Micaela Winter and Pete Taylor are planning on marrying in December and will have a wedding blessing under a chupah from Northwood and Pinner Liberal’s Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, under Liberal Judaism's new offering.

The bride is Jewish; the groom is of no faith. The couple have been learning more about Judaism and want to create a Jewish home.

“Having a chupah at our wedding is so important to me for two reasons,” Mr Taylor says. “Firstly, it is the symbol of the Jewish home we are making.

“Secondly, for Micaela’s family, I know the image they always had in their mind of their daughter’s wedding day involved a chupah.

“I always placed this guilt on myself that I might not be able to give them that because I’m not Jewish and I didn’t want to convert just to tick a box.

“So it’s really nice to know that we can now have the wedding of everyone’s dreams and one we can look back on in our photos for years to come.”

Ms Winter adds that she and her husband-to-be have “discussed our desire to bring up any children that we will hopefully have with an understanding of Judaism and as part of the Jewish community.

“For me, above all else, the symbolism of a chupah, of hospitality and having a Jewish home, is a key part of our wedding day and our lives together.

“We are very lucky in that both our families are very supportive and Pete’s family have been extremely welcoming and have celebrated Jewish festivals with us.

“To have our combined families present, with a chupah there, is so important to us. It’s not just reflective of my faith but of us all coming together as one.”

Liberal Judaism stresses that mixed faith couples will still need to marry in a civil ceremony. And to receive the chupah blessing, they will need to demonstrate their commitment to keeping a Jewish home.