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Planning a wedding is hard enough, a multicultural wedding on the other hand is akin to jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Not an easy task, it requires meticulous planning and compromise on all parties involved.
But what is a multicultural wedding you may ask? It is the fusion of the different cultures, religions, beliefs and customs of two different families into one through the process of marriage.
A multicultural wedding when properly planned brings out the experience of a lifetime that we don’t get to have in other non-cultural weddings.
To do it right, here are a few pointers worth following.
- Do background research
The best place to acquire information about your background is your family. Your family will help you learn better about the wedding traditions that you might not know about.
Communication with both of the families will even make it better to ensure that both of the couples’ traditions are honored. It will help you know exactly what traditions to and not to incorporate in the wedding. After consulting both sides of the family, you can also research online and books on ideas to make your wedding memorable.
- Be flexible
Research on your background will give you a vast array of possibilities for your multicultural wedding. Construct a list that will determine what you will incorporate, what you will leave out and what should come as an alternative if the chosen idea doesn’t work out. It would not be a good idea to try and combine every tradition. Make do with what works as long as everyone is happy and feels represented.
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- Hire an experienced wedding planner
Planning your wedding is an exciting experience but it can be very overwhelming especially if you’re a hands on type of bride.
Considering your unique situation, you need some guidance especially if you are struggling to decide on factors to and not to include. In such a scenario, consider hiring a qualified multicultural wedding planner to help ensure that your desired outcomes are met. They will help you stay organized and give you time to focus on other manageable practices for the wedding.
- Book an accommodating ceremony site
Decide on a venue that will accommodate your wedding event and practices that will take place during the wedding. Hiring an officiant conversant with performing interfaith marriage ceremonies would be a good idea. If possible, you may also decide to have two officiants from both backgrounds in collaboration to ensure that both of the religious customs are properly combined.
- Give your guests a heads up
It is important to have your guests acknowledge any special rituals especially if the elements you include in your wedding are not usual. Having a wedding program will help the people who are unfamiliar with wedding rituals to know what is happening and why. This way, the wedding couple can reach out to them and elaborate on the practices to ensure that they do not feel out of place when they attend the wedding.
- Plan the playlist
Entertainment is a core factor in all weddings. It is always a fun experience to watch and participate in the different dances that are from different cultures. Ensure to have accommodating music to entertain and to make people feel more involved. The couple or family members from both sides can take the chance to demonstrate these dances to the guests and have them copy. If up to it, hiring professional dancers to represent each culture will be a great addition to the wedding.
- Create an all-inclusive menu
The best way to ensure that everyone in your wedding eats is to incorporate traditional dishes from both backgrounds. Involve a catering company to help you get inventive with your food. The wedding cake can also be inspired by different backgrounds.
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The picture of a multicultural wedding is meant to inspire people to run the mile and experience different cultures. It proves that different backgrounds should not limit people to getting to know each other and start a family together. It also helps us learn, respect and appreciate people’s backgrounds. After all, love knows no boundaries.
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