Multicultural weddings - how to include your culture in your wedding day
Natasha Grant • 3 May 2020
3 tips on planning multicultural weddings
Getting married comes with different aspects to consider and when you and your partner are from different countries, cultures or races, the question arises how do you include both your cultures at your wedding? Multicultural weddings are a fantastic way to embrace each other’s traditions and customs. Showing how to intertwine two cultures to complement each other, whether you make subtle references to your heritage or make it obvious.
My hubby is from Trinidad and Tobago. I was born in the UK and my parents are Jamaican. And yes, even though we are the same race, we still had cultural differences that we had to manage. We chose to hold our wedding in the UK and had guests from different parts of the world who flew in. We wanted to reference Trinidad and Tobago in small ways as well as my UK influence and Jamaican heritage. Combining your two backgrounds on your special day is beautiful but can also be tricky. So, read on for three tips on how to celebrate your different cultures on your wedding day.
1. Multicultural wedding ceremony
If you are looking to put your own stamp on your wedding, incorporate key elements into your wedding ceremony, this is a great way to reflect your background, future and unity. Whether you weave in cultural or family traditions or customs. Alternatively, you can use this as an opportunity to create new ones.
I have assisted at a cross cultural wedding where the bride and groom were Buddhist and Hindu. They held two ceremonies on the day to reflect both of their cultures. They also provided a useful wedding programme for every guest to explain each part of the ceremony, the rituals involved and what it signified. A lovely touch to give your gorgeous wedding day even more meaning and it educates your guests on your culture and keeps them engaged too.
Or you could spread your wedding over a few days, have your traditional cultural ceremony one day and then your white wedding another day. Find a way that works for you.
2. Multicultural wedding invitations
Using your wedding invitations or on the day wedding stationery (for example table menus, place cards, seating chart) is another great way to weave both your cultures into your wedding day. Work with a stationery designer to create a style that reflects your culture from unique designs to a stationery print around your country’s flag colours for example or your wedding colour palette.
Or if you want to keep it more subtle how about creating or purchasing a special customised sticker. I purchased stickers which had the Trinidad and Tobago flag on them, in a small heart shape and included those on our wedding invitations. Or you could work with a stationery designer to create your own monogram with your initials, such a lovely personal touch.
3. Music and dancing at multicultural weddings
Within a multicultural wedding, music and dance is key. It is one of the best ways to combine two cultures on your special day. This could be through arranging a performance of a certain style of music or dance that reflects each of your backgrounds. I have seen this at a couple of my client’s events, one example where they had Ethiopian and Ugandan dance performances to reflect both their cultures. It was so much fun to see both dance performances and the energy and enjoyment that it brought to the couple and guests. Also if appropriate, consider having an MC to explain the background to some of the dances, so that guests can understand the true meaning.
I hope these tips provide some inspiration about how to incorporate your culture into your multicultural wedding. There are of course lots of other ways you can reflect it too, through your food and drink, wedding favours and of course your attire. Planning a multicultural wedding can be so much fun. I love seeing my clients weave their different cultures into their wedding day. How will you reflect yours?
In my view, coming from a multicultural relationship enriches your experience and journey together. So, wherever you and your loved one are from – embrace your differences, learn from each other and do you!
If you need some help with designing and planning your multicultural wedding, it would be my pleasure to assist. Get in touch using the button below. I can’t wait to hear from you.
Natasha x
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