Who Am I?

I’m Miriam and my pronouns are she/her/they/them.

With a name like Miriam Beatrice Cantor-Stone, you’re given many nicknames! Mimi, Mirm, Counter-Stove, and many more. But most of my loved ones called me Miri.

I take pride in the fact that I’m a connector and listener. I love getting to know people and learning their stories. And I’m happiest when I’m able to help people take those stories and turn them into something meaningful, whether it’s a wedding ceremony or a marriage proposal or whatever else they could use some assistance with.

Additionally, I wrote my own wedding ceremony and practically officiated it myself! I knew exactly what my wife and I were looking for in our special day and made it a reality with the help of our families. Allow me to help you figure out exactly what a wedding ceremony means and should look like for you, too!

I have always loved stories - reading them, sharing them, being a part of them.
Here’s a taste of my own.

“Will You Marry Us?”

In the fall of 2017, I went for a stroll with two very dear friends in a local orchard-turned-sculpture garden. They had just recently become engaged, and asked if I would take a picture of them in a particularly photogenic spot for their Save the Date announcement. I am by no means a professional photographer, but I pulled out my iPhone to take a quick picture. After one or two shots, Dani suddenly ran out of frame, grabbed something from her purse, and jumped back in. She and Sal proceeded to dramatically unfurl a paper banner that read in rainbow letters, “WILL YOU MARRY US?” I couldn’t speak: I was too touched, excited, and overwhelmed with love for these dear friends. I had been friends with each of them individually before they became a couple, and it was a joy to watch their relationship grow. After a few moments of uncontrollable happy tears without an actual verbal response from myself, Sal asked, “Does this mean yes?!” Again, I couldn’t speak: I simply nodded vigorously!

At some point in my friendship with Dani and Sal, I mentioned how a dream of mine was to officiate a wedding someday. Weddings are such a unique moment in time: when a couple has the opportunity to celebrate each other, their families and friends, and their commitment to their future together. I’ve been to my fair share of weddings, and often found myself watching the officiating rabbi, preacher, uncle of the bride, etc. and thinking to myself, “Hey - I bet I’d be great at that!” Especially during my young adulthood, I took notice of what made an exceptional officiant versus an average one: a clear connection with the couple, an engaging personality, and the ability to make meaning out of the small moments as well as the big ones.

I like to think of myself as a matchmaker of sorts, but not necessarily of the romantic variety. I adore connecting people: I love introducing people to whom I’m certain will be their new best friend. I love sharing a new book or film with someone who I think would enjoy it. And after asking some key questions, it is a joy to help a couple with the process of creating a unique, meaningful, and personal wedding ceremony, engagement celebration, or proposal.

Banner photo by Sage Orville.