It is becoming increasingly more common for couples of mixed background and ancestries to marry. Hence, we have more demand for fusion wedding ideas or creative ways to have a multicultural wedding. At any multicultural wedding each family’s traditions are both wonderful in themselves and important. Therefore, it is important to incorporate both cultures and not to neglect one culture while spotlighting the other. There are little ways to put special cultural touches to the wedding, including in such aspects as wedding favors, food, décor and entertainment. Even if the couple themselves don’t have strong ties to their individual cultures, it is often important to consider the feelings of the family members. Thus, we have fusion weddings that incorporate modern tastes of young couples and traditional facets that parents and family desire.
One of the easiest ways to approach a multicultural wedding is to let one culture dominate the ceremony and the other the reception. Often the wedding ceremony takes place in the pride of the bride’s cultural and the wedding reception follows the traditions of the groom’s culture. The wedding reception can have traditional food, entertainment, and toasts to honor the cultural background. The incorporation of two cultures is not only common for multicultural weddings, but also for fusion weddings. Many modern Asian American couples will have a traditional Asian wedding ceremony in traditional Asian wedding attire and then the wedding reception is usually a modern traditional American wedding reception.
As the wedding ceremony is of a spiritual nature for most cultures, it is often important to include the wedding attire, vows, music, décor and procedures of both the bride and groom as closely as possible into the ceremony. It is common to hold two ceremonies when the two cultures are extremely different. Couples often like to take separate religious vows at each of their given religious houses. Multicultural weddings are often elaborate and last several days in order to incorporate both cultures and events. More simple events will hold one ceremony in the morning and the second in the afternoon, then transition into the reception in the evening. Although, this can be tiring, with good planning it can be a beautiful day.
There are also innumerable ways to include both cultures at a wedding without lapsing into a multiple days wedding. One way is to have the bride and groom wear the traditional attire of one heritage, while proceeding down the aisle to traditional music of the other. Another take is to have the bride and groom dress according to each other’s cultural heritage. This will symbolize their total willingness to embrace one another’s traditions. Another nice touch is to give out a little wedding favor at the ceremony to symbolize one culture and another wedding favor at the reception to symbolize the other culture.
There are also many simple ways to blend cultures at the wedding reception. A buffet style dinner with two stations serving the food from both traditions will make all your wedding guests happy. Have the traditional wedding cake decorated to reflect the bride’s culture and have a groom’s cake to reflect the groom’s culture. Skilful cake decorator’s can make amazing creations with cake. Entertainment is another easy way to reflect your heritage at your wedding. Mix up the music and entertainment to suit both traditions. Play music from both cultures or bring entertainment and performers from both cultures. A cute idea is to start the first dance slow with music from one culture, often a traditional American wedding song, then transition into a an upbeat ethnic song that the bride and groom can dance to. Invite everyone to the dance floor to try the ethnic dance as well. It can be a lot of fun to teach your guests a new dance.
Another very important part of weddings are the wedding favors. Make sure to give out wedding favors from both cultures or mix it up. For example, at a fusion wedding give out truffles or all American M&M’s in a traditional Asian takeout favor box. Wedding favors are one of the most creative ways to express yourselves and show gratitude to your guests, so make sure to be creative and symbolic with the multicultural wedding favors.
Wedding decorations are also a big aspect of fusion or multicultural weddings. Ethnic events are usually colorful. Indian weddings have bold colors, lots of music and dancing. Thus incorporating bright colors, and ethnic Indian decorations such as paisley patterns, silk table cloths, and using a theme like peacocks or elephants would be great for a South Asian mixed wedding. Other couples of Asian heritage will incorporate elements of the orient into their western white wedding. Flowers such as orchids and cherry blossoms may be used to bring in an Asian touch. So, use decorations from your ethnic origin to create a fusion or multicultural wedding. The mix of tradition with modern ideas creates a beautiful vision.
Multicultural and fusion weddings are on the rise. There is an increasing need to find thoughtful ways to blend two cultures so that wedding guests can cherish and enjoy the special day. Don’t be afraid to draw bold aspects of your culture to your wedding. It only makes the entire event more intriguing and beautiful.
Shaye Shahid is the lead designer and coordinator of Event Trendsetter. Services and works of Event Trendsetter can be viewed at http://www.eventtrendsetter.com Event Trendsetter is a leading full service wedding coordinating and party planning agency that specializes in corporate events, parties, and weddings in Southern California. Event Trendsetter prefers invitations and wedding favors from http://www.chicweddingfavors.com The Los Angeles and Orange County area wedding coordinator and party planner also caters to South Asian Celebrations. This Designer can be contacted at (714) 989-8027.
