas Strengthen communication skills
  • Identify and manage major stressors Resolve conflict using the Ten Step Model Develop a more balanced relationship Explore family of origin issues
  • Discuss financial planning and budgeting
  • Establish personal, couple and family goals Understand and appreciate personality differences

What relationship areas are assessed by the Inventory?

12 Relationship Scales — communication, conflict resolution, roles, sexuality, finances, spiritual beliefs and more

5 SCOPE Personality Scales

4 Couple and Family Scales — based on the Circumplex Model

4 Relationship Dynamic Scales 30 Customized Scales

Who uses Prepare/Enrich?

The inventory has been utilized by over 100,000 trained clergy members, professional counselors, mentors, and marriage educators throughout the U.S. Over 3 million couples have taken a Prepare/Enrich inventory and worked through their results under the guidance of a trained facilitator.

Pre-Marital Counseling Payment

Evan and I just wanted to reach out and express our gratitude! You did an absolutely amazing job officiating our wedding, it was exactly what we were looking for! We only heard wonderful things about you from our family and friends as well!

We just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts