Tips For Planning A Multicultural Wedding

Looking for tips for planning a multicultural wedding? Nowadays, it is common to have couples from different religious, cultural, or geographical backgrounds to get engaged. If you want to personalize your multicultural wedding ceremony from the type of wedding dress you will put on to the food to serve, there’s a lot you need to consider.

From reception details reflecting who you are as a couple like naming the tables after places you have traveled together and your family background, it is necessary to plan beforehand to include every part of your cultures in the wedding ceremony.

How do you seamlessly incorporate religious, cultural, and geographical details into your wedding ceremony? The following are some of the best tips for planning a multicultural wedding!

• Research your background

The first place you can turn to to get information about your traditions is your family. Grandparents, as well as parents, can be a great source of such information. They are likely going to share with you the traditions that they incorporated into their wedding and the customs which you might not be familiar with. After you have talked to them, you can use Pinterest and Google to research for ideas. Make sure to look for websites, books, and blogs that might tell you about your background.

• Edit any possibilities

After researching your traditions, make a list of the ones you feel you want to incorporate in your multicultural wedding ceremony or reception or both. You can come up with a Pinterest board of the ideas and images you think will help with your planning. You don’t need to include all of them. Thus, pick ones you feel are perfect for you based on your personal preferences and traditions.

• Get a wedding planner who has experience

It is easy to get a wedding planner who specializes in multicultural weddings. They are knowledgeable about a variety of traditional weddings. From dances and music to menu items, and many more details, they will help you include all of them in your wedding. They will also come with a list of resources as well as vendors who could assist in creating a feel and look that you want for your multicultural wedding.

• Get an officiant who will perform the intercultural ceremony

Some officiants might not be conversant with, or willing to lead a ceremony that combines different faiths. Ask the officiant in advance if can officiate your type of wedding ceremony. If it is not possible, you can ask a relative or friend or check online on officiant databases to find the right person. You can have an option of bringing in officiant from both backgrounds to collaborate ahead of time to seamlessly blend both customs and religions.

• Book a house of worship that is accommodating

When booking the house of prayer, you can follow the same guidelines as the one for looking for an officiant. Some willingly allow for an inter-faith wedding ceremony to take place in their church, while others will resist. You have to be clear when you are booking the venue that you want to have an interfaith wedding ceremony and find out if it is okay with them.

• The traditions have to be explained to the guests in advance

While there are couples who utilize the wedding program to explain to the guests who is who in their wedding party, you can also list the different elements of the wedding ceremony. You can tell in detail the parts that you think your guests might be unfamiliar with. If you are unsure on how to draft each section, you can ask for assistance from the officiant.

• Highlight special dances and music

If there are special dances and songs that you want in your wedding ceremony and reception, ensure that the DJ or the band know them. You are free to book an entertainment or a band specializing in a particular genre such as belly dancers.

If it is a popular group, many people will already know about it. But if you are thinking to dance your first dance, then there will be a need to take some lessons to learn the steps. Moreover, you can pair up the bridal party and let them take the lessons too.

• Create a fusion menu

It does not matter if you have set up a buffet. Or maybe you are planning on serving a seated dinner? There will be a need to create a menu that brings out the flavors for both backgrounds. Try explaining to your caterer your favorite spices, dishes, and recipe. This will allow them to conceptualize the menu, including a variety of both religions and cultures. A fusion menu should not be limited to the cocktail hour as well as dinner. Moreover, it has to include the bar menu, dessert menu, and the wedding cake. Make sure that they all are inspired by your background.

• Put on cultural fashions

If you are out to honor your heritage, you should have a chance to have a second wedding day look. Thus, you can put on the traditional wedding dress. For example, Indian brides will go for an elegant saree, Chinese brides will go for a red dress, while Korean brides and grooms will put on the traditional hanbok.

If you want to wear two looks for your wedding, alert the photographer. They will set aside time for photography in your traditional dress. However, if you’re concerned about coverage and modesty for a religious wedding ceremony, you can go for a wedding dress with a sleeve and higher neckline. Moreover, you can opt for a convertible look that will allow you to change from the modest ceremony look to a sexy reception look.

• Consider having a second wedding ceremony

If you want to incorporate more than two traditions, then you can consider having two wedding ceremonies. You can have them on the same day or have the second one at a different venue and day.

 

With these tips for planning a multicultural wedding, you can seamlessly have a fun and memorable wedding ceremony and reception. For other guidelines on weddings, check The Ultimate Bride’s Survival Guide.

 

Header Image Credit: @danielleaisling