Weddings at Park Avenue Synagogue

To be married at Park Avenue Synagogue, both partners must be Jewish. If either partner has been married to a Jew, and the marriage ended in divorce, the partner must present proof that the marriage was ended with a get, a Jewish divorce, as well as with a civil divorce. If you have not yet given or received a get, our rabbis can help you with that process.

A Jewish wedding may not take place on Shabbat (from an hour before sundown on Friday until an hour after sundown on Saturday) or on a major Jewish holiday (same time restriction). Weddings may not take place during the three weeks before Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av, which usually falls in late July or early August. There are restrictions on when a wedding may take place during the seven weeks known as Sefirah, between Passover and Shavuot. 

Ceremonies may take place in the Sanctuary, the third-floor chapel, or the minyan chapel. We are happy to give you a tour and discuss which space would work best for your ceremony. You may use the Park Avenue Synagogue huppah (canopy) in the Sanctuary, or you may bring in one.

If you're a member of PAS, a member of the PAS clergy may serve as mesader(et) kiddushin, the officiant, or you may have another rabbi or cantor officiate or co-officiate. Visiting clergy must be invited by the PAS clergy; this arrangement should be made well in advance. If you would like a non-PAS rabbi or cantor to participate in your ceremony, please contact the Senior Rabbi’s assistant, Craig Demerest, at (212) 369-2600, x120, providing your name, contact information, prospective wedding date, as well as the name and contact information of the officiant. The Senior Rabbi will extend an invitation to your rabbi and/or cantor.

Music must be appropriate for a Jewish religious occasion. Our cantors are available to consult with you on musical style (Hasidic/Israeli/classical) and arrangements. If you wish to hire instrumentalists, you must make arrangements with the music department.

An aufruf is an aliyah to the Torah for the betrothed couple at a Shabbat service before the wedding. Many families mark the occasion by sponsoring the congregational Kiddush after the service. If you would like to have an aufruf, please contact the rabbis’ office. If you would like to sponsor the Shabbat morning Kiddush, please email our event manager.

There are different fees for members and non-members, and there are different charges for the Sanctuary and the chapels.