Cantor Shira Stanford-Asiyo officiates a wedding ceremony in Greater Vancouver.

Cantor Shira Stanford-Asiyo she/any

Get to know Cantor Shira Stanford-Asiyo.

Greater Vancouver, BC

I believe that weddings are an incredible opportunity to let a couple’s love take center stage. My hope is to honor the individuality of each couple, elevating this moment into something meaningful, beautiful, and full of joy.

With over two decades of experience officiating weddings for a wide diversity of couples, I aim to help you find the most authentic expression of your love story and shared values. Preparing for a wedding is its own journey of learning more about each other as a team, and I love being a guide and support through that process.

Cantor Shira came into our lives just a few months before our wedding, and from the very beginning, she felt so much more than an officiant — she became a trusted guide and mentor throughout the entire process. We felt incredibly grateful to work with her! She approached everything with such thoughtfulness, intention, and genuine care, especially in honoring both of our cultures and helping us create a wedding that truly reflected our “Hinjew” identity. Her warmth, attention to detail, and steady guidance helped ease our nerves and invited us to engage more meaningfully in the journey. We truly believe any couple would be fortunate to have her as part of their wedding experience.

—Matt and Diksha
Married by Shira

A couple is married by wedding officiant Shira Stanford-Asiyo

Working with Cantor Shira was one of the most meaningful parts of our wedding journey. From our very first meeting, she made us both feel comfortable, supported, and truly understood. She took the time to get to know us as a couple, and the one-on-one time we spent together leading up to our wedding created such a special bond.

As someone who is Jewish and whose husband isn’t, I especially appreciated the way she helped us navigate every step with kindness, warmth, and without ever making us feel overwhelmed. She had such a gentle way of teaching and explaining the traditions, which made the experience so meaningful for both of us.

Throughout the planning process, Cantor Shira was a steady, calming presence. She was incredibly thoughtful, encouraging, and always there to guide us whenever we had questions or needed reassurance. Our wedding ceremony felt so personal, heartfelt, and authentic because of the care she put into getting to know us.

We truly couldn’t recommend Cantor Shira more highly. She is an exceptional cantor and we feel so grateful that she was part of such an important chapter in our lives.

—Justine and Kane
Married by Shira

We worked with Cantor Shira to plan and officiate our “Jew-ish” interfaith wedding. Through regular check-ins in the months leading up to the big day, she kept our planning on track, shared creative options for incorporating Jewish traditions, and offered helpful advice from her years of experience (like getting a videographer – you won’t regret it!). As a Jewish-Atheist couple, we appreciated her flexibility in tailoring the ceremony’s level of religiosity to fit us perfectly. In the end, Cantor Shira delivered a beautiful, moving ceremony that was exactly what we envisioned.

—Zara & Harry
Married by Shira

Cantor Shira's Story

I began officiating weddings in 2005, just weeks after completing divinity school, and it’s been a joy to celebrate with couples across the US and now here in the Lower Mainland, where I’ve lived since 2018. I combined my love of music, education, spiritual exploration, and community organizing early on by training to become an ordained Cantor through the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. While my training centers on creating Jewish rituals and celebrations, I’ve had the honor of officiating for couples of many faith backgrounds and none at all, including many 2SLGBTQIA+ and interfaith couples.

When I’m not officiating, I work as a clinical counsellor, supporting individuals, couples, and families with a focus on complex trauma and neurodiversity. Outside of work, you’ll find me singing with a community choir, wandering through craft markets, or dancing at live music events.

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Cantor Shira Stanford-Asiyo she/any

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Cantor Shira's Story

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