It turns out that even Jewish people at a Jewish wedding, baby naming, or b-mitzvah don’t always (usually!) know what all of the rituals represent. Most ceremonies I officiate include loved ones who aren’t Jewish.
Any time I involve Hebrew in the ceremony, I translate it into English. I also work with each couple or family to determine how much Hebrew they would like in the ceremony. As we move through the life cycle moment, I explain each ritual to help all guests follow along and connect to the traditions.
Wedding couples often ask if they should create a program to help explain any parts of the ceremony. I don’t think a program is necessary for your ceremony—it’s a lot of work when you already have enough on your plate and I will explain all of the Jewish ritual steps in real time. You and your guests can just sit back and enjoy the moment!
It can also be very meaningful to involve non-Jewish family members in your Jewish ceremony. During a wedding this might look like having parents (Jewish or not) stand by the chuppah, or read one of the seven blessings in English. At a baby naming, this might look like holding the baby or sharing a reading/blessing with the baby.